Book Description
Like no other instrument, a grand piano melds engineering feats with the magical sounds of great music: the thunder of a full-throated bass, the bright, delicate trill of the upper treble. Alone among the big piano companies, Steinway still crafts all of its pianos largely by hand, imbuing each one with the promise and burden of its brand. In this captivating narrative, James Barron of The New York Times tells the story of one Steinway piano, from raw lumber to finished instrument. Barron follows that brand-new piano -- known by its number, K0862 -- on its eleven-month journey through the Steinway factory, where time-honored manufacturing methods vie with modern-day industrial efficiency. He looks over the shoulders of men and women -- some second- and third-generation employees, some recently arrived immigrants -- who transform wood and steel into a concert grand. Together, they carry on the traditions begun more than 150 years ago by the immigrants who founded Steinway Sons -- a family that soared to prominence in the music world and, for a while, in New York Citys political and economic life. Barron also explores the art and science of developing a pianos timbre and character before its first performance, when the essential question will be answered: Does K0862 live up to the Steinway legend? From start to finish, Piano will charm and enlighten music lovers.
Customer Reviews:
A Captivating "Biography".......2007-08-25
I took my copy of "Piano: The Making of a Steinway Concert Grand" to the beach with me. I read it in 4 days! Mr. Barron infuses a wealth of information into a wonderful story about this piano,and oh so much more. Before you know it K-0862 is a character you care about. I cannot imagine anyone not finding something to love about this book!!! Masterfully written!
K-0862 my NEW friend.......2007-08-22
K-0862 became a living...feeling...emotional entity by the end of this book........A very very original idea (to breath life into this piano) and well written. Actually EXTREMELY WELL WRITTEN book...My NEW favorite among all books...right up there with OVER THE EDGE OF THE WORLD......... The two most enjoyable....... educational........ books I have ever read!!!!!! KUDOS!!!!!!! I hated when i got to the end of this one!!!!!!
Story of a Steinway Concert Grand Piano.......2007-05-12
Excellently and diligently written, this little book tells the story of one Steinway concert grand piano from conception to adolescence. Barron loves the piano, respects the Company, and is dilgent in showing the evolution of Steinway, as well as the creation of one, new opus - a 9 foot concert piano. Barron introduces us to the barons of Steinway and the individual craftsmen who hand make these excellent instruments. To me, the quality and individual character of each Steinway piano are no longer a mystery.
Each time I play my own small grand piano (a quality A B Chase, close replica of the Steinway model S), I think of the efforts that went into it. Unlike Yamahas and such, the Steinway is an almost hand-built piano from a Company which has never relented in its determination to produce the best.
The book also explains why age is not all that becoming in the tonal life of a piano. The instrument has a birth, a development, and an aging process which are measured in tonal character progress, not just years. The aged Steiway seems a time integral of all that has come before - including hundred year old designs and techniques, and all the way up to its last tuning.
If you think a piano is a piano, is a piano, Barron's book will change your outlook.
A Very Nice Book for What it Is.......2007-04-18
The writing style is very engaging and readable. It is more about the people who build the pianos and the history of Steinway than it is about building a piano, but still a nice read.
After reading this you might be interested in: The Violin Maker: Finding a Centuries-Old Tradition in a Brooklyn Workshop by John Marchese, and then perhaps Guitar: An American Life by Tim Brookes (these two books a longer and more detailed then Piano but are similarly styled).
Last minute gift for the piano enthusiast........2007-04-11
pricey, but less expensive than giving lessons to someone who thinks they have talent. :D
Book Description
What a thrill for any musician: playing a fine-sounding instrument that he or she has lovingly crafted from scratch. With this richly illustrated manual, well-known luthier and guitarist John Bogdanovich shows exactly how to build that first, beautiful guitar, using traditional, time-tested methods. All that’s required are basic woodworking techniques and a minimally equipped shop. Bogdanovich discusses the anatomy of the guitar, sound, choosing an instrument, selecting woods, templates and molds, and preparation. In more than 300 pages of text, he painstakingly lays out the details of construction, from assembling the neck and sides to installing the fingerboard and bridge.
