Mandolin, Violin and Guitar Tonewood

 

🌲 Tonewood from Around the World: The soul of any stringed instrument lies in its wood. We've traveled the globe to bring you an exquisite selection of tonewoods, chosen for their superior acoustic properties, grain, and beauty. Whether you're crafting or repairing, our tonewoods from the world's finest suppliers are here to make each instrument truly exceptional.🌲

At Emily's Violin & Mandolin Supplies and Tools, we pride ourselves on the journey we take to bring you the most exquisite selection of tonewoods, a quest that spans the globe but focuses significantly on the rich, resonant treasures of Bosnia and Europe. Our dedication is to the soul of every stringed instrument—the wood itself. By traveling far and wide, we ensure that the materials we offer are not only visually stunning but possess superior acoustic properties, enhancing the craft of luthiers and the music of players. Whether for crafting new masterpieces or breathing new life into cherished instruments, our tonewoods from the world's finest suppliers are here to make each creation truly exceptional.

Top 3 Properties of Our Tonewood:

• Resonance and Sound Quality: Our European and Bosnian woods are renowned for their superior resonance and ability to produce a rich, complex sound palette.
• Beauty and Aesthetics: Each piece is selected for its visual appeal, featuring striking grains and colors that promise not only acoustic excellence but also visual beauty.
• Durability and Workability: Chosen for both durability and ease of craftsmanship, our tonewoods meet the high standards of workability required by expert luthiers.

Our commitment goes beyond simply supplying materials. We understand that the foundation of a great instrument lies in the harmonious relationship between its materials and the artisan's skill. That's why we meticulously source tonewoods that not only promise exceptional sound quality but also inspire the creative process of instrument making. Our collection includes gorgeously flamed maple for backs and sides, and premium spruce slabs for tops—each piece air-dried in a forest setting to ensure optimal natural qualities are preserved.

At Emily's Violins, we are more than suppliers; we are partners in the art of music-making. We invite you to explore the potential that our carefully selected tonewoods can bring to your craft. For artisans seeking to create or restore instruments with materials that embody the essence of musical excellence, look no further.

Contact us for pricing and samples, and let's begin the journey to exceptional craftsmanship together.

Following the Source of Horse Tail Hair for Making Bows

I've been sourcing horse tail hair for bows since the late 1990s.  I bought it from suppliers in Canada, Argentina and Siberia.  The Siberian suppliers sold through an agent in England named Michael T. Sowden.  In 1998, the Canadian tail hair supply started to dry up and the quality of the Argentinian hair became worse and worse.  I realized I needed to find a new source of tail hair.  In 1999, I heard from a member of the Violin Society of America that his bow hair supplier bought hair from China.  This was the first I'd heard about China being a source.  I decided to check it out for myself.  I tracked down one of the companies through my contact, through an interpreter found the auction house where he bid on lots of tails.  From them, I discovered where the tails originated from.  Some were ironically from Argentina, others were from slaughterhouses on the border between northeast China and Mongolia.  I got the name of one of the largest organizations and tracked down their address.  My first trip to China was to Harbin in August of 1999.  I'd never been to China and didn't speak the language...it was quite an adventure just getting there.  I got a ticket via Korean Air to Seoul, changed planes and flew to Shenyang, China.  From there, I took a train northeast to Harbin.  For a white guy traveling alone, it was a harrowing experience, but I found people along the way who were very helpful once they found out what I was doing.

I got to the slaughterhouse and was given a tour.  This was before digital pictures and unfortunately my camera did not survive the journey, but it's probably good.  The experience was horrific and I do not want to repeat it here.  I still have nightmares.  Suffice it to say the animals come from farms in Mongolia and Siberia.  They come across the border by train to the slaughterhouse, where they are unloaded and left in holding stalls until they can be processed.  The animals with the longest tails are separated from those with shorter tails.  After the animals are processed, the tails are separated from the bodies, but the hair is still attached to the bone of the tail.  They are rinsed with cold water and left to dry out on the courtyard of the slaughterhouse.  When dry, they are stuffed into huge burlap bags and loaded onto pallets.  Each bag is marked with a tag indicating (in Chinese) the source of the tails, the color, length and a few other things.

