Violin Forum/Message Board

[antonio]

What do you say about using a topographical map to achieve the desired archings of the top and bottom plate, like on the picture 5 and 6 below?
Does anyone sell these maps? I know it's not traditional approach...

[Michael Darnton]

I don't believe the usual topographical maps are detailed enough, especially in the areas where you need it the most.
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[jacobyfineviolins]

When I make a Strad, I draw out one topographical step at a time, top of the long arch down, to rough it out. I started doing this when I got my Sacconi book. But Michael's right; the transitions from cross arch to edge right below the ff holes, and other places, won't turn out for sound if you follow the topography too strictly.
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[John Masters]

[John Cadd]

The Sacconi diagrams of Strads seem to avoid the lines bending inwards near the soundholes. If the internal surface was like a mirror the inward bend would throw light away from the soundholes .I nearly said lightholes. Does that make sense? Structurally I feel as if the straighter lines are stronger if you think about the wood fibres , as the straight lines keep more fibres intact. The barrel effect is mentioned when experts describe Strads. Balancing structure and lightness and retaining a bit more stiffness. Also easier to plane the wood without the dips near the sound holes. Maybe the convenience happened to produce a better result so he stayed with it .
Oh good , my name change happened. Quick work Lemuel . Thanks .

[ctviolin]

[ctviolin]

By the way, just for talk's sake - the gentleman who brought me through my first violin (waay back - 1976), Paul Shaupp, who lived in Southern California. well, he would make his plates exactly like what is being shown above - by carving in *map contoures* with his overhead router - and then smoothing out the arch with regular carving tools and sanding discs and paper.

Again, this is just me, but I found the method a bit arbitrary in the larger sence of creating exactly what you may have wanted, instead of what you get from the machine.

It made me think, at what point does the individuas creativity become the operating causitive factor in the making?
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[John Cadd]

No nothing that heavy was intended. I wrote a longer answer but it switched off by itself so --no . Just a light brush stroke idea .Nothing more .

[ctviolin]

[johngia]

[John Cadd]

Slow down CT you seem to have projected lots of new things onto my post. I wrote a longer one that switched off and I had to go out soon after so now I can sort the pieces out.
I replaced a violin belly which had woodworm in 1965. Self taught from the Heron Allen book .That was my first attempt. It played well for some years. I was complemented on it`s tone. I never got round to cutting the soundhole notches on that one. First complete violin was 1978 .That was the Heron-Allen model of the delGesu and took 6 months .
I have the Sacconi book. Those diagrams do show a clear ---- avoidance ------of allowing the lines to pull inwards as if they were being influenced by the narrow C bouts.
Inside the body that shape will affect the acoustic behaviour.
Now then . you have to let me know if you would prefer the lines to be similar to Strads idea or curve in further or bulge outwards . You have committed yourself so you have to choose one or the other now . I just noticed the general shape, expecting effects that might occur if we changed them in that central area .
More long wood fibres being left intact would help . That seems good sense. Did that seem a mistake ?
The Barrel shape description was by Charles Beare describing a Strad violin.
Structure and stiffness in the area nearest to the bridge pressure. Natural shapes from nature show the way the outer shell avoids weaker inward curves. Insects shells are designed in certain ways to be durable by maintaining the Volkswagen Beetle shape as much as possible .
Avoiding the inward curve will simplify cutting of the bassbar. Put that on the list . It all adds up .

[L P Reedy]

I've never used the topo maps because I could not quite see the point. To my feeble mind they seem to be the hard way to do the job.

[ctviolin]

[John Cadd]

If you refer to your first violin (waay back in 1976 ) it seems like an invitation for me to tell you about my first violin. The normal way a conversation would work .
The Sacconi book has the relief drawings of Strad violins so it seemed a bit relevant to the question we are talking about. Likewise the Heron-Allen book which you had too. All part of the normal conversation material .
Your last sentence seems to be asking if I have made a violin ( in wood) using that method. Well yes .That method but not that particular design from the Sacconi book.
What was the problem mentioned before about certain areas not being accurate enough ? We need some details about that .
I prefer to work out the details myself and don`t copy any other designs (for that stage ). I use my own methods so therefore I am certain to be wrong. Go on ,I have given you a chance to agree with me .

[ctviolin]