Violin Forum/Message Board

[ctviolin]

I'm curious.

What do the makers here, usually get, or shoot for, for a finished (completed & strung up) violin weight?

I'd also be curious to know what particular woods different makers use, (as, the weight between domestic Englemann and Sitka spruces, just as one example, are radically different in weight) and what type of fittings do you usually use?
And, do you consider them of great importance (fittings) with regard to their eventual effect on performance?
For example - I'm curious how many makers habitually use full size - over the tail piece chin rests, and, if you do, do you prefer ebony over much lighter wood died black - etc?

Lastly, I'm curious if the final weight is usual or typical - or do you allow small, or maybe even large differences between violins due to things that might vary - or do you like very similar results in weight ?

Do many makers have a particular target weight they try for?

Thanks for any information offered,
Craig T
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[MANFIO]

Yes, fittings will have an influence in the weight.

Here are some instruments that were weighted, the data is on the CD ROM about Venetian instruments. All are fully mounted, chinrest included, and the type of wood is mentioned:

Montagnana 1731, rosewood fittings: 463.8 grs.
Montagnana 1715, boxwood 403.7 grs.
Montagnana 1742, boxwood pegs and tailpiece, rosewood chinrest: 448
Gofriller, 1710, boxwood, 447 grs.
Gofriller, 1695, boxwood, 394 grs.
Gofriller 1700, ebony, 421.6 grs.
Gobetti 1714, boxwood, 446,6 grs.
Pietro Guarneri Venezia, 1730, boxwood 412 grs.
Santo Seraphin, boxwood, 435 grs.
S. Seraphin, boxwood, ebony chinrest, 432 grs.
Tononi 1718, ebony, 429 grs.
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[MANFIO]

I had the weight of Del Gesù's Cannone in some place (without fittings) but I was not able to find it...
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[Michael Darnton]

Of the Strads and del Gesus I've weighted, without chinrest but with everything else, the lightest was 360gms, the heaviest 420, and most ran around 390-400gms.

I used to work very carefully to weight, but when I started making heavy del Gesu models, had to give up that compulsion.
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[okawbow]

My best sounding del Gesu model weighs 454 gr fully dressed. My sweetest sounding large Strad model weights 544gr! Both are red maple and engleman, ebony fittings.

[DonLeister]

I believe the Cannone is 434g w/o chin rest but with everything else.

I can't say I shoot for certain weight for a violin but I do like to have my tops below 70 white / w/ bar. But I will allow heavier up to upper 70's if the top is getting thin, like much of it under 2.5.

Backs I like to see 105-110 but I'm not stuck on that. I like my violins to respond quickly and less weight helps that but at a cost. I'm trying some arching and thickness schemes to help encourage some resilience and strength under the bow.

[kubasa]

Wow, that is quite a list Luis! Here I was fretting over my latest instrument being around 460 with the fittings but now I don't feel so bad, considering that I used sugar maple which obviously makes it heavier right from the start. Very interesting.

[violinarius]

I don't aim for a particular target weight.
I use weight as a general guide. It tells me roughly where I am.

I think weight would be more helpful to someone that is extremely selective in choosing their wood, that rejects anything other than wood of the same density.

[kubasa]

While looking for something else, I came across this amazing article on weights. I actually don't remember what I went looking for in the first place....I'm guessing many of you have seen this but it's the first I've seen of this. Now, I need to buckle down and spend some time studying it. I wanted to share the link:

http://waddleviolins.com/downloads/Weights_Nov2003CASJournal.pdf

[ctviolin]