Louise Padday Viola, gasparo da salo model, 2020

poa

A big sound and beautifully finished varnish, with a huge amount of character. Set up by Louise herself with Evah Pirazzi Strings. This is a great viola looking for it's forever home.

The front, Back and neck

the scroll

measurements

Back Length: 16 ⅛ inch
Bottom Bout: 250mm
Centre Bout: 130mm
​Top Bout: 190mm
String Length: 373mm

About the Maker

The partnership of Louise and Tony Padday was literally formed at the workbench at the Violin making School at Newark where they met. Since graduating in 1984, they have continually refined the character of their instruments, each subtly different, yet each an integration of design and material.
​
The choice of superior materials is the first essential and the selection of wood for each instrument is governed by the tonal quality needed by the player, and the overall envisaged design.

The Paddays prefer to construct from one-piece backs and the fine Maple and Alpine Spruce are selected for the character of the grain and quality of figure. They make the varnishes themselves, from traditional gums, oils and natural pigments. When choosing the colour, a judgement is made for the particular wood in question and great care is taken not only to protect, but to enhance the maximum resonance of each instrument.

about gasparo Da Salo

Gasparo Bertolotti 'da Salò' (1540 – 1609) was one of the greatest Brescian makers. His workshop produced many different types of stringed instruments. Although he was a contemporary of Andrea Amati and the Brothers Amati, his methods and materials are quite different from those of the Amatis. Louise has captured this difference brilliantly in this characterful viola.