The bags are loaded onto freight trains.  I was able to take the same train as the tails back to Shenyang.  I found out where the tails were going (to Anping), and got the address of the auction house.  I bought a plane ticket after a night in a hotel to the closest airport and arranged to be picked up at the airport and driven there.  My source was a gentleman with a lot of music experience in China.  He started out as a young man selling pianos, but eventually got into the violin and bow business.  He spoke broken English but was very friendly and helpful.  He drove me to the bow hair supplier there and put me up in a local hotel.  I'll include pictures (below) of the experience in Anping.

The courtyard of the workshop was interesting.  It was flagged with small round stones.  The buildings on each side had beautiful murals of wild horses.  There were two orange three-wheeled delivery trucks parked to one side.  I was led into the main building where we sat on benches around a table.  I was given a cup of hot water.  My contact and I chatted with the manager, a young man in his 30s.  He of course was interested in the quantity of tail hair I would be purchasing.  I was confident of the amount, but wanted to learn of the quality of his hair.

The Manager took me out to the courtyard, to a grey concrete basin on one said.  He explained that they wash the tails with a mild detergent here. 

Then we went into a low building with cardboard-covered pallets on the floor.  The tails are dried here, turning them often. 

We then went into a workshop.  Inside was a flurry of activity.  On the right were two men working with bundles of black tail hair.  They were tying off the hair with white string and boxing it up for shipment.  I was told this hair was going to a brush factory in England. 

On the left in back were two men working with hand-fulls of hair.  They would throw these bunches over large metal upright combs I later learned were called "hackles".  The combs would straighten the hair.  They set the straightened hair to one side in back of them. 

A middle aged woman wearing an apron was strapping slats around bunches of hair, making what appeared to be a barrel.  She put the barrel between her knees. She then took a butter knife in her right hand and pulled several strands of hair out of the barrel and placed it in her left hand.  She did this swiftly and repeatedly until she had a fistful of hair.  She then tied a piece of string around it and laid it down to her side.  Once she was done, she barreled up the "drawn" hair a second time, and pulled it through.  She did this one more time with the hair.  The manager told me that this process eliminated short hairs and a lot of bad hair. 

After doing this a total of 3 times, she went on to the next batch while another man took the drawn hair and brought it to another building where women were sitting at tables.  This room had a lot of light.  The women each had a bundle of hair on a white piece of butcher paper on the table in front.  They were going through the bundle strand by strand and inspecting each hair!  Amazing I thought.  Any hair that was bent, twisted, discolored, curled, tapered or not right would be set aside.  The poor quality hair would be used in furniture (mattresses, cushions. I was told they sold some to Honda and Mercedes for seat cushions).  Each bundle would be looked over by at least two of the women.  When they were deemed of good quality, they were placed in a tray and taken to a final setting where a man would make sure the ends were even and tie them up for packaging.  It was a lengthy process, but these people were very skilled.

After the visit to the workshop and tour of the facility, we went back to the Manager's office, where I talked about quantities, quality and pricing.  I said I would place an order when I got back to the US.  The Manager invited my contact and I out to dinner at his house that night.  After a rest at the hotel, I was picked up by some dour looking men in the lobby and driven to the Manager's house.  He lived in a sad looking building that looked like a shack.  It had a tin roof and adobe walls.  I had to duck my head when I went in.  We were met by the Manager's young wife.  She was very pretty.  She invited us in and took our coats.  Dinner was in a side room near a kitchen.  There was a big round dais in the middle of the table, and everybody was drinking beer from little glasses.  Each course was toasted with words by one of the men.  There were no women present.  "Gumbeh!"

More Pictures:

Posted 25th November 2018 by Adam Sweet

Violin and Bow Making Tools and Supplies Facebook Group

Join our Facebook group, "Violin and Bow Making Tools and Supplies," and connect with a community eager to share their passion for the craft 🎻✨.

