Violin Forum/Message Board

jessupe goldastini · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:37 am Post subject: solid back yes, solid top?

so i've seen many one peice backs....but what about tops...is this done if not why?.....stability?....

Jeffrey Holmes · Member Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 90 Location: Ann Arbor

Jack H. · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:38 pm Post subject:

if ya got a piece of spruce big enough.... not always available though in a nice quartered piece.
I have a sample violin from long ago that has a 6.25" lenght of back.
It hasa nice one piece top and back.

MANFIO · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 3:14 pm Post subject:

With the one piece top, leave the wide grain in the bass side, as did Stradivari and others.
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Mikes · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:47 am Post subject:

What about single piece backs that are slab cut? Anual rings facing in or out?

Thanks
Mike S

MANFIO · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:09 am Post subject:

One piece slab cut backs were used by Stradivari and other classic Cremonese makers.

A mixture of quater sawn/slab cut was also used sometimes.

The Hills, in their book on Stradivari, say that he used the wood he had, and I believe that. Many fine violins were made with wood that would be considered unsuitable by some frowners today (wood with knots, unflamed maple, tops with resin sacks, "wings" added to top and back, wormy wood, etc.) .
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