Customer Reviews:
The best one I read.......2007-04-11
This book is an example of passion with the guitar. It's well written, beautifully photographed covering all steps of classical guitar construction that follows a high grade standard. Even if you don't want to build a guitar, buy it just for the beauty of its pages. I have bought a lot of books about lutherie, but this is one is far the best.
It makes evident in every detail how Mr Bogdanovich loves what he do. Seems to me he had a very good time written it. Go deep!
Excellent..........2007-03-09
Very well written and presented, although I agree that there's nothing truly 'modern' here; a formal presentation of lattice bracing or composite tops (10 year old technology) would be needed to earn the 'modern' moniker. But for traditional style building (with interesting personalized wrinkles) it's an excellent text. Highly recommended, and the first true competition for the Cumpaino.
Excellent book.......2007-02-18
The author starts the budding luthier with the construction of molds and jigs. The order in which this is presented is excellent: by the time you get to the construction of the solera, you should be quite proficient at cutting the outline of the guitar in MDF (medium density fiberboard) with a 14" band saw. My solera turned out very well. A note on materials: John notes that the material for the molds will require two 4' x 8' sheets of 3/4" MDF and 1/2 of a 4' x 8' sheet of 1/2" MDF. 4' x 8' sheets of MDF are VERY HEAVY and impossible to work with in a small shop. I purchased 2' x 4' sheets instead and the results were great. Also, a 2' x 4' sheet 5/8" thick should be substituted for one of the 3/4" sheets, for the lining bender jig. This will save a bit of planing.
One should note the typo on page 51: under "Cutting the Pieces," "10 inches wide and 20 inches long" should be "10 inches wide and 24 inches long." On page 58 where John specifies "six pieces 24 1/2 inches x 10 1/2 inches," pieces only 24" x 10 1/2" will do very well. The plan for the caul on page 123 is missing. The author says it was accidentally cut out of the book, and he wrote, "The laminations are masonite thinned down to about .090 to make them easier to bend. I use about four of them. The outer one has sixteen pieces of 3/4 MDF glued from top to bottom along the length as shown on page 123. The pieces that go over rounded areas must be shaped to fit flat on their entire surface."
The author will offer printed plans for the guitar at some point in the future.
Overall a very nice book. I've just finished bending the sides according to John's instructions and I look forward to the next steps in this very interesting project.
An excellent book for classical guitar makers.......2007-02-15
This book is sure to please the most discriminating maker of guitars. The photos of all the different phases of guitarmaking are clearly explained with a multitude of colored photos. The language is clear and concise. The illustrations and color photos speak for themselves, of the many varied operations involved in guitar making. My only problem was figuring out how to make a 15ft and 25 ft radius jigs.Of all the 12 books I own on guitarmaking. This book, in my opinion, is the most comprehensive in detailing , every aspect of this demanding and rewarding craft. My hats off to Mr. bogdanovich for an excellent job.
Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk.......2007-02-06
Jack Bogdanovich's book is a must for anybody who might be considering making his or her own classical guitar, and very interesting for those who like the instrument, but have no plans to build one.
If you have a chance to lay hands on one of his guitars, you'll see that he can walk the walk; read this book, and you will know that he can talk the talk, too.
I have trouble figuring out which end of a screwdriver to use, but with Jack's book in hand, I think even I might be able to follow his detailed and well-illustrated instructions without hurting myself too bad.
It's a steal at this price.
Book Description
Here are the traditions of harpsichord making as they might have been taught to young apprentices in five countries where the craft once flourished: Italy, Flanders, France, England, and Germany. The period covered ranges from approximately 1500, when concrete data became available, to 1800, after which the nature of the instrument is no longer of musicological significance.
