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Review: The Art of Violin Making by Chris Johnson and Roy Courtnall

Review: The Art of Violin Making by Chris Johnson and Roy Courtnall

Reviewed by Michael Darnton

Originally published in American Lutherie #64, 2000 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Six, 2013



The Art of Violin Making
Chris Johnson and Roy Courtnall
Robert Hale, 1999
ISBN 978-0709058762

When I first received my copy of the Johnson and Courtnall book Art of Violin Making I found it relatively complete, but for some reason irritating. I put it away and didn’t look at again for months. Now, going back much later for this review, its strengths and weaknesses are much more apparent to me.

As a publishing effort, it’s first rate, and by far the best-written and most copiously illustrated violin-making book ever. Each section is well illustrated with many drawings and easy-to-read photographs. Considering the information it contains, the price is low for a violin book of any sort.

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