Scala Vilagio F.H. G.B. Guadagnini VA 1773

Scala Vilagio F.H. Giovanni Battista Guadagnini Viola 1773, handmade in Germany by master luthier Florian Hertzsch, Giovanni Battista Guadagnini was a renowned Italian violin maker who, during the later period of his career, gained access to original molds, tools, instruments, and semi-finished parts belonging to Antonio Stradivari through Count Cozio di Salabue. The Count provided financial backing to Guadagnini, who in return was required to craft all his instruments in the Stradivari style and supply them directly to the Count. The 1773 viola model also dates from this period of his life, which he spent in Turin. While clearly modeled after the Stradivari viola, it is somewhat shorter. Another distinguishing feature is the elegantly designed f-holes with oval eyes, giving the instrument a visually striking appearance. Furthermore, the viola features a violin-style pegbox rather than the flared cello-style pegbox found on Stradivari’s violas. This modern replica of the Guadagnini viola utilizes a top made of Western red cedar—a wood that has long been highly sought after for classical Spanish guitars. Guitar maker José Ramirez discovered that this wood is an excellent choice for tops due to its faster response, warmer and darker tone, and fuller bass frequencies. Top of Western red cedar (Thuja plicata), back, ribs, and scroll of flamed maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), ebony fingerboard (Diospyros crassiflora), boxwood fittings (Buxus sempervirens), antique-style oil varnish with homemade amber varnish based on historical models, thin varnish layer allowing for unimpeded wood resonance, traces of use modeled after historical instruments, final tonal adjustment via bridge and soundpost, back length: 402 mm, strings: Thomastik Dominant, includes certificate and Jakob Winter Viola Case 51015 VIBE.