Violin Forum/Message Board

Jack H. · Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:31 am Post subject: Cleats on the back of a cello

Just repaired a few cracks on a cello back and I was wondering what would be the best wood to reinforce them with. In the past I have always used spruce, but I was wondering if maple would be better or not. Seems that maple would not be flexible enough, but....Please insert your knowlegeable opinion.
thanks.
Jack Havivi
Havivi Violins
Israel

Michael Darnton · Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:39 am Post subject:

At B&F we used spruce on spruce, and willow on everything else. These days I just use spruce. I don't really have much faith in studs, anyway--a little pad of thin wood on a big long hole in wood that's thicker than the stud? Doesn't really seem like enough for me, and so I often leave them off. It seems like if the crack isn't glued well enough to stay closed, that's the problem to deal with, not the little slip of voodoo wood you put behind it.
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Mat Roop · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 1:38 am Post subject:

Michael, I understand your comment on the futility of cleats, but if you are putting cleats in, why would it not be appropriate to use cleats of the same material... eg.. maple on maple?
Thanks, Mat

Jack H. · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 7:28 am Post subject:

For me, the cleats are there just to hold things together in case of further damage to the area after the instrument is returned. Just wondering. Gonna keep it with the spruce.

Michael Darnton · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:18 am Post subject:

Spruce cleats are much easier to make. If you're going to do something that doesn't work, may as well at least keep the time-spent down.
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Oded Kishony · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 8:23 pm Post subject:

Try cleating a crack before gluing, you'll find the crack is very solid without the glue. The cleats give a lot of support to the crack.

Oded Kishony

Mat Roop · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 8:22 pm Post subject:

Oded Kishony · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 11:28 pm Post subject:

Mat Roop · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 5:47 pm Post subject:

Oded... I meant to say adding cleats changes the tone...trying to write too quickly... sorry.
The client had been playing the cello (apparently for quite some time)with the top split in several places, including some areas separated at the ribs.
After I repaired the splits with new cleats and set the open seams, the tone changed (according to the client).
Seems to make sense to me as the cleats add weight to the top and the cello was no longer "loose". Mind you, there were probably 20 cleats, maybe more. Also, the player was a high school student, and who knows what quality of sound the student liked.

lastly a question on your last comment.... How do you prove a change in tone... I work mostly on violins and I find tone a somewhat subjective subject, and trying to remember what the tone was like a few days or a week later is tough... for me anyway, unless of course, the change is significant.
Thanks... Mat

Oded Kishony · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 8:13 pm Post subject:

gavin_rossdale · Junior Member Joined: 24 Feb 2012 Posts: 14

spruce would do great!! My music teacher taught me this back to the time when i was studying how to play the violin..