I know you’re now preparing to make a
violin - how much research goes into
making these instruments?
How important is trial and error in your
woodworking?
Failure is undoubtedly the best teacher. But
with a little study and preparation, you can keep
your failures on the inconvenience level instead of
the disaster level. The best you can do is
understand “the big picture” of what you're aiming
for, then just bumble through each step, developing
skill along the way. That way, you’re end result may
be pretty rough, but it still comes together as
whole.
TONS. It’s crazy how complex a violin can
be for such a simple looking instrument. The basic
essence is similar to a CBG, with the addition of a
bass bar to brace the top and a soundpost to
connect the face and back for added resonance. But
that figure-8 shape is essential if you want to use a
bow, and it’s a much trickier construction than a
box. Also, bowing requires that the strings sit
above an arched fingerboard so the bow can play
each individually.
Without basic study & prep, you’ll have no
idea if the pieces you imagine will even serve the
goal you’re hoping for.
I’ve been reading up on the subject mainly
because I intend to build an Upright Double Bass
soon and the construction principles are basically
identical. My fiddle will make a nice prototype/
proof-of-concept before I commit to a pricier
investment in time and wood for the bass.
Of course it goes without saying that,
SAFETY is the one area where you can’t afford trial
and error. Some woods can be EXTREMELY nasty
if they get in your lungs or eyes. Many cause severe
skin & respiratory allergies, and a few are even
TOXIC.
No joke: ALWAYS wear eye protection and
wear a particle mask when sanding or otherwise
making dust. I casually skipped it when I started
woodworking and spent four months coughing.
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THE CONE - ISSUE #9 - SPRING 2016