The author's aim is to "give enough information to make it possible for builders of harpsichords to base their work on certain knowledge of the designs and methods of earlier makers; to guide players of the harpsichord in their search for appropriate instruments, dispositions, and registrations in recreating the music of the past; and to serve as a useful body of information for historians and editors of early keyboard music."
A chapter each is devoted to the five most important schools of harpsichord making. Over forty plates illustrate the most typical harpsichords of each country. Each set of drawings includes a plan drawn to scale, the interior of the instrument, and interesting details of action and construction. These are supplemented by reproductions of illustrations taken from early sources. The appendixes contain texts of relevant documents, including inventories of the shops of some prominent French makers and contemporary descriptions of instruments.
Mr. Hubbard has drawn material from contemporary descriptions of instruments and the mechanical arts such as those found in encyclopedias, technical treatises, books on music theory, and manuals for craftsmen. In addition he has examined hundreds of instruments in European and American collections. His exceptional position as an internationally known harpsichord maker as well as a student of harpsichord history allows him to discuss technical as well as historical matters that would be outside the competence of a musicologist.
Book Description
The definitive work on the design and construction of an acoustic archtop guitar by one of the most talented luthiers of the twentieth century. Benedetto walks the reader through all aspects of construction through to marketing your finished work. Includes a list of suppliers to acquire all the tools and materials listed; a list of serial numbers for Benedetto guitars; full-color plates featuring the author's models; photos from the author's personal scrapbook of players who endorse his guitars; and fold-out templates for construction. 8-1/2 inch. x 11 inch..
Customer Reviews:
Great, Informative Book.......2007-08-10
If you have an interest in building an archtop, you will want this book. Though it does not contain complete full-scale plans (you will either have to enlarge the included plans or order a separate full-sized set), there is nonetheless a wealth of information to satisfy both experienced and novice builders alike. The text is accompanied by numerous photos of Benedetto's shop, tools (many which are home-made), various guitar-construction operations in progress, and color photos of many of his own guitars. Yes, I suppose there is a subtle bit of self-promotion, as one Amazon reviewer complains. However, one can hardly begrudge Benedetto for this, considering that he has chosen so generously to share of himself. How many of Benedetto's competitors would be as willing to step up to the same plate? If you are serious about building an archtop, I would recommend purchasing the DVDs with the book. While Benedetto is very clear with his explanations, tap-tuning is probably something that requires the kind of hands-on demonstration gained from student-teacher interaction or, in the absence of that, video demonstration.
Good book bad plans.......2007-05-13
This is a good book to understand the making of Arch top guitars.
BUT, I was very disappointed from the plans, actually there are no plans at all
There is a small scale plan of the top, poor information
And a few sketches of the braces....waste of paper
If you need a good arch top plan - this is not for you. Buy a plan separately
Thanks
Yaron.
Craftmanship out in the open.......2007-01-05
Bob Benedetto has written the manual for all of us who would love to make our own guitar but lacked the information. Most of the details necessary have been kept by those who already build or their apprentices. In this book, he gives us enough specific, detailed info to build a very fine instrument on the first try, provided that we have some basic woodworking skills. The price in soft cover is very reasonable, and it makes fascinating reading even if you don't try your hand at making your own Jazz guitar.
dissapointing.......2006-10-15
I read this book cover to cover and was peaved that I'd blown my dollars on it. Benedetto may make some nice guitars. In fact, the feel of this book was more like marketing material for his guitars than of an honest technical work. There is page after page of cr@p. Benedetto endorsers, Benedetto serial #s and who owns them, pictures of the Benedetto crew at a trade show, pictures of his family. Gimme a break. This has zero to do with building a guitar and inflates the price of the book needlessly. As for the part of the book that actually does deal with building...there are bits in here that are informative about aspects that are unique to making an archtop. They are not presented as well or as thoroughly as they could be. I especially don't like how he dismisses techniques or ideas other than his own methods without any explanation as to why he's right and others are wrong. I'm also a little curious about suggestions he makes for building that he obviously doesn't follow himself. Example: he suggests making/using a non-adjustable bridge out of maple. Check the website for his guitars...how many have maple bridges? how many of his guitars come with adjustable bridges? of the non-adjustable bridges he does employ, none of them look anything like what he presents in the book. Get rid of all the clap-trap and the really good, essential, unique stuff could have been presented in a short booklet. As for the rest, meaning those aspects of building that aren't unique to archtops, there are much better resources out there.
