Scala Vilagio F.H. Maggini before 1632
Violin 4/4
- Handmade in Germany by master violin maker Florian Hertzsch
- Modelled after the violins of Giovanni Paolo Maggini, whose violins often have a double vein on the edge, wide scrolls and long sound holes
- Due to the slightly larger body with a back length of 359 mm and the high arched top this violin sounds very powerful, rich and dark
- Top made of alpine spruce
- Back, sides and scroll made of flamed maple
- Ebony fingerboard
- Rosewood fittings
- Double vein
- Antique oil varnish with amber finish from our own workshop based on the Italian model
- Thin varnish layer for uninhibited vibration of the woods
- Traces of wear and tear imitating old Italian violins
- Final sound adjustment via bridge and sound post
- Back: 359 mm
- Strings: Pirastro Evah Pirazzi
- Incl. certificate and Gewa Bio violin bag (grey/black)
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Available since November 2021
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Item number 530561
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Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
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Model Solid
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Top Spruce
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Back & Sides Maple
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Fingerboard Ebony
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Tailpiece Rosewood
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Chin Rest Rosewood
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Pegs Rosewood
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Strings Pirastro Evah Pirazzi
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Single E-String Adjuster Yes
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Incl. Bow No
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Including Case Yes
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Model / Style G.P. Maggini - 1632
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Size 4/4
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Back and Sides Maple
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Neck & Head Maple
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Uniquely elegant, instantly recognisable
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As a disciple of Gasparo da Salò, the founder of the Brescian School of violin-making, Giovanni Paolo Maggini was one of the 17th century's most influential luthiers. His instruments were, without exception, a combination of a unique aesthetic with a distinct musical philosophy – an approach that continues to inspire violin-makers to this day. This particular violin is a masterful modern homage to Maggini's later period, and is – like all such Scala Vilagios – made entirely by hand with the greatest attention to detail by a single European master craftsman. This "Maggini before 1632" brings together many of the characteristics that have come to be considered typical for the Brescian School in the second decade of the 17th century: First among them are its very rounded body, especially the pronounced arching of the back and top, which contributes to a sound that emphasises depth, projection, and resonance above all else. The designation "before 1632" refers to the year of Maggini's death, and as such places this instrument in the context of Maggini's most mature, harmonious creative period, where all the elements that defined his style were at their absolute zenith.
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Handmade, yet hi-tech
Before he even begins to make a painstaking replica like the Scala Vilagio F.H. Maggini before 1632, the German master luthier Florian Hertzsch – which is what F.H. stands for – first carries out an analysis of the original instruments in his own workshop, applying both traditional techniques and modern technology to determine their exact composition and geometry. The next step is then to select the raw materials; the woods he uses here are also precisely examined in his acoustics laboratory to establish the specific frequencies at which they resonate, for a result that combines flawless timbre with physical robustness. Of course, he only chooses historically authentic tonewoods, with a top of well-seasoned Alpine spruce, and the rest of the body made from very distinctively quilted maple, one of Maggini's trademarks. The instrument's overall appearance is complemented by its ebony and rosewood fittings, as well as an amber lacquer that Hertzsch also makes himself.
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The sound of the Brescian School
Perhaps Maggini's most immediately recognisable signature is his instruments' double purfling, which is particularly marked here. Equally, though, the overall shape of this beautiful fiddle is a reflection of his style: The slim shoulders and long, straight F holes serve to further emphasise the very rounded lower bout, which – together with the remarkably arched top, especially just beneath the bridge itself – gives the violin its wonderfully rich, deep tone. Unlike the luthiers of Cremona, chiefly Stradivarius, with their preference for a bright voice and an immediate response, the Brescians instead deliberately aimed for a warm, resonant sound – expertly reproduced here by Florian Hertzsch – that works especially well in the instrument's lower registers, as well as complementing the deep brown, natural finish of the Scala Vilagio F.H. Maggini before 1632 perfectly. All this makes the violin particularly well-suited to chamber music, and ensemble playing in general – anywhere a lyrical, expressive style is desired.
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About Scala Vilagio
Scala Vilagio is a Thomann-exclusive brand that offers high-quality bowed string instruments, as well as professional accessories. The products are made exclusively from sustainably grown European woods that have been naturally dried over a long period of time. The instruments are precisely built by master violin makers according to the same traditional methods as their most legendary forebears: Besides Stradivarius and Guarneri del Gesù, the range also includes instruments by other grandmasters such as Nicolò Amati and Giovanni Paolo Maggini. Each one has a unique tonal palette, giving modern players a chance to own a piece of musical history. Scala Vilagio's extensive range originates with numerous expert craftspeople, based in Franconia, the Carpathians, and Czechia (among other places), and who build each instrument by hand in the tradition of the old masters.
Hands-on history
This violin is a loving replica of its extraordinary historical forebears, but this doesn't mean it's a museum exhibit. In his Bavarian workshop, Florian Hertzsch makes musical instruments for musicmaking, combining painstaking craftsmanship with hi-tech acoustic analysis. This approach is further reflected in the accessories that come with the Scala Vilagio F.H. Maggini before 1632, from the Pirastro strings – the company, now family-owned in the sixth generation, continues to make its strings in Germany – to the robust, lightweight, and stylish Roth & Junius Serenata case. An experienced musician looking to treat themselves to an instrument like this will usually own a number of bows already, but of course Scala Vilagio also offers a range of suitable bows with a variety of fittings and finishes.
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