Violin Forum/Message Board

Michael Darnton · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 12:34 pm Post subject: Fer yer amusement :-)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/videogallery/73866524/News/Violin-maker-demonstrates-his-handmade-process
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Canuck · Member Joined: 15 Oct 2012 Posts: 29

We had the good fortune of visiting the Stradivarius Museum in Cremona, in October of 2012. Violins, violas, and a cello, ranging from the mid 16th century up until 1947. Most of the big names were represented, and one or two I'd not heard of. In the world we live in, so given over to ephemeral things that are used up and discarded, it is indeed a pleasure to see such dedication as you portray in your video. Very much enjoyed it!

rs · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 1:44 pm Post subject:

Michael, very nice. I love your work, but more importantly, I love your contributions to the violin maker. This is, I believe, because you have helped me "see" things much better than I did before. You have helped me, not simply to make better violins, but to be a better violin maker (which is infinitely more important to me), more so than you will ever know.

Thank you.
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Randall Shenefelt

Michael Darnton · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 2:20 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the kind comments. I really appreciate them.
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Mat Roop · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 2:37 pm Post subject:

"How cool is that!" ... thanks Michael for the glimpse into your shop.
I love reading your magazine, posts, advice etc. because it is not just a read... There is so much meaning in what you say that it takes (me anyway) time to process and absorb the nuances.
Cheers!... Mat
ps... love your new playing position.... solves any sore neck problems Smile

ctviolin · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 3:32 pm Post subject:

Michael Darnton · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 3:43 pm Post subject:

I used Michigan maple for a while and was happy with it. I tried Engelmann spruce and Adirondack spruce, and was not happy with either. I haven't tried Sitka, but Bruce Harvie once sold me a representative sampling of different pieces that he thought would make good violins, that I haven't tried.
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ctviolin · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 4:14 pm Post subject:

Michael Darnton · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 4:29 pm Post subject:

I use whatever the supplier sends me, and never had a piece not work just as well as any other piece.
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ctviolin · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 5:21 pm Post subject:

Chet Bishop · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 6:47 pm Post subject:

Not that it matters, but I have had two other fairly experienced makers, (Mark Moreland and Paul Schuback) tell me the same thing...that (especially for violins, not so much for larger instruments) European wood produces superior sound.

Paul feels that Sitka Spruce can be used in place of European Spruce with no great loss, but that the European Maple was really necessary for a good violin.

On violas, celli, etc. they both seemed to feel that domestic wood was acceptable, though the graduations might have to be thicker, since the domestic maples are usually not as stiff.

Some other makers have told me that for the violas and celli, Engelmann spruce was good, but not for violins...so, possibly, the size of the instrument has some effect on the type of wood needed. I have pretty much switched to Sikta entirely for now, but, ironically, my best-sounding violas have all had Engelmann. (sigh)

Up until this year, I have felt that my physical skills were the limiting factor, not the wood, but both the above-mentioned makers advised me that the time has come to step up to European wood...so I am beginning to try it, now. I have only bought from IVC, so far...the prices are reasonable, and I can call and talk with them in English, and they deliver promptly...all of which are important to me.

For what it's worth....
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Chet Bishop
https://bluefiddles.com
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Chet Bishop · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 6:51 pm Post subject:

Annnnd, I forgot to say, thanks for sharing that video, Michael. It was very encouraging, for some reason.

Good to see you and hear your voice again, I s'pose. Smile

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Chet Bishop
https://bluefiddles.com
https://fivestringfiddles.com

actonern · Super Member Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 444

Well I'm late to the party, as I've been "off line" for a few days.

I really enjoyed the video too... when you get so much help from someone via a technology as "remote" as the internet it's very nice to see flesh and blood!

And while I'm at it can I ask for more advice? Very Happy

I'm looking for a good scroll saw to cut out f holes... seeing you use one on the video makes me suspect you have an opinion on this?

Best regards,

Ernie

Michael Darnton · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:28 pm Post subject:

I don't have a strong opinion about the handle. There's a tubular one, a bent flat steel one, and a cast aluminum one. I remember going for the lightest, which was the bent one. I've used the tubular one, and it was OK. The cast one seemed too heavy to me. The bent steel one is the cheapest, also, I believe.

Mine is this one, or like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Groz-Deep-Throat-Fret-Saw/dp/B0032U7IOG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1357086143&sr=8-2&keywords=deep+throat+saw

More difficult is the problem of blades. Coping saw blades, which do have set teeth to make a wide kerf are too wide front-to-back, and don't want to turn the corners tightly enough. Jewelers saws have teeth that are too fine and no set on the teeth, so they really want to go straight ahead, and they don't like turning or hopping over grainlines. The ideal would be fine-tooth coping blades, on shallower stock, and I do believe that originally I ground a lot of the back off coping blades on a belt sander to get what I wanted. Then I discovered a cache of blades from the 1890s that were perfect, all teeth and set, no back, and bought the whole bunch of them--a gross and a half--so I don't have to worry about blades now.

http://mdarnton.tumblr.com/post/13067142079/jewelers-saw-blades-in-my-quest-for-the
The pictures in this link are highly magnified--I think the blade is less than 1.3mm, front to back.
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kubasa · Member Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 212

Michael, when you say you've used Michigan maple are you referring to sugar or red or something else? I'm just curious because I'm working on my 2nd instrument with maple from the U.P. It's sugar maple. I don't need to go to the gym for a while after carving out the plate. That was a lot of work. I liked the sound from the first instrument using sugar maple so like a fool, I'm making another....pretty wood but very hard.

Oh and yes, thank you for posting the video. Very nice to hear a voice and see you at work!

James