What We Take To A Gig

What We Take To A Gig

by | May 4, 2022 | Gear, Gig

Gig. I’ve used that word for as long as I’ve been a musician, and it’s never sounded as odd as when I just went to type it here. Originating in the late 18th century to describe both a carriage and a boat, our usage here dates from the 1920s…but we don’t know much...
Carbon Fiber – material of the future?

Carbon Fiber – material of the future?

by | Apr 19, 2022 | Carbon Fiber, Cases

Carbon fiber.  Once a highly esoteric, expensive, cutting edge piece of materials technology, it is now nearly ubiquitous in applications demanding a high strength-to-weight ratio.  The aerospace industry pioneered the modern use of carbon fiber composites in turbine...
No Sound When You Bow? Maybe You Need Rosin

No Sound When You Bow? Maybe You Need Rosin

by | Apr 13, 2022 | Rosin

The number one call we get from parents of beginning string students is, “the bow is broken, we pull it across the string and there is no sound.”  Some of you have already guessed at the problem – no rosin.  Rosin is an essential component of the vibration chain that...

Rigo’s Favorite Cellists and Why

by | Mar 23, 2022 | General News, Staff

Taking a break from going around the shop, I’d like to give you some cellists who I would consider my “cello heroes.” Steven Isserlis – his playing has captivated me since I first started playing cello.  His use of gut strings on his Stradivarius gives a unique...

John’s Cello Heroes

by | Mar 18, 2022 | General News

This week we take a break from describing the differences between various items in the shop and focus instead on musicians who inspire us.  Here are a few of my cello heroes from when I was a young cellist: Yo-Yo Ma – my formative years studying the cello were in the...
Let’s Talk About Cases

Let’s Talk About Cases

by | Mar 11, 2022 | Cases

We’ve been taking a slow tour around the shop, explaining the differences between the instruments first, the bows second, and now the cases.  While I’m not going into the kind of detail that will explain the differences between every single model of case and bag for...

The differences between bows

by | Feb 28, 2022 | Uncategorized

This week’s discussion of the differences between bows will feel like a bit of a repeat of last weeks’ discussion of instruments.  In the end, workmanship and material quality are two of the biggest differentiators when it comes to the cost and performance of a bow. ...
(Re) Introducing: Rigo Barrozo

(Re) Introducing: Rigo Barrozo

by | Feb 14, 2022 | General News, Staff

Now that I am settled in to my new position and John has reintroduced himself, I thought it would be a good time to introduce myself as well.  My name is Rigo Barrozo and I am the new specialist at Encore Orchestra Strings.  I began my journey with Paige’s in June of...