Violin Forum/Message Board

[Chet Bishop]

Possibly no one here would remember, but eight years ago I had a student beginning his first viola. He had never held a tool, never made anything, never sharpened anything, so it was really a "start from scratch" teaching opportunity. He showed up sporadically for a couple of summers, dropped out of sight for a few, and finally showed up wanting to finish it, the summer before last, as I recall.
Anyhow, yesterday it was complete, and here are pictures, for anyone interested:
http://www.bluefiddles.com/2014/05/student-finally-completes-his-copy-of-the-1580-gasparo-da-salo-viola/

All the oddities of the original are there, including the wild asymmetry and odd-looking scroll, etc. It plays very well, though it is uncomfortable under the chin for me, with its 40mm ribs and high arching. But I have a short neck, I guess...
_________________
Chet Bishop
https://bluefiddles.com
https://fivestringfiddles.com

[wm_crash]

Whoah, I thought I was slow. My first drum took me 3 years from start to finish. Good story!

cheers,
wm_crash, the friendly hooligan

[Mat Roop]

Chet, obviously you are a superb teacher...and "encourager" nice viola for a young student's first attempt, and great to hear he finished it! No doubt he will go on to the next one.

Congratulations!... cheers, Mat

[Chet Bishop]

Well, thanks, Mat...but I seriously doubt he will build another. I think his inclinations are in other directions. Who knows, though? Anything is possible.
_________________
Chet Bishop
https://bluefiddles.com
https://fivestringfiddles.com