Required Reading, Period........2005-10-14
This book is well written, well illustrated and encourging to those of us who might want to try to build an archtop (or any type of stringed instrument). As a beginner, I find that Mr. Benedetto's explanations on the building processes are refreshing and full of encouragement. While he explains the reasons for selecting top-quality (and expensive) tonewoods, he also demonstrates that a top-quality instrument can be built out of inferior (readily available) woods. The message I got was: "don't wait until all of the conditions are exactly right - work with what you have and overcome your limitations" His writing sparks the reader's imagination as to construction methods, jigs and fixtures. While a moderate amount of woodworking knowledge is assumed, his explanations are clear and concise. The illustrations are inspiring and make the reader want to run, not walk to the shop to begin work on an instrument. So, Run, don't walk to get this book. You will be miserable without it!!!
Book Description
A"sequel" to and builds on Violin Making, Step by Step. Full size drawings for the 4/4 (755 mm) cello and its inside mold. The process of making a master cello, including some alternate tools and techniques, is described in detail and illustrated with numerous photographs. This new (third) edition also includes full size drawings, measurements, etc. for a 7/8 "Guadagnini" cello.
The Strobel books for violin makers are professional, concise, and convenient, reflecting traditional, conservative, and artistic work. Some forty thousand sold, they are use internationally by student, amateur and professional makers in shops and schools, and referred to by manufacturers, sellers, users, and lovers of bowed instruments. High quality 8.5 by 11 in. paperbacks made to lie flat and last on your workbench.
Customer Reviews:
rebuttal of previous review.......1998-12-02
In preparation for building a cello, I have successfully built a violin using Mr. Strobel's "Violin Making Step by Step". I have reasonalble amatuer woodworking skills and simple but adequate tools and space. I also reviewed all of the reasonably obtainable sources on violin constuction and found Mr. Strobel's books to be more helpful than most. The author recommends the first time builder of a cello to first build a viloin in his preface to "Cello Making" and I heartily agree. The price of the wood is much cheaper and techniques can be mastered on a smaller scale. The price of his book is about that of one cello lesson and it will last a lot longer.
Book Description
Pluck them, bang them, shake them, and blow into them! These instruments—from wood temple gongs to water drums and stamping tubes—produce every type of joyful noise. Make a fun “gourd orchestra” of rattles, like a Mesoamerican Indian rain stick and African shekere; a Caribbean guiro; a gorgeous mbira or thumb piano; and friction drums that wail or roar. There are instruments from near and far, from the unusual to the familiar banjo and guitar. Tips on choosing, cleaning, and sealing a gourd, and decorating and playing the finished instrument, help to create beautiful music.
Customer Reviews:
incomplete directions and materials lists.......2000-12-09
This book does not compare to Ginger Summit's previous books on gourd crafts. The material lists are incomplete and the instructions are poorly written. It was extremely frustrating, particularly to construct the thumb piano, to have incomplete parts list and the book assumes that the user has a fairly extensive knowledge of tools. I do NOT recommend this book to anyone who wants a quality folk type instrument. I have constructed four instruments and found the general directions poor. It was interesting from a historical folk instrument aspect but was not functional for helping one learn to create gourd instruments.
