Mat Roop
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Posts posted by Mat Roop
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1 hour ago, Michael_Molnar said:
Yes. A child most likely.
yes, I agree.... a decades old child.
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or play with one of these... https://www.violins.ca/accessories/wolftone_eliminators.html
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I would get an in-person opinion from a respected archetier.
I would be inclined to have it repaired to a useable state assuming no issues that I cant see in the pics. You should be able to get value for the cost... but you won't know until you have spent the cash!
It is likely quite old based on the rolled rather than cut thread on the screw. And... I would not assume it is ivory, unless you know for sure.
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I guess when you have your nose to the grindstone and don't look up, you have a lot to learn!... True in my case.
In my earlier comment I noted that all speakers that I am aware of, are cone shaped with the hollow pointing forward. Well that is not at all true... apparently the better ones costing $25000- 250000 are shaped quite different as in the you tube video. ...and sound far superior to the cone versions, and more like instruments.
Here are a couple of links my audiophile son pointed me to...The first is really interesting reading but way over my pay scale.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLnSsE6GZAsBased on the comments in the science review link... I think the experiment I proposed is a lost cause and I will not be sacrificing an historic Markie "Usual" for a test!
Interesting discussion and thanks everyone for their input... Cheers, Mat
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Hi Marty, I would love to see you do the experiment professionally... You are so much more skilled and adept at building special models and likely have some excellent equipment to record the tonal results. Maybe even build it on higher ribs.
As for myself, not being a maker, I will just take a cheap markie set it up and see what it sounds like, and then flip the back, and see what the change is... just for my personal curiosity.
I will likely need to irreversibly alter the back in the process as the button needs to fit flush to the base of the neck for gluing ... I might even have to remove some of the recurve so that it will glue securely to the ribs.... not to mention I'll have to strip the varnish for sure.... etc etc
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7 hours ago, Mr. Bean said:
My importer told me that there are "investors" (with too much money) out there that buy Dominants (and maybe other popular brands) in large batches wholesale or off factory and sell them on Ebay (and other platforms as well) with only a small markup to end-users. Even with a small profit it will get them a better result than bank or stocks nowadays. They do not care about our violin trade: in fact they spoil it for violin makers with a drawer of strings in their workshops!. So it is not necessarily fake.
If these investors have too much money, why would they revert to a low profit business that includes extra work to store, pack and ship?? I think that is unlikely. ...maybe just another conspiracy theory to justify the fake.
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I am sure Thomastik should be able to tell you how to identify fakes...
And these....At $34.99/set and under $3 shipping... are they real?
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Marty, so am I correct to understand that in a normal violin, when the soundpost moves (vibrates) inward, the top plate spreads pushing the ribs outward, and at the same time the bottom plate moves outward pulling the ribs inward. This suggests that the two plates are working against each other and actually twisting the ribs.
So, with the bottom plate flipped, then the two plates will be spreading in and out at the same time ... a more efficient / powerful system?
I plan on trying this on a cheap markie ... first set up normally then flipping the same back... and see what the difference is. I realize the body volume will be significantly reduced, but ultimately this can be resolved with higher ribs. Maybe I should try it with a small viola and end up with a powerful violin?
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I am not a maker, so maybe this makes no sense but... I'll ask anyway...
While recently repairing a back plate sound post crack made me wonder what would happen if the back plate were to be installed in reverse with the arching concavity outward. that should make for several advantages ( I think)
1- with changes in humidity, the post fit should not change as both plates would expand & contract, not exactly but similarly, keeping the spacing between top & back the same... more significant for the cello or bass
2-pressure on the back plate from the post should be less likely to create a crack
3-sound radiation from the back plate would be to the outside instead of being trapped inside and interfering with the vibrations of the top plate.
A speaker cone always projects from the concave side... so why not the back plate?? or for that matter why not both plates with the concavity to the outside?
I've been thinking of taking a less valuable violin and making new taller ribs and fitting the back plate in reverse. Of course I'd have to do some calculation to try to keep the internal volume the same as original... if that matters.
Anybody thought of this before??? Thoughts on what the results might be?
Cheers!... Mat
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I'll pay you $30 for it!... But remember, I am in Canada so that means $30 CAD.
... and you pay the shipping
BTW... looking at the bass bar , It appears the bar is of good quality, so it has likely been replaced... probably better than the original , but, then you lose true authenticity of the instrument.
Good luck!... Mat
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11 hours ago, uguntde said:
Of course, this was a joke. But it would not be worth a lot of repair work. On the other hand I know one man who has learned repair work using such instruments.
I agree Uguntde... It surprises me at times how little it takes to make an instrument like that "playable" ... just have to ignore all the little things like a broken corner, mismatched pegs, fingerboard that is slightly off center, or a bit warped. etc. An instrument like that is often enough to get a young student player started and if they are a natural, they will soon find a way to upgrade, and then they keep the old relic as a keepsake.
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...and the head might be missing the tongue.
