Su misuraMade to order
An instrument made for you
Every violin, viola, cello and double bass by Gregorio Martini is made to order. It begins with a conversation and ends with an instrument that exists for one musician only.
- One of a kindnever made in a series
- One pair of handsfrom the wood to the voice
- On requestprice and timing agreed together
La sceltaWhat you choose
Four decisions, made together
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I
Size & model
Violin, viola, cello or double bass — and the model and size that suit your arm, your hand and your music. Violas, for example, from about 38 cm up to 45.5 cm.
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II
Tonewood
Seasoned spruce for the top, maple for the back and ribs — plain or strongly flamed — chosen piece by piece for weight, stiffness and resonance.
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III
Varnish
From a light honey-gold to a deep red-brown: the colour is chosen together and built up in thin layers by hand.
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IV
Voice
Brilliant or dark, focused or broad: the arching, graduation and set-up are guided by the sound you are looking for.
La tavolozzaThe varnish palette
Choose the colour of your varnish
These are real colours from Gregorio’s instruments, each shown on the instrument that wears it. Choose one to see it — then imagine it on yours.
Colour on screen is only a guide — the final shade is chosen together, in natural light.
Il percorsoFrom first letter to first note
How a commission unfolds
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01
Il dialogo
The conversation
You write about your playing, your repertoire and the sound you hear in your head. Gregorio answers personally.
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02
La scelta
The choices
Together you decide the model and size, the wood, the colour of the varnish and the character of the voice.
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03
Il banco
At the bench
The instrument is carved, assembled and varnished by hand — one at a time, never in a series.
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04
La voce
The voice
Soundpost, bridge and strings: the instrument is set up, played and adjusted until it answers.
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05
Il debutto
The first notes
The instrument is yours — and, played every day, it keeps opening up for years.
01 Can I commission a made-to-measure instrument?
Yes. A commission begins with a conversation about your playing, your repertoire and the sound you are looking for. Together you choose the model, the wood and the colour of the varnish, and the instrument is then made for you alone.
02 Can I choose the colour of the varnish?
Yes. The colour of the varnish is one of the choices made together — from a light honey-gold to a deep red-brown. The instruments in the catalogue show the range of colours Gregorio works in.
03 Can an instrument be made in a particular size?
Yes. The size and the model are chosen around the player. Violas, for example, are made from about 38 cm up to 45.5 cm of body length, depending on the player’s arm, hand and the depth of sound they are looking for.
04 How long does it take to make a violin by hand?
Building a violin by hand takes many weeks of bench work, followed by the slow layering and curing of the varnish. The timing for each commission is agreed at the very first conversation.
05 How can I find out the price of an instrument?
Each instrument is unique, so prices are given on request. Send the opus number of the instrument you are interested in to mgviolinmaker@gmail.com and you will receive full details, additional photographs and the price.
06 What should I write in my first message?
Tell Gregorio a little about yourself as a player: your instrument, your repertoire, the sound you are looking for and, if you have one, the instrument from the catalogue that interests you. That is all a first conversation needs.
Finale
Let us make an instrument that sounds like you.
Tell Gregorio about your playing, your repertoire and the voice you are searching for. Every commission begins with a conversation.