Not much for quality instruments.......2000-09-06
This book gives wonderful history and inspiration to anyone interested in crafting musical instruments from gourds. Having crafted several instruments myself, I found the real, usable information in this book rather limited, especially if you're looking to build a quality instrument. I would suggest the gourd crafter check out the book "Making Wood Folk Instruments" by Dennis Waring. The instructions are much better and in many cases can be altered to use gourds rather than wood.
Making Gourd Musical Instruments.......2000-03-26
A fantastic companion to "The Complete Book of Gourd Craft" (by the same authors). The history lesson on each type of instrument is wonderful for both adults and children. The photos of both ancient and new instruments are a pleasure to look at and an inspiration to get going on a project while the instructions for making the instruments are basic enough to get started and then let your imagination run wild. If you need more help with basic gourd craft, just refer to "The Complete Book of Gourd Craft" Happy Gourding!
Book Description
This is an encyclopedic, large-format book containing hundreds of illustrations. While not geared toward making conventional instruments, Musical Instrument Design provides all the information that anyone (amateur or professional) should ever need to construct an amazingly wide variety of percussion, string, and wind instruments. Includes many designs along with parts lists and detailed construction instructions.
Customer Reviews:
Extremely useful and doable, even for a layperson.......2007-07-16
This book has very useful information on essentially all types of instruments, even keyboard-ish instruments. These instruments are definitely NOT little kiddy playthings - I wouldn't recommend getting it for your ten-year-old - but can be constructed even by those who don't have a plethora of equipment and supplies. Quite absorbing, especially for those who wish to make a wide variety of playable-quality instruments. Also, one can easily improvise. Very highly recommended!
Excellent.......2007-05-29
Valuable, enjoyable and an interesting read and reference. I would replace it if I lost it.
Get this book!.......2007-03-03
These projects will get your kids off the streets and provide hours of fun for you and your whole family, as you reinvent your own voice. Passive listening to music may relax you, but actively participating in the creation of your very own sounds is therapeutic and will lift up your heart and make your soul sing. Put your iPods in the closet. When was the last time YOU made the music?
Practical information for practically everyone.......2006-03-28
If what you want to do is make a guitar or violin from scratch, there are better books than this one. However, if you want to understand how and why musical instruments of all kinds are built the way they are, this book has you covered. There's information on instruments that are percussive, stringed (both plucked and bowed), and blown into. Most useful are the tips on how to get these things tuned in such a way that they are useful for making music.
Check out the "windworld" web site for some examples of the experimental instruments Hopkin has created.
The book contains information on building materials (with tips on where to get them), music and sound theory, and some history when relevant to an instrument he is trying to emulate. It's certainly not exhaustive, but gives you just enough to get your creativity flowing. I would have liked to see more illustrations and or photographs showing the assembly of some of these instruments, but that's not to say that the book isn't already full of illustrations. I just want more.
One other thing to note is that this isn't a book about making toys for kids. No pie plate tambourines here. This is 175 pages of serious information and ideas, a bargain at this price.
Impractical.......2005-08-19
This book should be titled "The Physics of Musical Instruments." I was hoping to get info to help me design a new Belizean form of Ukulele, and it was no help at all. Info on the resonance of stringed instruments is sketchy at best. The book concentrates on the characteristics of sound, using a instruments (actually experiments) such as a metal cylinder balanced on a couple of balloons. Mildly interesting but not relevant for me.
Book Description
Rich in beauty, sound and history, Manuel Rodriguez and Sons' classical and flamenco guitars have been lovingly hand-crafted in Madrid since 1905. The company's remarkable creations are just as acclaimed today, capturing the 2000 Player's Choice Award from Acoustic Guitar magazine for its nylon-string model. New from Hal Leonard and for the first time available in English, The Art and Craft of Making Classical Guitars presents master luthier Manuel Rodriguez's thoughts on the history of the instrument he loves, and how the guitar attained its prominent position among musical instruments. Filled with fabulous historical photos, priceless memorabilia, abundant diagrams and more, the book covers topics such as the art and development of the guitar, materials used in construction, and much more. Essential for all admirers of the guitar.
