The latest 16 inches viola I have made, "Alma Mahler"

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Permalink Reply by Tippi on November 30, 2009 at 1:07pm

Beautiful instrument and I love the colour. What varnish did you use?

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Permalink Reply by MANFIO - LUIS CLAUDIO on November 30, 2009 at 2:29pm

Thanks! It`s oil varnish colured with madder lake and a bit of bitumen. You can listen to a sound sample of one of my violas, Harold in Italy played by Alberto Lepage with the Cordoba Orchestra, here:

http://www.ipernity.com/doc/91953/6596049/

www.manfio.com

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Permalink Reply by Marvin S. Hoekstra on December 9, 2009 at 8:57am

Bellissima! That is a really good looking instrument!
With oil varnish (or presumably with spirit as well) how do you know when it is dry enough to set up (i.e. so the bridge will not stick or the instument will not mar easily?

MANFIO - LUIS CLAUDIO said:

Thanks! It`s oil varnish colured with madder lake and a bit of bitumen. You can listen to a sound sample of one of my violas, Harold in Italy played by Alberto Lepage with the Cordoba Orchestra, here:

http://www.ipernity.com/doc/91953/6596049/

www.manfio.com

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Permalink Reply by MANFIO - LUIS CLAUDIO on December 9, 2009 at 10:59am

Hi! I oil varnish my instruments in about 7 days and 7 days later they can go to the concert room. To me a varnish that never dries properly is a bad varnish. I use a very thin coat of solid vaselin under the bridge feet so that it will not stick to the varnish.
www.manfio.com

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Permalink Reply by Marvin S. Hoekstra on December 9, 2009 at 5:00pm

The photos are also very good. The wood looks to be American, much like Oregon Big Leaf Maple. Can you tell me the source? Also how did this viola get the name of Alma Mahler?


MANFIO - LUIS CLAUDIO said:

Hi! I oil varnish my instruments in about 7 days and 7 days later they can go to the concert room. To me a varnish that never dries properly is a bad varnish. I use a very thin coat of solid vaselin under the bridge feet so that it will not stick to the varnish.
www.manfio.com

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Permalink Reply by MANFIO - LUIS CLAUDIO on December 10, 2009 at 1:32am

Hi! Thanks! The photos are by my friend Andres Lepage, he is a pro violist, he helps me with the set up of my violas and also take the photos, which I find great also.

This wood is red maple, I got it from

www.curlymaplewood.com

but I use wood red maple (and 60 years old spruce) from Simeon Chambers too:

http://www.rockymountaintonewood.com/

I name my instruments. Viola in Italian is a feminine noum, so I give women names to them. I made a series of Saints (Santa Catarina, Santa Chiara, etc.), biblical women (Giudita, for instance), Italian renassance courtesans (Veronica Franco, Zaffetta, Fiammetta, Tullia D`Aragona, etc) and this one Alma Mahler, the composer`s wife and quite a figure of woma, he composed some music too. I mention the name on the label and certificate.

Ciao!

www.manfio.com

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