If it was well used, it likely sounds decent... these are nice conversation pieces and with the sentimental value, it is a nice piece of history. I would not hesitate to have it fixed up to be at least playable. Have it as your own playable and if you are not a player, having it out on display will entice any violinist visitor to give it a go!...Good luck!
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4 hours ago, uguntde said:
Firewood. Get it chopped up and burn it.
That would be a shame... someone of serious financial limitation would love to spend time ... with your guidance ... and make it somewhat playable with your used parts. It is still better than nothing for some.
I have never trashed a violin, but have spent some time and given several away to those in need. If it is a client's violin I have also done work at minimal or no cost, depending on the circumstances.
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I don't use the traditional s shaped setter for stabbing the post... Always felt the metal was too soft.
I use a crudely modified small instrument screwdirver with a 3mm shaft of about 3-4 inches, the end is ground to be about 3-4mm wide, and about 0.5mm thick at 3mm in from the end ... the end of course is sharp like a knife. Works like a charm and it is easy to lift the post to position the bottom at its ideal spot... I hardly ever use the "mover" end of the traditional setter . Here are a couple of pics... notice that the mark in the post is very small and the same spot is used so that after many tests, the post is not mangled. The setter is pushed into the post only about 2-3 mm and that is sufficient to push and pull and rotate the post.... quick & easy! ... just don't stab your fingers!
... My 2 cents
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An issue i have pondered... as in the Nehr videos above, the hair is well wetted before tying the second knot.
Problem as I see it is that hair shrinks when drying, but the knot string does not because it is synthetic. So once the hair in the knot is dry... won't the knot be just a bit less tight?? ... as opposed to tying the knot dry.
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On 4/16/2022 at 2:59 PM, Rico Suave said:
....Also - I like the Igarashi Nylon Faced Pliers for pulling off the ferrule ...
I just use a pair of channel lock pliers with a heavy pad of leather glued to each side of the jaw
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ok, so....the after length of the strings behind the bridge are important for best tone... then the length of the strings beyond the nut ( I'll call that the forelength) should also have a similar effect on tone? and if so, then the fact that when the strings rest on the side of the peg box (as above), that should be disastrous to the tone?
Am I extrapolating correctly?
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21 hours ago, Strad O Various Jr. said:
counterfeit Chinese?
Of course... I just don't get it.. how is it that blatant counterfeiting is possible without consequences.?
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Just imagine for just $3.40 you can buy 4 ea Despiau Superieur 3 star brand bridges... what more can you ask for?... Look at the bottom left sample... awesome! ...How do they get away with this???
... and shipping is only $1.81!
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re the quality of hair...I'll agree with Mark in one way, but not another way...
If you use cheap hair it can be thin, brittle, ungiving and difficult to manage... making the rehair a more difficult job, and one is more likely to give up. But... if can can learn to do a good rehair with poor hair, you can surely do a great job with great hair.
On a per bow basis good hair will cost in the order of $8 in bulk cheap hair about $1... but the rehair job costs about $60... so relatively I have never compromised on quality.
On the other hand, buy the best materials, best tools... you will pay more but your experience will be that much more successful and rewarding.
I get a lot of compliments on my rehairs and one of the best I got was...
" wow!... that bow almost plays by itself now!" ... and I think that has a lot to do with the hair quality.
Good luck!... Mat
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I started 30 years ago and I've learned on my own and have developed a system that gives superior results... Every time!
Someday I'll write the how to book, but for now a few points to get you thinking...
1- buy the best hair there is ... I pay over $500/500gm plus shipping... cheap hair can be found for well under $100/500gm. The hair needs to be stallion; Siberian (whether it is actually Siberian is debatable, but it does reflect a certain quality); 32" (for violin); unbleached;
2-I use Coats extra strong 100%nylon upholstery thread for tying the knot... I gave up on the wire suggested in the H Wake book
3- Comb the hank to perfection before you tie the last knot
4-Use the Constrictor knot for tying...you can pull it real tight and it stays put. Key is "tight" then melt the ends of the thread to seal it to the knot... never had a knot let go.
https://www.animatedknots.com/constrictor-knot-rope-end-method
5- Stretch the hair
6... If you end up with a few loose hairs, do not use a flame... I invert a dry clothes iron at the highest setting and lower the loose hair onto the iron ... the heat will shrink it and it pops into place. The problem with a flame is that you end up shrinking not only the loose hairs but also the tight ones.
... enough for now!.... good luck, Mat
Ps... be careful of grain orientation of the plugs!
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Ditto to Jim Bress ... Mat
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Thanks everyone for your helpful thoughts and experience... I have ordered all 4 of the above versions and will try them as I go on. Using epoxy can also be a messy process, so I have always used a light tack masking tape to carefully cover the sides of the head ... makes clean up easier and quicker.... hopefully that works as well with CA glue. Also, I clean the surfaces to be glued with acetone just before glue application. ...we'll see how it goes.
Cheers, Mat
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Any opinions on this?
5 dollar Violin...
in The Pegbox
Posted
I would clean it, fix any damage and glue any open joints, and do a full set up... then donate it to an elementary school string program. That would reward them for the repair work they send you, and If they don't then they might!