OBUE, BARTOLOMEO, Verona.
ODOARDI, GUISEPPE, early 18th Century.
OTT, JEAN, Nuremberg. Lute maker, 15th Century.
OTTO, JACOB AUGUSTUS, born at Gotha, 1762, died 1830. Author of the
celebrated Book on the Construction of the Violin. He made some good
instruments which, in his book he says he "proved" by a machine which
played them in thirds, fourths, and fifths for a continued period, thus
mellowing and perfecting the tone. We do not believe in this doctrine.
From all past experience, there can be no doubt that whatever pains or
trouble a maker may take to bring his instruments, while new, to bear
the character of old, his labour is quite useless. There is no instance
of an instrument becoming famous for its fine tone till it had attained
a good old age. Some modern makers use chemical means to mature their
violins; but this process is utterly destructive to them, as they
become quite rotten through the action of the acid after a lapse of
years. Time alone can ripen and mellow all musical instruments made of
wood, the violin and the organ especially.