Violin Forum/Message Board

kjb · Super Member Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 385

is the length of the ff hole dependent of the total body length?

total top length from end to end 366 mm

ctviolin · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: ff hole question

kjb · Super Member Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 385

I picked up a mold somewhere and did not know what it was a copy of , it was a bit bigger and a little wider at the bottom, so I thought well why not a 5 stirng.

so this is the one I did at the plate tuning class and getting it ready for the varnish class with joe.

Since I didn't have anything to go by I started looking at the group of violins I picked up over the years and low and behold I found one that matched the dimensions pretty close. it was a Dominicus Montagnana copy'

I am wondering if I should place the ff holes about the same place as it ( not knowing how it sounds) It was one of the " I think I will strip this violin and redo it but never finished it so I guess I will sell it " ones and I have never set it up and played it. So kind of in the dark on that.

Or should I try to place the ff holes according to some formula?

any suggestions would be helpful thanks.

ctviolin · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:03 pm Post subject:

L P Reedy · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:09 pm Post subject:

Proportionally, your f holes should be about 2 mm longer than for a 356 mm top, but they don't have to be. You will probably want to keep the body stop at 195mm, so the NICKS may end up 3 or 4 mm higher. I would simply (because I do) make my pattern complete with nicks, then place the nicks at 195. Other than that, as ct said, you can do whatever you like.

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

366 mm... is this a violin or small viola?

E

kjb · Super Member Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 385

violin, 5 string.

thanks for all the replies . kevin

jacobyfineviolins · Member Joined: 04 Mar 2013 Posts: 55 Location: Omaha, NE

I disagree with the gist of copying each model's ff's as the pictures have them. Your outline will never be exactly what you are copying. I have come to believe in geometric laying-out systems, at least as a way of thinking about the ff's.
Here is where I started experimenting:
http://www.fiddleheadstrings.com/microsoft_word___for_the_strad_part_1_8_sept.pdf
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I could have carved a scroll by now.
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kjb · Super Member Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 385

thanks I will have to read through that , kind of holding off on the ff but will have to decide in a couple of days.

carving a scroll for the time being ,but man I can't do it in the time it takes you!!

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

The reason why I asked if it was a small viola is because I had read somewhere that slightly longer f holes have the effect of reinforcing the lower fundamental, which would be desirable in a small viola...

E

kjb · Super Member Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 385

well I do want more of a bass response for the c string so I will have to try to figure something out. thanks.