Violin Forum/Message Board

waynebergman · Junior Member Joined: 05 Mar 2009 Posts: 8

Completed my rib and bout assembly last week. I have a nice piece of maple burl that I would like to use for the back of violin. I know maple is ok for this but not sure about a slab off of a burl. The pictures at the end of the link below show my progress to date but I have no pics of the burl I am speaking off. Thanks in advance for this....wayne

http://picasaweb.google.com/waynebergman/WayneSProjectWorld

Leif Luscombe · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 4:01 pm Post subject:

Burl is very dense/hard and generally non-resonant. Not ideal, in my opinion.

Even Birdseye Maple is generally considered unideal in most cases. Burl usually lacks consistent structure and texture.
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Leif Luscombe
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waynebergman · Junior Member Joined: 05 Mar 2009 Posts: 8

thank you Leif....I will use a different piece of Maple now that I know this.I have an 2 pieces of Spruce that I will use for my belly so I will start on the top first and wait till I get the right piece of maple for the back, I know maple is sugested for back and spruce for top but would spruce belly and back be OK? ....wayne

Andres Sender · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:39 pm Post subject:

No, use maple or pear or even beech, birch, or walnut, but not spruce. Wink

Michael Darnton · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject:

The other problem with burl wood is stability.

mr_violin · Member Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Posts: 52 Location: Chicago

I think you had best try a more stable would for your first violin.

I had a violin with birds eye maple on back and sides. I had to remove the back the top and repair many cracks. I had a lot of truble keeping the wood strait. I had to make a form to champ it to and then steam it and let it dry . all befor I could glue the back to the ribs again. I had to make a form for the ribs in the same way. Just to hold it in position to glue. I had some cracks in the ribs and the only way I could keep them toether was to add a thin piece of wood on the inside.

I think it has a good chans to still crack again.