Customer Reviews:
A book about classical guitar .......2006-09-06
I enjoyed reading this book. This is not a book about how to actually make a classical guitar. It more like a historical narrative from Sr Rodriguez where he shares many of his experience and knowledge.
This book did provide me with insights of the history of the classical guitar in Spain and the genealogy of the famous makers. At least I understand how a guitar is made and what are some of the differences that goes into constructing the guitar which we all love and appreciate. I also get to know the thoughts behind the lengths and sizes of the guitar, the fan bracings that are used, the kinds of wood that they use for the construction and who are the better master luthiers in Spain.
This is the book to get if you are looking for some general knowledge about the classical guitar.
Thank you Sr Rodriquez for sharing your thoughts and life long experiences with us.
He's a luthier, not a writer.......2004-04-01
Although I share many of the same criticisms of the reviewer who gave this book only two stars, I'm giving this book my highest rating. Like that reviewer, I love to play my Manuel Rodriguez guitar and was really looking forward to the English language version of "The Art & Craft."
Where we differ is that I see this book as a supplement to the other Spanish guitar literature that's out there. Rather than a more definitive work such as "A Collection of Fine Spanish Guitars from Torres to the Present" and "The Classical Guitar: A Complete History," this is more along the lines of a senior master guitar builder/artist sharing his wealth of knowledge of his craft and culture.
However, this book could have benefitted greatly from a more involved editor. There are organizational problems that a better editor would have sorted out. And perhaps a better title would be "Things About The Guitar"--oops, that one's already taken. Maybe "Thoughts About The Guitar" would be more appropriate.
If Spanish guitar's your thing, then "The Art & Craft" deserves a spot on your bookshelf.
I wanted to like this book, but..........2004-03-28
As a proud owner of a Manuel Rodriguez e Hijos guitar I was eagerly looking forward to reading this book. However, I am very disappointed to report that this book did not meet my expectations. The title says "The Art and Craft of Making Classical Guitars" but there is very little information on either art or craft in this book.
I had briefly met the author in his shop in Madrid and purchased a guitar from one of his sons, Norman. As thrilled as I am with the quality of the guitar I now play daily, this book is not a match for his guitars.
The book is not logically arranged, poorly edited and wanders from subject to subject and back again. Chapter headings promise to tell the history of the guitar, woods used in fine guitar construction and techniques. In my humble opinion, this book incompletely delivers on these topics.
The history of the guitar starts with observations from Sr. Rodriguez on historical examples and some small line drawings of ancient stringed instruments. Added into the middle of this light discussion is a table of "transmission times" for various types of woods. Interesting in and of itself, but it illustrates just how illogically this book is laid out. The science is mixed into historical discussion in a haphazard manner. What did luthiers accomplish with one design and how did it contribute to the next design? That's not present in this book.
Next, the reader is treated to a paragraph or two on many of the individual luthiers from the "Madrid school" of guitarmaking. Doubtless, Sr. Rodriguez or his father have known all of these famous luthiers and could tell a fascinating story. But he doesn't. What did these luthiers do to contribute to the history or sound of guitars? We very rarely get any real information about what these builders added to guitarmaking other than where their shops were located or who was the chief handyman at the shop.
Sr. Rodriguez also includes a short history of his family, from flamenco artists to industrial and artistic producers of guitars. We are treated to what seems to be the Rodriguez family photo album. It could be fascinating if the editor could have woven a coherent history from these pictures, or given the reader some insight into guitar building improvements or philosophy. Very unsatisfying.
The last two chapters are titled "Exhibitions and Schools" and "The Guitar in Europe" but it is little more than lists of names with a paragraph here and there of Sr. Rodriguez's reminiscences of those he has met.
As involved and important to fine guitarmaking as Sr. Rodriguez is, he didn't communicate that very well in his book. Buy his very fine guitars, they're much more satisfying than this book.
