HISTORY

Compared to its ancestors, the violin belongs in a class by itself entirely. In addition, it did not improve over time, but appeared in its current form all at once around 1550. However, none of these early violins exist today. This history of the violin is derived from paintings from this era featuring violins. The two earliest violin makers in recorded history were both from northern Italy: Andre Amati of Cremona and Gasparo di Bertolotti of Salon (Gasparo di Salon). With these two violin makers, the history of the violin goes from fog to legend to hard facts. Violins produced by the two still exist today. In fact, the oldest violin in existence today is one built by Andre Amati around 1565.

Although the violin was introduced to the world in the middle of the sixteenth century, there is a similar instrument that was made around the fourteenth century, called the viola. The viola flourished in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and the violin and viola actually coexisted. in the baroque era.
Instruments in the viola family did not have the f-shaped sound hole of the violin, but a C-shaped sound hole or even a slightly more decorative shape. The viola differs from the violin in having six, seven, or more strings arranged in fourths (compared to the violin's four strings tuned in fifths), a fluted palm, and a relatively thick body due to the sloping shoulder shape at the joint where the neck meets the body. There are different sizes, but the Viola da Gamba, which has a lower register similar to that of a cello, was particularly famous.

Instruments that are around 300 years old, especially those made by Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesù, are the most sought after by both performers and (mostly wealthier) collectors. In addition to the skill and reputation of the maker, the age of the instrument can affect both price and quality. The most famous violin makers between the early 16th and early 18th centuries include: The Micheli family of Italian violin makers, Zanetto Micheli 1490 – 1560, Pellegrino Micheli 1520 – 1607, Giovanni Micheli 1562 – 1616, Francesco Micheli 1579 – 1615, and son-in-law Battista Doneda 1529 – 1610 Family Bertolotti da Salò (Gasparo da Salò) Italian violins and double basses and makers: Francesco 1513 – 1563 and Agostino 1510 – 1584 Bertolotti, Gasparo Bertolotti 1540 – 1609 aka Gasparo da Salò Giovanni Paolo Maggini 1580 – 1630 pupil of Gasparo da Salò Giovanni Battista Rogeri 1642-1710Amati family of Italian violin makers, Andrea Amati (1500–1577), Antonio Amati (1540–1607), Hieronymus Amati I (1561–1630), Nicolo Amati (1596–1684), Hieronymus Amati II (1649–1740)
Guarneri Family of Italian violin makers, Andrea Guarneri (1626 – 1698), Pietro of Mantua (1655 – 1720), Giuseppe Giovanni Battista Guarneri (Joseph filius Andreae) (1666 – 1739), Pietro Guarneri (of Venice) (1695 – 1762) and Giuseppe Guarneri (del Gesu) (1698–1744)
Antonio Stradivari (1644–1737) of Cremona, Italy.
The Rugeri family makes violins from Cremona, Italy. Francesco Rugeri (1628-1698) and Vincenzo Rugeri (1663-1719).
Carlo Bergonzi (luthier) (1683 – 1747) from Cremona, Italy.
Jacob Stainer (1617-1683) from Absam in Tyrol

Between the 16th and 19th centuries, several changes took place, including pinching. It was made a little longer so that she could play the highest notes (in the 19th century).
The fingerboard is slightly tilted to give even more volume as larger and larger orchestras have become popular.
Almost all of the old instruments were modified, including lengthening the neck by an inch, in response to the increase in tone that occurred in the 19th century.
The bass bar on almost all old instruments was heavier to allow for greater tension on the player.
Classical violin builders “nailed” and glued the neck of the instrument to the upper body block before gluing it to the soundboard, while later builders, after fully fitting the body, glue the neck to the body.
The chin was invented at the beginning of the 19th century by Louis Spohr.
The results of these adjustments are instruments that are significantly different in sound and response from those that left the manufacturer's hands. Regardless, most violins today are built superficially like the old instruments.

A builder is someone who builds or repairs stringed instruments, which generally consist of a neck and a sound box. The word builder “luthier” comes from the French word luth, meaning lute. Luthier originally made lutes, but now the name includes makers of stringed instruments such as violins or guitars. a “luthier” builder does not make harps or pianos, because that requires different skills and a different construction method because their strings are attached to the frame. instruments that are pierced or strung and they are played with a bow. 2 Since bowed instruments require a bow, the second category includes a subspecies known as the bow master or archetypal. Builders may also teach string instrument making, either through tutoring or formal instruction.