Raffaello Stefanini Sweet Violin – Bologna 2024

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Label:

We are offering an exquisite Italian violin made by Rafe. The label also carries Raffaello’s full name with it in a stamped form that crosses through his last name on the upper right side of the label. Rafe was born in 1954 in northern Italy on a small hillside near Bologna. In 1979 he was admitted to the Violin Making School (Scuola di Liuteria) in Bologna. Under the tutelage of master violin maker Otello Bignami he studied and learned the style of his town’s distinctive luthiery tradition. He graduated in 1983 and later moved to the U.S. where he settled and worked out of Adolph Primavera’s shop and Fred Oster’s Vintage Instruments in Philadelphia, where he continued to develop his skills in repair and restoration. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2021 and established his own workshop. He still enjoys building his violins at his brother Bruno’s shop (Bruno is a renowned violin maker himself, still living in Bologna) where Rafe travels when he has time to shop and continue building when he is back in his hometown. Rafe’s instruments are extremely nice. I’ve known Rafe for many years and can attest to his attention to detail and the quality craftsmanship in his instruments.

This violin is antiqued and looks older than it is on purpose. The scroll work and especially the volute show off excellent knife and chisel work. The plate edges are clean and show a detailed touch in how the lip is entered and rounded. The European wood choice is excellent. Tons of character and just enough flame to grab your eye. The violin has a two-piece maple back, highly flamed, with matching ribs and scroll, and a two-piece spruce top. The high craftsmanship is evident. The violin is light in its makeup and is set off by the antiqued and slightly distressed oil varnish. The color is red/orange/brown, deeper orange and brown with just red highlights, all on a golden yellow ground.

Corpus 358.0 mm., Major Width 205.0 mm., Minor Width 165.0 mm., Rib Height 29.5.mm.

The violin has deep and powerful roots, and the sound literally jumps off the strings. The tone is rich while the strength of the instrument was noticeable as soon as I played 8 notes on it. The bottom has a gutsy quality; it is more than rich, it is fully voiced and mature. If you are thinking of hiding out in the back of an orchestra with this violin – no way. The instrument can handle a powerful bow stroke and responds well with very little bow pressure. There are no bad spots in the register on this violin. I was using bows to try the violin from 60.5 grams to 61.2 grams., so on the lighter side. This violin has Italian passion, intentional fervor, and overtones that will carry in any hall. The E & A string sound is just as worthy of praise. The treble side is sweet and full of life. The violin offers the player strength and delicacy all wrapped up in a tonal mass of 40 pieces of carved wood. It’s another Wow! from Raffaello.