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Mat Roop Senior Member
Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 911 Location: Wyoming Ontario
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 3:39 pm Post subject: how to create a growly violin |
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Working on a family heirloom, cheaper than cheap, violin. The desire is for a deeper, more growly, tone.
What specific things can I do to move the violin towards that effect?
The top is off right now, and I will be installing a new bass bar. back thickness at the center area is way thin.... I do not plan on a patch to build it up.... as per previous advice.
Thanks for your thoughts... Mat |
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DonLeister Moderator
Joined: 29 Mar 2007 Posts: 383 Location: Richmond, VA
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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What is the top arching generalities and graduation scheme?
Have you heard this fiddle before you took it apart and was the set up decent and adjusted any? |
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Mat Roop Senior Member
Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 911 Location: Wyoming Ontario
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 9:31 am Post subject: |
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Hi Don...
The top arching is quite flat and still a bit thick.. I left it at about 3.5mm overall and 3.8 at the post area.
The back upper bout area is about 3.7 and lower bouts 3.8 all of which drops to 2.8 at the center.
I had not heard the fiddle before.
Thanks for your advice.... Mat |
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DonLeister Moderator
Joined: 29 Mar 2007 Posts: 383 Location: Richmond, VA
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 9:50 am Post subject: |
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The graduations do seem a bit unusual. If I worked on things like that regularly then I might be able to suggest something but that one is breaking the rules for graduations so other rules might not apply. In that case I would leave it alone and see what I have when it is set up and playing.
It might sound just fine as it is or maybe some tinkering with the setup might give you what you are looking for. |
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Mat Roop Senior Member
Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 911 Location: Wyoming Ontario
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Don... I agree, I think leaving the back as is what I'll do. I will be putting in a new bass bar, and wonder if I should leave it thinner vs thicker vs taller vs lower.... inclined to go thinner& taller??
Thanks... Mat |
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DonLeister Moderator
Joined: 29 Mar 2007 Posts: 383 Location: Richmond, VA
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, it has that low arch, even though it is thick. A high bar sounds like a good idea, I would think in the center mostly, it seems like it doesn't need support at the ends with the thick graduations, just speculating.
Any label in that thing? |
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Mat Roop Senior Member
Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 911 Location: Wyoming Ontario
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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There is a label ... the usual saxony variety... Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis faciebat Anno 17
Thanks for your advice Don... Cheers, Mat |
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Chet Bishop Super Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 678 Location: Forest Grove, Oregon
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Mat Roop Senior Member
Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 911 Location: Wyoming Ontario
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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DonLeister wrote: | .....Any label in that thing? |
Hi Don... I get a chuckle reading your post... you are so right referring to the violin ... it really is a "thing"!
Chet... Thanks for your confirmation of what to do with the bar.
Cheers, Mat |
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Chet Bishop Super Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 678 Location: Forest Grove, Oregon
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2018 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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Just for the record, I think the back grads are a mess...as in, backwards, sorta. But it will be an interesting experiment, I guess.
Years ago, a work-acquaintance needed a viola for his son. He didn't have much money, and I had a real clunker of an imported viola-shaped-object. It was so incredibly thick that I was able to completely re-arch and regraduate it to a much better shape and thickness, both front and back. I also thinned the ribs, and reworked the scroll a little, so that it "looked" a little more "handmade."
It turned out to be a very respectable viola, and he played it through high-school. But my preference is to choose a thickness for the center area of the back, and make the upper and lower bouts as close to half that thickness as I dare (learned from Mr. Darnton.) But in your case, unless you want to beef up that middle, you can't follow that pattern. Sorry...I'm outta ideas. _________________ Chet Bishop
https://bluefiddles.com
https://fivestringfiddles.com |
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Mat Roop Senior Member
Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 911 Location: Wyoming Ontario
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2018 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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Chet Bishop wrote: | ..Sorry...I'm outta ideas. |
Well, I do have an idea, but I'm not about to go to that extent of work.... raise the ribs:)
Cheers, Mat |
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Chet Bishop Super Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 678 Location: Forest Grove, Oregon
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 11:59 am Post subject: |
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Were the ribs abnormally low?
I make my small viola ribs about 34 or 35 mm tall, but that is a different situation. On a violin, I pretty much stay with the norms.
Arching is the very most important thing (possibly after wood choice), and then graduation, set-up, etc.
If it is that thick, I would be tempted to think about re-arching, to try to accomplish the proper curves for the sound you want. But that thin center is problematic, for sure.
You've been handed a lemon, but maybe you are just the guy to make lemonade! I'm looking forward to seeing how you address the problems. _________________ Chet Bishop
https://bluefiddles.com
https://fivestringfiddles.com |
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Mat Roop Senior Member
Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 911 Location: Wyoming Ontario
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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Good advice everyone... brother in law received the violin back day before Christmas...
I had carved the top down to 2.7mm and about 3.0 at the post. Left back as is, installed linings ( there were none), trimmed down the end and corner blocks ( they were still rough and oversized), installed new bass bar... thinner and taller by about 1mm at the center, installed new carved fingerboard.
He called me to say he was most pleased with the sound and response... said he could not put it down:) When they say that I know it sounds good! To my surprise he did say that the growliness was still there similar to before ( which is what he wanted)... So I guess as someone suggested.... the growliness is likely attributed to the low arching.
Thanks again for all your advice... & Happy New Year! ... Cheers, Mat |
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