Your cart
There are no more items in your cart
How to build your first violin
Building a violin is an exciting journey that blends creativity, skill, and patience. However, taking the first step into lutherie can be challenging, especially when it comes to selecting the right woods and setting up a fully equipped workshop. At Maderas Barber, we understand these difficulties and want to offer you some tips to simplify the process and ensure professional-quality results.
Revolutionize Your Knowledge with MB Sound Tops
En el mundo de la construcción de guitarras, cada detalle cuenta. Tom Sands, luthier británico conocido por su trabajo artesanal y enfoque en la excelencia, lo sabe bien. En un reciente vídeo en su canal de YouTube, Tom examina las tapas de MB Sound de Maderas Barber junto con Giuliano Nicoletti. En esta charla, ambos comparten sus impresiones sobre cómo las características específicas de cada madera, respaldadas por datos acústicos precisos, pueden llevar la construcción de guitarras a otro nivel.
A legendary wood joins our catalog of naturally aged pieces
A new high-end and extremely rare wood has been added to our MB Dry catalog. This exclusive addition represents the best of our selection of naturally aged woods, designed for the most demanding and sophisticated projects. Keep reading to discover what makes these pieces so special and why drying is a crucial factor in wood quality.
New Ebony Restorer for Your Fretboards and Much More
In the world of luthiery and woodworking finishes, choosing the right products is far from a minor detail—it’s the decisive step that defines the aesthetics, protection, and in some cases, even the sound of a piece. When it comes to materials that make a difference, OldWood, a brand of international renown, now features in the Maderas Barber catalog, offering luthiers and artisans specialized products for both traditional and modern finishes.
Pale Moon: the wood that stands out for its own contrast
In the world of luthiery, few woods manage to combine striking visual impact with the acoustic properties that define a great instrument. Pale Moon, also known as moon ebony (Diospyros malabarica), is one of them. With unique streaks ranging from black and gray to cream tones, its appearance evokes marble or the night sky, making each plank a unique piece of nature.
Padauk Bariolé: A guitar wood with personality
Ensuring that a guitar stands out and reflects a unique personality is an essential detail in its construction. If you want your guitar to possess an exceptional character that makes it stand out, choosing the right wood is crucial.
Samanguila, the best alternative to American Mahogany
Samanguila, or Khaya ivorensis for the technically inclined, is a type of wood that has been appearing in the world of luthiery. Known as African Mahogany in English, it has come to take the place traditionally held by classic Mahogany. This African-origin wood is increasingly appearing in luthiers’ workshops and guitar and bass manufacturers' catalogs. But is it really a good alternative to American Mahogany? Here, I’ll tell you more about African Mahogany.
Why Shellac is So Special in Musical Instruments
Shellac is one of those finishes that luthiers love, and for good reason. It protects and enhances the beauty of instruments without excessively affecting the natural vibrations of the wood—something not all finishes can achieve. Of course, every finish adds a bit of weight and changes the instrument’s properties, but shellac does this so lightly that it barely interferes.
Aging Techniques Every Luthier Should Know
Wood aging is a fundamental aspect of building high-quality guitars, a key technique in crafting a great instrument. Traditionally, luthiers have valued the passage of time in woods as a way to enhance the acoustic qualities of the piece. However, waiting decades for the wood to reach those qualities isn’t always practical.
