I am really excited! I’ve worked on violin family instruments off and on for six years now while going through high school and college. My interest began when my cello started buzzing one day. I picked it up from the repair shop and the repairman showed me around and let me hold a violin from the 1600s with the original neck (it was screwed in back then!). I was hooked. Since that time I’ve wanted to join the mystic circle of violinmakers around the world striving to combine science and beauty to make something that really touches players and listeners. Now I finally have my chance!
So I had to pick wood. Being around instruments for years now I had an idea of what look I wanted in my wood. Shar has aged stock of maple used for backs, ribs, and the scroll. The wood here is at least 18 years old. From my experience the older the better, so I found a nicely flamed and extremely light set for the back plate. The weight of wood matters a lot in the final product. I’ve noticed that lighter instruments tend to resonate very well and I was really happy with my find. The scroll block has nicely matching flame as does the rib block. Check out what the ribs of a violin start out as. Eventually I’ll have strips only a millimeter thick bent to form the body of the instrument.
Wood for the back of the violin.
Block for the Scroll.
Block for the Ribs.
Soon to be the ribs.
Unfortunately, Shar was out of top wood so I did a little research and finally came across a website that sounded really great. Rocky Mountain Tonewood (http://www.rockymountaintonewood.com/) is run by Simeon Chambers and the wood he sells is at least 50 years old! I decided to buy his top rare grade since I want the best possible materials going into this instrument. After talking to Mr. Chambers and telling him about my project he was kind enough to send some other wood I would need completing my wood selection. These included bass bar stock, willow strips for lining, and a chunk of wood for blocks.
The Top Wood
The Bass Bar.
The Willow Lining
Block Wood
Age of the Block Wood
I was really excited to see that Mr. Chambers took the time to find out the age of the tree. You can see in the picture it started growing in 1596! So overall, I think I picked some really nice materials to go into my violin.
As for tools, I am familiar with many tools used in the process of making a violin. I decided it would be a good idea to show some examples of what I’ll be using throughout this process. Check out the tools section of the site to see what many modern makers are using to make instruments today!