Answers to Common Violin Making Questions
- How long does it take to make a violin?
It takes about 200 hours to get from a blank
piece of wood to a violin "in the white" or without varnish. After that, varnish is applied over the course
of several days to weeks. It is not finished yet, then you have to "set up" an instrument by putting on the
fingerboard, nut, saddle, bridge, pegs and strings. Even then, a new instrument needs time to adjust and stretch under
the pressure of the strings.
- What kind of wood do you use?
The top is always made of spruce because it is relatively soft and
vibrates well. The back is typically made of maple, either one piece or two pieces mirrored and seamed together.
Maple is stronger and gives support to the sound and playability of the instrument. The scroll is also made of maple. The
fingerboard is made of ebony.
- What determines the quality of an instrument?
The quality of an instrument depends on several factors. First is its playability and tone. Playability refers
to how responsive the instrument is, how does it feel in your hands, how easy is it for you to get the sound you want out
of it. When it comes to tone, it gets even more subjective. Different people hear and like different qualities.
In general, some things to listen for are tinniness, brightness, fullness and, of course, wolf notes.
After playability and tone, we consider the aesthetic
qualities. How clean are the lines, are the f-holes nicely shaped and symmetrical, does the scroll look balanced?
Do you like the type of fittings and pegs? How well is the varnish applied? All these craftsmanship issues contribute
to the quality of an instrument.