Book Description
Aimed at both amateur and skilled woodworkers, this handsomely illustrated, step–by–step guide brings the art of violin making within the reach of all. Featuring 200 color photos and diagrams.
Customer Reviews:
Good reference book for the advanced amateur.......2005-10-23
The author juliet Barker has spent more than 50 years as a violin maker. Her book is an excellent introduction to violin making using inexpensive , and available tools. I particularly like her english low tech approach to viiolin construction , as this can help aspiring luthiers to build hand tool skills, before moving on to larger power tools. I was highly amused at one remark about the sound of a rasp being too noisy for quiet work like violin making, she might be horrified at the plethora of industrial sized power tools in my shop.She also gently takes the reader step by step through the various processes of violin making. Cutting a scroll, back and top archings, and carving, varnishing, set ups, sound post setting,, a brief history on violin making. I particularly liked the section , on using alternative woods. Something not seen too often in violin books . Most authors chose maple and spruce, but there are a anumber of alternative woods that have been successfully used. I also liked the chapter on exploring other small instruments ,viola/s, violins and hardanger fiddles. This is an excellent informative book, that will help aspiring luthiers. I would recommend this book be read with roy courtnall/s book on violin making.
violin making.......2005-08-17
This was a wonderfully informative book, but is a little too technical for beginners. It is great for the photographs though.
fine, if you already know what it offers to teach you . . ........2004-05-22
I think that if a book cannot stand on its own, the reader deserves to be provided with that information. If a book cannot be deciphered by a novice, then the novice deserves that information up front, perhaps included in the title of the book. This book is so thoroughly filled, page after page, with undefined terms and assumptions of existing knowledge, that if you don't already know what it intends to teach you, you may as well give up on learning from it. It will certainly not teach a beginner to make a violin! I got through medical school, yet I can't read this book - I lacked the hidden prerequisites. This book needs a title like "Violin-making for people who know how to make violins." I was very disappointed.
Consider these instructions: "The top of the fingerboard should line up with the tail of the scroll, or the top of the hen's tail on cellos. Allow the width of the nut above this point and draw a line across square to the sides of the block." Nut? What nut? And silly me, I didn't even know that cellos had hens tails! Or this, from a section on rib structure: "The linings may be made from a similar wood to the blocks and a strip of wood can be planed, as the ribs were, to the correct thickness." I wish I knew what the correct thickness was, but since I didn't know that violins had linings, or what a lining is - and I certainly didn't find out here - I will likely have a beast of a time figuring it out.
If you don't know the component parts of a violin, inside and out, and if you don't have a pretty good idea of how to make a violin, I suggest you avoid this book. However, the color pictures are excellent; the descriptions of the maker's weight in stones, rather than pounds, is very charming, but I'm afraid the charm will come as a surprise to the author, who may not yet suspect that many of us have come to use pounds or even kilograms to measure our weight or mass.
I think I am familiar with ignorance, since I have so much of it, especially on this topic, but I had hoped and expected the book would help correct that, rather than simply emphasize its degree. The author looks like a very nice lady, however, and I doubt that she did this just to make her readers feel stupid, although that will be the effect on many, especially those who haven't learned that starting out not knowing anything is the usual situation.
Tennessee.......2003-09-11
This book is full of color pictures that show how the tools are used, by a well respected teacher of the craft. It is not designed to be a stand alone manual to make a violin. The book is well written and is a great addition to a violin makers library or someone interested in how a violin is made. I highly recommend this book, it is well worth the price.
A decent companion to the Strobel books.......2003-04-21
If you've read some of the Strobel books and feel a bit puzzled or lost, this book may help you some, especially if you are a beginner. The photographs are plentiful and in color. There is some confusing language and glossing-over of points that may be mundane and obvious to an experienced luthier but are baffling yet critical to a beginner, just as in the Strobel books. So, my search continues for more complete and exhaustively illustrated books describing the violin-making process for a complete beginner.
