Violin Forum/Message Board

[rel taylor]

I've been looking at a lot of older violins via the net, and often they are described as having top plate cracks of various types. this gorgeous looking instrument is on ebay at present: Item number: 370024073513 very interesting old antique english violin c.1780, with good photo and description of damage



and my question is, how does it happen - is it string tension, poor hardware fittings, clumsiness?

and my second question, is - is it harder to repair than it is to construct in the first place?

[FiddleDoug]

When something has been kicking around for a couple hundred years, a lot can happen. Back then, there was no such thing as central heating. Temperature swings were probably very extreme. Wood swells and shrinks and may crack) with changes in temperature and humidity. Instruments get bumped, dinged and dropped. They could get bumped around in a minimal case in the back of a carrage for a few days at a time. The instruments by the great makers were often placed in the Royal Courts, and didn't get the rough treatment of an "everyday fiddle".
_________________
Doug Wall

www.wallindependent.com