Violin Forum/Message Board

[jacobyfineviolins]

Or, more properly, the top rising; most instruments settle in their first year, the neck projection "coming down."
As I understand it, the plates are stretching from the soundpost when this happens. My question is, how do others work to try and reduce this effect?
I don't think prevention is feasible.
I make sure that my top long arch is not too flat: that there is still a steady arc along the long table, and I also TRY to work in a humidity-neutral workshop. Well, I don't try too hard.
Thoughts?

Chris
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[Chet Bishop]

My understanding is that it is not primarily soundpost pressure, but the compressive stress on the ends of the plate, corresponding to the combined tension on the strings, that is slowly collapsing the plate lengthwise, and forcing the curve higher.

Many makers deliberately leave a (slightly) thicker region down the center of the plate, fading smoothly into the block platforms on both ends, as a sort of "girder" to prevent this gradual failure.

Of course the stiffness of the back, which is under tension, not compression, can help alleviate the problem, as well.

There is certainly more to it than I am aware, but I'm pretty sure this is the foundatonal information.
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Chet Bishop
https://bluefiddles.com
https://fivestringfiddles.com

[L P Reedy]

I've seen conflicting claims about whether the top rises or falls, but it definitely gets a little shorter from the compression Chet mentioned. Rises happen in the upper and lower bouts but maybe not in the middle. Anyway, shortening the top tilts the neck block slightly, and it doesn't take much. I aim for a mm or two higher initial projection, along with a strong long arch. I don't claim to achieve either, but sometimes the fall is quite minimal.

[DonLeister]

The projection usually drops a little on mine too so I aim for 27-27.5, and not having the long arch drop too suddenly at each end. Like Chet said, a little more thickness in front of the blocks is a good thing.
It seems like my instruments don't settle in until they have been through a summer here in Virginia. My shop is climate controlled but I do think the instruments should see some mild swings in the weather.

[jacobyfineviolins]

I've managed to keep it at 1 mm or so for the last dozen fiddles. My 20th violin fell from 27.5 to 24!
And that's when I started examining my building practices.
Thank you for your responses. As is always the case: No magic fixes, but thoughtful making, is the answer.
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I could have carved a scroll by now.
http://jacobyfineviolins.squarespace.com/