Violin Forum/Message Board

Romanelli · Junior Member Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 12

It is any violin maker who need and can accept one apprentice? Anywhere in the world. I speack also french.
Just trying now to finish my first violin, but with out having a maestro for 1-2 years, is impossible to learn that "job" only from books and youtube videos. I`m 30 years old, romanian sculptor.
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Desiderius Romanelli

MANFIO · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:24 am Post subject:

Hi Romanelli!

The number of makers who make a living of just new making (that is, no repairs, no renting, no dealing) is quite small. In the USA this number is about 20. Not all makers are willing to take assistants

Do you want to make instruments as a hobby or as a profession? I ask that because it will take some years till you will be able to make an instrument in condition to compete in this market, that is quite competitive.

There were (and are) many good makers that are self taught, mainly in Italy, and some reached quite a high level. It takes more time, but it's possible.
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kel · Member Joined: 20 Oct 2008 Posts: 73 Location: Asia

Hello Manfio

what makes a very good instrument?

Craftsmanship (30% contribution)?
Tone wood (30% contribution)?
Varnish (30% contribution)?
Strings (10% contribution)?

As a newbie, sure i don't have good craftsmanship, but in your opinion, can I be able to make an above average violin (let's say at price level US$4k )?
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Newbie Maker Kelvin

Tim McTigue · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject:

MANFIO · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject:

Well, in the case of a top instrument everything matters, a small difference (in the set up, for instance) may represent a lot. The more you know about violin making the more you will care about smaller things.

First you will have to make things in the right way, that is, model, archings, finishing, varnish, set up, etc. Than, to have success, you will have to have a good style and make something that the rest can't make, it may be sound, the visual aspect, or both.

Just give a look in some Chinese violins in the market to see how cheap they are and imagine how difficult is making an instrument like that, in its category.

In the case of the sound, if you are not a good player, you will have to count with the help of good musicians.

The problem for professional young makers is having a product that can compete in this competitive field. But that's not enougth, you will have not only to have a good product but to sell it too, and that's not easy.

The way, as usual, is studying and working hard, and do the right things, just wishfull thinking may not be sufficient.
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Romanelli · Junior Member Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 12

All i have now is to start and continue alone. I am about to finish my first violin, about 4 weeks of work, some, 1-2 houres per day working. In 2 days i will post photos here.
Any way is verry difficuld for me. First, i dont have special tools, i use only sculpture tools, like ciesels. I dont have small planes, so carving inside of top and back was a difficuld job. For the top i used larch wood, just because i dont find here in my area proper one, even my country have verry good woods for violins(transilvania-romania). For the back and neck i used normal maple, one piece. Also for ribs i used the parts from same maple. I didnt made purfling, because i dont find here purfling lines, for next violin i will buy from some internet shop. But for that, how i used larch for front, i think is not so necesary purfling. And more a lot a lot of mistakes. You will see in 2 days.
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Desiderius Romanelli

Tim McTigue · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 11:27 pm Post subject:

kel · Member Joined: 20 Oct 2008 Posts: 73 Location: Asia

she uses knife to hollow
don't know what other tools she use to make fiddle

is she still making ?
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Newbie Maker Kelvin

MANFIO · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject:

You can make small planes from wood, it's not all that complicated. If you got the virus, eventually you will get the proper tools. Books are quite important also, the one by Courtnall & Johnson is quite good, I think it's called "The Art of Violin Making".
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Barry Dudley · Member Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 64 Location: Monroe, GA

Manfio is right. Before you can even start with the instrument itself you have to make your forms and arching patterns along with several tools.

In today's market place you need other skills as well to be able to market your instruments. You need to learn how to take quality photographs and process them in some type of software like Photoshop.
You need a website. Can you develop it yourself or will you have to pay someone to do it for you?

A hobby is one thing a business is completely different

Romanelli · Junior Member Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 12

I just finised now my first rudimentary violin. Tomorow i will post photos here. In the morning i will set the strings and i will go to a frend, teacher to conservatory, to tune the strings and play a litlle, to see wath i made. I dont think is a good violin, but at least, is a verry nice decoration piece:), the front texture is verry nice, one pice of larch. The back is also one piece, but normal vell dry maple.
Any way, for the next one , i will use proper woods for all parts. For thet one, i used the Henry Strobel book, with his stradivarius messurements and templates.
At tomorow!
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Desiderius Romanelli

kel · Member Joined: 20 Oct 2008 Posts: 73 Location: Asia

waiting for your violin's photos
see if u could post sound file also
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Newbie Maker Kelvin

Manuel · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 12:34 am Post subject: Making and repairing

I have to agree with Manfio, the Johnson book is the best one I have seen so far.

When it come to the importance of craftsmanship, I find myself taking a lot of old German factory fiddles apart, tuning the plates changing the bass-bars and generally massaging those old girls to improve their tone. With Eastman selling so cheap, and students being generally pleased with the tone of these shiny new fiddles, the heavy old European factory fiddles sit and collect dust, unless I can make them come alive.

When it comes to tools I have purchased several from widows selling off their old mans tools. Some of them take a bit of work to restore; but, when you are trying to build up your inventory its a good way to keep from spending a fortune. In the same way that the Chinese are cranking out cheap violins they are also making cheap hand tools. I picked up a set of chisels from a National Hardware chain. They sharpen up nicely,keep their edge well and are well balanced. They may not be Swiss but the set cost me $20 instead of $300. I'll replace them someday, but I want to invest in several Brian Hart's custom tools first.