Violin Forum/Message Board

[antonio]

Just a couple of words before you start writing your comments...
I can say I learned a lot by making this violin, for example that violin making and impatience don't go together, and I didn't believe when some of you said that an average man becomes addicted to violin making after first violin, but now I do believe that, I was such a newbie, sorry (I still am).
You will find many mistakes on my first violin, some made because of my ocassional impatience, some because of cheap plans, patterns and books I had, and some because of my cheap tools, although I bought some special tools for this project. I remember when I got my violin neck template, I was furious because it didn't fit the template from the cheap book I had. Then it occured to me that not every violin neck is the same... haha. That's how much I new about violin making. But... that's where you all came... with all your answers, thank you... I am not a violinist, but the sound seems to be very powerful; I will put synthetic Thomastik Dominant strings. Finally this violin is made within acceptable parameters, although it is inspired by Pietro Giacomo Rogeri (Ruggerius), Brescia, 1715, by that I mean the archings are similar.
I finished the woodwork in one month, and after that 10 days of varnishing. I put these pegs and tailpiece for now. I am not satisfied with the colour, I wanted it to be more brown, a bit darker, but this is what I got. I applied 1 coat of gelatine, 2 coats of primer varnish, then 4 coats of brown coloured varnish, and then 3 coats of colourless coating varnish. The varnish is oil based, and between each coat I sanded it with rottenstone and water. Before this I also applied antique stain. I have a question... Can a man call himself a luthier after one violin...



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Hope you like it, some of the pictures are not sharp fully, my camera is not so good... fortunately, maybe bad photos will hide my luthiery mistakes...

[actonern]

I think anyone's first effort is the proper subject of congratulations only.

Refinements inevitably come, but for now, just luxuriate in the beauty of these things, and feel the pride that it came from your own hands!

(The bottom corners make it look to me like it is smiling)

E

[L P Reedy]

I don't really see mistakes, just lack of experience. Not bad for one month. My first was made using a couple of books and my old very cheap fiddle for reference. I had no one at all to ask for advice. I've made close to 70 now and I'm still learning. And it still takes more than a month.

[ctviolin]

[pmccombs]

Very nice scroll work. I still can't make a scroll that good.

[kjb]

You did a very nice job for the first one with almost no outside help.

Not sure what you mean by a luthier, I think that technically you would probably have to make more than one, but in the end its what you believe you are that should count. As you get along in your life you will be able to answer that question yourself quite well!! good luck and have fun.

[Mikes]

Yes very nice work and you will continue to improve! Keep studying and looking at good instuments and develop your eye for detail. Having been bitten myself, violin making brings great joy and challange to my life that I enjoy immensely. When my wife describes the making of my 1st violin to others she compares the process to giving birth to a child when I strung it up and played the first notes on it. For me it is the best ever to have a good player play my instruments!

Best,
Mike Spencer

[Lemuel]

Congratulations! For your first, I say pretty good and fast for a newbie...as the others are saying...keep on going.

[ctviolin]

hey, is that an extra (teeny - tiny) nick high on the right ff hole?
??
Ok - that's it, I take it all back.

(Yes, whenever I look at this violin over again - she still looks beautiful!
Again, nice work - I see very much personality - when you starting #2?)
_________________
Look,
Listen,
Learn.

[antonio]

...tiny nick?... no, it is not. I think it is dust or something... thanks for the comments! I will start #2 when I get the wood, this last one was from France (Pilgrims Projects). Precut maple back was bent a lot at the thinner end, but I managed to use it anyway. And I'll buy 4-5 good quality chisels with appropriate grinding stone, one more thumb plane, strobel's book and a couple of more things.

[violinarius]

Nice work!
A big part of making violins is in training the eye.
I took carving/sculpture lessons to learn how to look at things with a discerning eye.

Take every chance you get to look at top class work, both Classical Cremonese, as well as other schools, and don't forget top modern makers too.

[actonern]

"...A big part of making violins is in training the eye..."

I think of the craft as a 3 stage program.

1st, is the development of tool control... the ability to make the tools do what you want.

2nd comes the ability to know what you want; to develop a style that is compelling and attractive to the musician...from wood choice to varnish.

3rd is how to make them sound good! Crap that's a hard one!

[kjb]

ah men