Violin Forum/Message Board

MANFIO · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:17 pm Post subject: My latest instrument.

Ok Chet, here we go, photos of my latest instrument, a violin, after 8 years making violas I just finished this one.
The model is inspired in Guarneri del Gesù. I used rather thick plates.

_________________
www.manfio.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7875988@N02/with/464604020/

MANFIO · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:23 pm Post subject:

_________________
www.manfio.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7875988@N02/with/464604020/

MANFIO · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:26 pm Post subject:

_________________
www.manfio.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7875988@N02/with/464604020/

Chet Bishop · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:58 pm Post subject:

Somehow, those pictures aren't working for me...I get little boxes, is all.

By the way, you said some local violin champion was going to test-drive the violin soon...how did that go, or has it happened yet?

Chet
_________________
Chet Bishop
https://bluefiddles.com
https://fivestringfiddles.com

MANFIO · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 4:06 pm Post subject:

Hi Chet, I can see the pics here... Yes, the principal of our State Orchestra tested it yesterday and liked it very much, he is going to test drive it next year after he comes back from Italy.
_________________
www.manfio.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7875988@N02/with/464604020/

ollieken · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 7:03 pm Post subject: Great wprk

Beautiful work manfio I enjoy looking at your work & you
have given a lot of your time & has been a great help to all that has
asked for advice along with Michael Darton Chet biship & many more
makers that do not mind answering someone that has a question
sorry to see your post removed on M S

Hope you keep posting here Ken

MANFIO · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 7:33 pm Post subject:

Thanks for your kind words ollieken!
_________________
www.manfio.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7875988@N02/with/464604020/

ctviolin · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: Great wprk

Chet Bishop · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:42 pm Post subject:

Well, Manfio,

Now that I am home, the photos work fine... Beautiful wood, beautiful work...as usual. Hope the violinist loves it.

Chet
_________________
Chet Bishop
https://bluefiddles.com
https://fivestringfiddles.com

ctviolin · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:36 pm Post subject:

Hey Manfio, you don't mind if I borrow some of those photos for my own posts about making do you?

Then some of the members here might think I'm an accomplished maker also...

Sorry, just thinking out loud.

Never mind - forget I said anything...

Hey bud, I just read a bit about what is going on elsewhere... Sorry you have to deal with that. Most of my actual violin making friends, no longer post there anyway (for various similar reasons I believe), oh well.

Most of them that I still talk with, have realized that they have better things to do than deal with all of the non-stop, non-violin related garbage and bickering that goes on continually there, well, I might include myself in that group also.

Too bad, for many years, things there were held pretty straight forward over there and makers could talk VIOLIN.
Personally - I always thought Jeffrey was a top moderator. I have to wonder what he's thinking lately? Though, targeting you? I must admit that I don't quite get it . You've always been tops in my book. Non- argumentative, polite and straight forward.

Good Luck, my friend, and please keep in touch once every blue moon.
ct (xxxxxxctviolin@gmail.comxxxxxxxxxx)
_________________
Look,
Listen,
Learn.

kubasa · Member Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 212

Hi Luis and Craig,

Luis - thanks for posting your photos over here. I've always appreciated seeing photos of your instruments and how much you share your knowledge. You do nice work and I always learn things. Glad to see you here!

Craig - I echo your sentiments. I wander back and forth but I frequently leave there somewhat agitated. That certainly doesn't happen at this forum. This is a nice forum with nice folks who are polite and the egos don't seem to exist - so thanks everyone.

James

MANFIO · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:31 am Post subject:

Thank you all!

Craig, I was posting rarely on MN, so perhaps I was not able to notice that the winds had changed there... it is a pity... And I was put in the same basket with that other guy, that was a bit humilliating... perhaps the moderator hated that someone in the thread asked my email, but that guy was just interested in asking about buying violin ribs, and not buying my violin... I have a thick sking but I don't know if I will post there in the future...

About this violin. I followed Melvin Goldsmith's advice and took the features I liked in some of Del Gesù's violins in Biddulph's book. My intention for the top archings was making a wide and long plataform, and that is easier to get when the f holes are paralell instead of slanted, so I chose the f holes of the "Plowden". For the soundbox I took the "Lord Wilton", I liked the idea of making a rather small instrument (352 mm) that is wide to favour the basses. For the scroll I took the "King Joseph" as a model (Joseph filius type).

I used rather thick graduations: 3 mm for the top (4 mm near the f holes and 5 mm in the lower part of the f holes to avoid wolf notes), for the back 6.5 in the thickest region (inverted stop) and 3.2 in the lower and upper bouts. Since the top wood is very soft I used a small black willow oval soundpost patch that is 0.5 mm thick, to avoid damages in the post area and to give more focus to the sound too. I used also a very strong bass bar.

The bridge is rather high but I used a longer projection of the neck over the top, as well as a higher lower nut so that the string angle over the bridge is "normal".

I used light spruce and maple for the plates. The blocks are made of Michigan Black Willow (very light) and the linings of Spanish Cedar (that as a matter of fact comes from Brazil), which is very light too.

Ths instrument strung and without the chin rest weights 420 grams, the Cannone weights 408 grams, I think.

Thank you all!
_________________
www.manfio.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7875988@N02/with/464604020/

actonern · Super Member Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 444

Well hello Luis!

Fancy meeting you here! About the top grads... 4 mm near the f holes... can you explain a bit what the reasoning for that is and what effect it has on the sound?

Best regards,

Ernie

MANFIO · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:47 am Post subject:

Thanks! 4 mm just near the f holes to make this delicate region stronger, to resist the sound post setter damage in the future. Sacconi mentions that in his book about Stradivari, if I am not wrong.

The thicker region under the f holes (5 mm) is for preventing wolf notes. I forgot to mention that the ribs are on the deep side too: 32/32/31/30.

The top wood came from Simeon Chambers (USA), quite a nice guy to deal with.
_________________
www.manfio.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7875988@N02/with/464604020/

actonern · Super Member Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 444

The reason I ask is because I have the sense that the central region of the plate is quite important for sound. I get this idea mainly from reading and observation of the golden period instruments grads... many of them seem to have a rather thin graduation scheme arount the f holes. (I may be wrong that this area is important?)