This group is your go-to resource for exchanging knowledge, discovering the latest in tools and supplies, and connecting with fellow craftsmen and enthusiasts. Whether you're a seasoned luthier or just starting out, you'll find valuable insights and inspiration within our vibrant community.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your craft and celebrate the art of violin and bow making.

Click to join us now: https://www.facebook.com/groups/violinmakingtools 🛠️🎼

#ViolinMaking #BowMaking #LuthierCraft #StringedInstruments #MusicMakers 

Delivery Dispatch: 6 Kilos of Bow Hair

🎻✨ Exciting News from Emily's Violin Company! ✨🎻

We're thrilled to announce the arrival of a special delivery directly from our trusted supplier: 6 kilos of premium, unbleached white horse tail hair has just landed in our shop! This exquisite material is key to creating the perfect bow hair, known for its strength, flexibility, and the beautiful sound it produces.

📦 For our beloved customers who've pre-ordered, rest easy! There's no need to reorder – we'll be dispatching your bundles straight away. Your trust and patience mean the world to us, and we're excited to get these top-notch materials into your hands.

🚨 Haven't placed your order yet? Act fast! 🚨 Supplies are limited, and with the quality of this batch, we're expecting it to sell out quickly. To secure your share of this exceptional bow hair, contact us ASAP. Whether you're a professional on the quest for the perfect sound or an enthusiast looking to upgrade your instrument, we've got you covered.

At Emily's Violin Company, we're more than just a shop; we're a community passionate about bringing the best to musicians worldwide. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your musical journey.

📞 Get in touch today, by calling 413-345-5911, and let your music soar with the purest sound!

#EmilysViolinCompany #BowHair #ViolinistHeaven #MusicCommunity 

Journey for Quality: How Our Global Travels Ensure the Best for You

 At Emily's Violin Company, Our Commitment Travels Far and Wide

In the world of music, quality is not just a standard; it's an experience. At Emily's Violin Company, we understand that to provide our customers with the highest quality materials and the best prices, our journey must transcend borders. That's why we travel the world, meeting with our suppliers in different countries, ensuring that what we bring back to you, our esteemed customers, is nothing short of the best.

Building Relationships Beyond Borders

Our travels are more than just business trips; they are voyages to build and strengthen relationships with our suppliers. We've shaken hands, shared meals, and had conversations in the workshops of China, the forests of Canada, the bustling markets of India, and the artisan shops of Europe. These experiences not only allow us to understand the materials we procure but also to connect with the culture and people behind them.

Quality: A Promise Kept with Personal Touch

By visiting our suppliers personally, we ensure the quality of every product. Whether it's hand-selecting the finest tonewoods, examining the flexibility and durability of bow hair, or testing the precision of crafting tools, we leave no stone unturned. Our hands-on approach in these global destinations guarantees that the products we offer meet our high standards – standards that you trust.

Transparency and Trust: The Pillars of Our Pricing

Our global journeys also play a crucial role in how we price our products. By dealing directly with the suppliers, we eliminate middlemen, ensuring that you benefit from the most competitive prices. We believe in transparency and trust, and our travels are a testament to this commitment. When we negotiate prices, we’re not just thinking about numbers; we’re considering the value it brings to you and your craft.

Sustainability: A Responsibility We Take Seriously

In each of these journeys, we carry with us a responsibility towards sustainability. We choose suppliers who share our values of environmental care, ensuring that the art of music making is in harmony with nature. From sustainable tonewood harvesting to ethical sourcing of materials, our global travels are aligned with our eco-conscious philosophy.

Bringing the World to Your Workshop

Every piece of wood, every strand of bow hair, and every tool that we bring back is imbued with a story – a story of quality, dedication, and a global quest to bring the best to you. We don’t just bring back materials; we bring back a piece of the world, ensuring that your next creation is not just an instrument but a testament to a journey of quality.

At Emily's Violin Company, our passport is stamped with the promise of quality and value. Thank you for joining us on this journey, for every note you play and every piece you craft is a melody that resonates with our global adventures.

Stay tuned for updates on our latest travels and discoveries!