LIUTERIA SIRLETO Materials

Generally speaking, since musicians have been traditional about their instruments, lute-makers have continued to use wood, varnishes and tools that are time-proven to handcraft instruments. For the Sirleto Brothers the first choice in wood selection to handcraft the upper plate, sound post, bass bar and the reinforcement parts (blocks and rib linings) is the well renowned spruce from Val di Fiemme. Time and experience have proven that, after this valuable softwood has seasoned for at least 9 years, it is light but strong and yet it keeps ideal resonant qualities. Likewise, keeping with the centuries-old tradition, they use imported maple from the Balkans to make the lower plate, ribs, neck, pegbox, scroll, and the bridge. This finest wood selection, called flaming maple, offers a very attractive effect: as the finished violin catches the light from different angles, it appears to flicker. Furthermore, they use ebony to handcraft the fingerboard on which they mount metal strings.
With regards to the varnishing materials, the Sirleto still refer to the three-century-old Gagliano formula as a guideline. To this exclusive alcohol and animal- product based formula, they have made the changes necessary as guided by their own 40-years lute-making experiments. The blend of varnish that results from the vegetable and animal product materials as well as their own proportions contribute to enhance the beauty that is part of the Sirleto signature on the instrument.

[Home] [Biography] [Naples & music] [Sounds] [Products] [ Materials] [Tools] [Contacts] [About us]
[www.maxparisi.com]  [www.chiaiashopping.com/art]