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Last updated 27th July 2005 by Bree
Constructing and Stringing a Violin
Construction of a violin is very similar to that of a gitar, though with a slightly different shape and a much smaller size. The crafter molds and prepares the sides in the same way. The front and back panels are carved as for a gitar, but without the sound hole on the front, and cut to more of an arch than the flat-bodied gitar. The front panel must also be modified to add two curved, long holes on each side to replace the sound hole. A tall piece of wood is attached to underlay the strings on the front panel, giving them more tension, less area to play upon, and a higher pitched range.
The neck is also similar, except that the crafter includes a scroll at the top instead of the tuning board. The bored holes for the tuning pegs is located below that scroll on the sides rather than on the top as on the gitar. The pegs are the same, but the holes bored into them are closer to the flat piece on the end.
After these parts have been made there are a few additional features are constructed. First are the four ribs: these are shaped over a heated form as the sides were, but in the shape of a "U". Small blocks are glued on the sides of these. They are then glued to the inside of the back piece, placing glue only on the blocks.
A bass bar and a sound post are the next steps. The bass bar is cut into the shape of the lower half of the violin and then glued onto the inside of the front panel. The sound post is nothing more then a cylinder of wood that will be fitted when the violin is put together.
To assemble the violin, first glue the sides to the back, making sure that the ribs rest on the inside of the sides. The the sound post is placed inside the violin at the same position where the tall piece of wood that will hold the strings is on the outside of the front panel. Glue the front panel to the sides, wedging the sound post between the front and the back panels. To finish the actual construction of the violin the neck is glued into the top of the violin, and strung with the gut strings running from the bottom of the violin over the tall piece of wood attached to the front panel and then finally tied to the pegs.
The Bow
The violin's strings are sounded by a bow, rather than the fingers. The wood is carved into a long, thin curve, with a notched piece sticking out at both ends. The surface that will contact the strings is made by braiding several pieces of runnerbeast hair, leaving a loop at both ends. This piece should be just long enough that the bow must be bent a little to slip the two ends into the notches, keeping it tight.
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The neck is also similar, except that the crafter includes a scroll at the top instead of the tuning board. The bored holes for the tuning pegs is located below that scroll on the sides rather than on the top as on the gitar. The pegs are the same, but the holes bored into them are closer to the flat piece on the end.
After these parts have been made there are a few additional features are constructed. First are the four ribs: these are shaped over a heated form as the sides were, but in the shape of a "U". Small blocks are glued on the sides of these. They are then glued to the inside of the back piece, placing glue only on the blocks.
A bass bar and a sound post are the next steps. The bass bar is cut into the shape of the lower half of the violin and then glued onto the inside of the front panel. The sound post is nothing more then a cylinder of wood that will be fitted when the violin is put together.
To assemble the violin, first glue the sides to the back, making sure that the ribs rest on the inside of the sides. The the sound post is placed inside the violin at the same position where the tall piece of wood that will hold the strings is on the outside of the front panel. Glue the front panel to the sides, wedging the sound post between the front and the back panels. To finish the actual construction of the violin the neck is glued into the top of the violin, and strung with the gut strings running from the bottom of the violin over the tall piece of wood attached to the front panel and then finally tied to the pegs.
The Bow
The violin's strings are sounded by a bow, rather than the fingers. The wood is carved into a long, thin curve, with a notched piece sticking out at both ends. The surface that will contact the strings is made by braiding several pieces of runnerbeast hair, leaving a loop at both ends. This piece should be just long enough that the bow must be bent a little to slip the two ends into the notches, keeping it tight.
See Also: No articles yet
Referenced By: No articles yet