As plenty of players already know there are many shapes to the instruments we play. Some violins have smaller upper bouts or may be just a few millimeters longer than another. Other instruments have different slight variances that change the sound and feel of the instrument. While many measurements are essentially standardized the basic mold of the body has to be chosen by a maker based on taste and availability. In my case I decided to use a mold that wasn’t being used at Shar. I now own two books by Henry Strobel, Violin Making: Step by Step and Useful Measurements for Violin Makers. (http://www.henrystrobel.com/) In the first book mentioned, Mr. Strobel gives a lot of great information along with full size drawings for a “basic Strad pattern.”
The Strobel Template
I then had to make my mold. Commonly I’m finding that many makers use a traditional Italian or internal mold. Mr. Strobel also describes his process by using an internal mold but the master maker I’m working under, Ashot Vartanian, is used to using a French or outside mold. Since I’m personally more unfamiliar with (and want to learn about) an outside mold and the persons guiding me are used to that as well, I decided to adapt Mr. Strobel’s pattern into an outside mold. Bill Belote, a repairman and violinmaker at Shar who has also made an instrument under Mr. Vartanian, found me some plywood to make the mold. Mr. Belote will also be guiding me through this process since Mr. Vartanian is busy enough making his own instruments and helping with repairs. After gluing two pieces of plywood together to get something thick enough for the height of the ribs, it was very easy to trace the pattern from the poster material cutout.
Plywood with Clamps
Glued Mold
Glued Mold
Using a set of dividers I traced the patterns again creating the proper distance and shape for the ribs in the C-bout and corner areas especially. On the band saw (see Tools) Mr. Belote helped me cut out the shape and using files and sand paper I smoothed out the surface to create what will make the shape of my violin!
Tracing the Mold
Mold Files & Tools