Description:

This cello by Wladek Stopka shows off his beautiful craftsmanship and varnish work. With its warm, sweet sound, it is also very smooth and comfortable to play, making it a wonderful instrument for a finessed style of play.

The back is made from two pieces of quarter cut maple, marked by narrow flame slanting slight downward towards the sides. The wood of the ribs and scroll are similar to that of the back. The two-piece spruce top has mostly straight and narrow grain, widening at the flanks, with slight clawing on the lower bass side. The instrument is covered in a red brown varnish and has been lightly antiqued, revealing a pale brown ground beneath. The instrument is in new condition.

About the maker:

Wladek Stopka has been a luthier for over 30 years. Born and raised in Poland, he started practicing violin making in 1978 in Krakow Poland at the shop of a very well known Polish Violin Maker.

In 1989 he migrated to the U.S. with his family. For the last 20 years he has been making instruments in his shop located in the Southwest Suburbs of Chicago, IL. His specialty is in the Stradivarius models. He uses high quality, old European wood for all of his instruments and making his own varnish adds to the quality of finishes which vary from Modern to Antique.

Measurements:

Length – 74.8 cm
Upper Bouts – 36.5 cm
Middle Bouts – 25.2 cm
Lower Bouts – 44.2 cm
String Length- 68.9

V:3
B:2

Warm, Sweet, Smooth