My Instruments: My Primary Violin – Gaetano Guadagnini II (1796-1852)

Since 2023, I’ve had the incredible privilege of playing a rare violin crafted by Gaetano Guadagnini (II), loaned to me by a private owner, dating from around 1820–1830 in Torino, Italy. Gaetano, the grandson of the renowned Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, was primarily a guitar maker—a trait you can sense in this instrument’s design, with its notably wide belly that subtly echoes a guitar’s form. Despite being one of his few violins, it possesses a remarkably powerful and refined sound, rich in overtones. This instrument has a distinguished history and was previously played by several outstanding musicians, including a former concertmaster of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva.

I am using Il Cannone Soloist strings by Larsen, combined with Amber E by Warchal.

Which strings or string combinations are you currently using? I’d love to hear about your setup—drop your thoughts in the comments below.