Violin Forum/Message Board

fjodor · Member Joined: 28 Jan 2013 Posts: 60

I'm in the process of setting the neck on my third violin.

This violin has a little odd (small) model as a consequence of making the mold from a semi finished back that I inherited and trying to make it more symmetrical.
It has a very narrow waist (~100 mm).
I also decided to experiment with thick graduations and high ribs.

I'm beginning to have some second thoughts if this is going to work soundwise. Guess the best way is to finish the violin and see Smile

My question is from the more experienced makers here. Is there some setup things to take into consideration here for a small thickly graduated violin?
For example I'm thinking about the neck set, is it advisable to aim for a little steeper string angle than usual?

Some data:
body length: 352 mm
c-bout width: 100 mm
spacing between f-holes: ~37 mm (bass bar set a bit under the upper left hole)
arch heights top/back: ~16mm
rib height 32.5 mm

Graduations
birch back 125 g 6.5 - 3 mm
very low density engelman top 66g 3,5 up to 4.5 mm in places

Michael Darnton · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 8:06 am Post subject:

I wouldn't have chosen a smaller model to make thicker. That's about the only unusual thing I can think of, and it's too late.
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fjodor · Member Joined: 28 Jan 2013 Posts: 60

Thanks. I guess I can take the top of and make it thin it if it turns out to be a total dud ...

fjodor · Member Joined: 28 Jan 2013 Posts: 60

I finished the violin a couple of days ago and can happily report that it doesn't sound that bad. It seems fairly bright.

Here are some pictures

Chet Bishop · Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 9:25 pm Post subject:

Ah, Birch! That thing looks as though it is on fire!

Beautiful fiddle, Fjodor!
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kjb · Super Member Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 385

very nice!

fjodor · Member Joined: 28 Jan 2013 Posts: 60

Thanks for the encouraging comments. Yes the birch back has a interesting flame. I was not afraid to use birch as I know it can make a good sounding fiddle.

The strings are Helicore and I decided to try the Wittner finetune pegs for the first time.
(pegs with internal gears) I found out that I reamed the peg holes a bit to large as the e- and a-string began to spin in the holes.
The pegs must actually be pressed in quite hard and it's important that they are in the right position.

Some thin spruce shavings glued around the peg shafts and jamming them in in the right position fixed the problem and now they
seem to be working well.