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Alf Studios - Gregg T. Alf Concert Violins
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Alf Studios - Gregg T. Alf Concert Violins
About Me
What We Do
News
Join the Team
Contact
About Me
What We Do
News
Join the Team
Contact
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Giovanni Battista Guadagnini

Giovanni Battista Guadagnini (1711 – 1786) is widely regarded as the greatest Italian luthier of the second half of the 18th century, celebrated for 44 years of relentless experimentation that produced some of history’s most coveted instruments.¹

Born in the rural hamlet of Bilegno outside Piacenza, young Guadagnini quickly forged a style that reflected “a precise awareness of the most recent developments in violin making,”² even in his earliest 1740s work. Although later labels claim Cremonese training, modern scholarship shows he was chiefly self‑taught, integrating ideas from Cremona into an unmistakably personal language.

He is “perhaps the first Italian maker to consciously imitate Stradivari without having been his pupil,”³ doing so in a vigorous, rough‑hewn manner all his own. Guadagnini’s violins are renowned for their assertive projection, while his violas and cellos display a fearless spirit of innovation that continues to inspire luthiers today.

In his final Turin period (1771 – 1786) Guadagnini entered a pioneering supply contract with the 18‑year‑old Count Ignazio Alessandro Cozio di Salabue, who purchased nearly his entire yearly output and supplied seasoned Cremonese tonewoods. The agreement, signed on 28 December 1773, gave Guadagnini rare financial security and the freedom to refine a more Stradivari‑influenced style.⁴

The Parma Period (1758 – 1771)

After brief stops in Cremona, Guadagnini secured a court appointment in Parma in 1759 under Duke Don Filippo di Borbone, brokered by minister Guillaume du Tillot, a rare instance of direct ducal employment for a violin maker. Instruments from this era bear the ducal monogram “C S R” ("His Serene Royal Highness") on their labels.¹

Materials & Construction

  • Local oppio maple, higher archings, and a warm brown‑amber varnish replaced the rich Milanese red.

  • Narrower outlines and elongated f‑holes with unusually low nicks give the instruments a distinctive, expressive silhouette.

Sound & Legacy

Parma‑period violins are prized for their quick response and penetrating brilliance—qualities that make them formidable solo instruments in modern halls.

The death of Duke Filippo in 1768 dissolved Guadagnini’s stipend, prompting his eventual move to Turin in 1771; yet the roughly dozen years spent in Parma yielded some of his most individual and sought‑after work.⁵ 

Curtin & Alf: Masters of Replica Making

Joseph Curtin and Gregg T. Alf partnered in the early 1980s to form Curtin & Alf, rapidly gaining international acclaim for their meticulous and masterful violin replicas. Operating from Ann Arbor, Michigan, their workshop became synonymous with the highest standard of craftsmanship, particularly known for exacting reproductions of historically significant instruments.

Gregg Alf, recognized for his profound dedication to the art and historical accuracy, personally crafted some of the partnership’s most exquisite replicas. These instruments, praised for their tonal fidelity, aesthetic authenticity, and exceptional playability, elevated the reputation of Curtin & Alf to global prominence, influencing generations of contemporary violin makers.

Tarisio

The Gregg T. Alf 1758 Guadagnini Replica (1989)

This exclusive violin, crafted by Gregg T. Alf in 1989 during his partnership at Curtin & Alf, is a stunning woodwork replica modeled after a renowned 1768 Parma Guadagnini. Bearing both a Curtin & Alf label personally signed by Gregg Alf and a historically accurate facsimile Guadagnini label, this instrument stands out as an exceptional representation of Alf's celebrated replica craftsmanship.

The two-piece back is meticulously cut on the quarter from strikingly flamed Italian country maple, known as "oppio." Its narrow, regular curl gracefully descends slightly from the center seam, perfectly emulating Guadagnini's characteristic aesthetic. Complementing the back, the scroll and ribs share the same beautiful maple, providing visual harmony and historical authenticity.

The one-piece top, constructed from medium to broad-grained Italian spruce, reveals a slight irregularity that broadens subtly towards the bass side—precisely reflecting Guadagnini’s original instruments. Finished with an alluring orange-brown varnish applied over a rich golden ground, this violin has been carefully antiqued by Gregg Alf to faithfully reproduce the nuanced wear and patina typical of Guadagnini’s original masterpieces.

Today, this violin remains a rare and valuable piece, not only due to its impeccable craftsmanship but also as a significant artifact from Gregg Alf’s distinguished early career at Curtin & Alf. It offers players and collectors alike a unique opportunity to experience the unparalleled tonal qualities and historical artistry of one of the most respected makers of the contemporary violin-making world.

¹ Giovanni Battista Guadagnini | Tarisio

² Guadagnini, Giovanni Battista | Scrollavezza & Zanrè

³ Kass, Philip J. “Giovanni Battista Guadagnini’s Work”, Strings Magazine

⁴ Guadagnini Viola - Alberto Giordano | Violini, viole e violoncelli

⁵ Giovanni Battista Guadagnini | Amati Instruments Ltd

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