Guy Rabut

Guy Rabut is an American luthier based in New York City.

Rabut grew up in Westport, Connecticut. Subsequently he moved his workshop to West 28th St., New York. thus named because the instrument's back features black varnish with a gold leaf design. Rabut based the Black Violin on a schematic of the interior of a Guarneri Del Gesu, redesigning all aspects of the instrument that had no primary acoustical function. These included the corner profiles, the scroll, the accessories, and the color of the varnish. The traditional specifications were meticulously adhered to with regard to critical acoustical components such as arching, the graduation of the plates, and the internal air cavity. As of January 2020, The Black Violin was owned and played by Edward W. Hardy.