Book Description
It undoubtedly found a natural home in dance music, but sampling is by no means restricted to one single musical genre. It's everywhere these days - whether or not you're aware of it. That cutting acoustic guitar part in the latest singalong pop hit, or luscious string pad on the romantic ballad, or wheezy organ riff that warms up a funky new dancefloor tune - there's a good chance all of those are samples. Sampling can be obvious, or it can be subtle; it can be exploitative, it can be innovative; it can be legal, or it can be illegal. This book steers you towards some of the more creative uses of samples, as well as helping you stay on the right side of the law. A few of the areas covered in Making Music with Samples include: the technical basics of sampling * choice of samples * editing techniques * creating a sampler instrument * manipulating sounds * MIDI controllers * history of sampling * and copyright law. The book incorporates two CDs - one offering audio illustrations of sampling processes and techniques described in particular chapters, the other containing 500MB of samples culled from the libraries of Zero-G for you to use and experiment with in your own time.
Customer Reviews:
wow.......2007-01-19
i was kinda skeptic at first but i wanted to learn about sampling and how to do it properly. I've been messing with music for the past year or two and this book has brought my sampling to a whole new level. Slice up a beat with programs featured in the book and you're well on your way to sampling greatness. I recommend this book for any up and coming music makers. The included samples are beautiful. :D
THIS IS BEGING BOOK.......2007-01-18
IF YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SAMPLES.YOU SHOULD LOOK AT IT .BUT IF YOU WANT TO KNOW "hOW" PEOPLE USE SAMPLES MAKE MUSIC .THIS IS NOT YOU WANT.
Excellent Introduction!!.......2005-02-28
This is an amazingly great introductory book to the world of sampling, and digital audio. I can't say enough about it. If you're just starting out, and want an easy to read, yet extremely informative book - buy this book! It was released this year, 2005, so it also has the advantage of having very current information and thoughts on the various hardware and software options that are available. But more importantly, you learn a lot about the science and art of making/editing samples. Good job on this one.
Books:
- Polymer Clay Surface Design Recipes: 100 Mixed-Media Techniques Plus Project Ideas
- Practical Yacht Joinery
- Prairie Children And Their Quilts: 14 Little Projects That Honor the Pioneer Spirit
- Sea-Doo Water Vehicles Shop Manual 1988-1996 (Clymer Personal Watercraft) (Clymer Personal Watercraft)
- Small Spaces, Beautiful Gardens
- Sunset Western Garden Book
- Sunset Western Garden Book
- Taylor's Guide to Orchids: More Than 300 Orchids, Photographed and Described, for Beginning to Expert Gardeners (Taylor's Gardening Guides)
- Taylor's Guide to Ornamental Grasses: More Than 165 of These Versatile, Low-Maintenance Plants, Pictured in Color with Full Descriptions of How to Use Them (Taylor's Gardening Guides)
- Texas Gardening the Natural Way: The Complete Handbook
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Choking on the Silver Spoon: Keeping Your Kids Healthy, Wealthy and Wise in a Land of Plenty
- The Color Scheme Bible: Inspirational Palettes for Designing Home Interiors
- Making It Big: Sex Stars, Porn Films and Me
- Masters: Arata Isozaki, Jean Nouvel, Legorreta Arquitectos, Steven Holl
- Spiritual Leadership: Moving People to God's Agenda
- The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For
- Some American trees: An intimate study of native Ohio trees
- If You're Clueless About Accounting and Finance and Want to Know More
- On Imperialist Globalization
- Biochemistry, Fifth Edition: International Version
General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
People and Pianos: A Pictorial History of Steinway and Sons
Steinway and Sons
The Piano Book: Buying & Owning a New or Used Piano
The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier
Piano Servicing, Tuning, and Rebuilding, Second Edition: For the Professional, the Student, and the Hobbyist
