Violin Forum/Message Board

[John Cadd]

Chinese top plates for sale on ebay . Who uses them ? These are complete with purfling .The sound holes are done . Just the top means the rest has to fit that . If the purfling and edges were left out the plate could fit any older violin .What is the thickness like on these plates . Thicker will give a bigger choice to the assembler . Lots to think about .

[John Cadd]

I sent an email message asking how thick the plates were .These are all fitted with bassbars and purfling.
The reply was "We cannot change the thickness". So I replied "I don`t want you to change them.Just say how thick they are. Or phone the maker to ask them ".
I doubt if they will reply . The information lacking is also what model violin would it fit.There is no chance to alter the outline.
I don`t want one myself but it`s all a bit illogical and maybe wasting wood .
Now I wonder if complete assembled violins in the white are assembled with hot hide glue . Is that being too fussy ? It would be nice to know . China can`t be shooting itself in the foot for ever .

[John Cadd]

A new message came back . The thickness is between 3mms and 5 mms.So that`s ideal . Well done China .Something to work on or leave. As long as it was not too thin .

[John Cadd]

A video of Chinese violin factory workers churning out parts for violins is mostly done on crowded benches with the workers standing and scrubbing away at the plates with hardly any sign of templates . The finished plates that were on sale separately were probably made with copying machines all computer controlled. Even the scrolls were done by computer .That would give you a much better arching and appearance. The massive piles of wooden wedges all awaiting excavasion was a bit disturbing . But no rule of nature forbids any of these instruments from ending up as reasonable violins . It`s the opposite pole from the overpriced high end situation in the West. The tradition of deception and fakery here has been sadly long established.