COB3

Amazing situation. Reminds me of a National Geographic essay I saw once, where lions were eventually driven away from their food by hyenas. Probably insulting to the hyenas, I suppose, but that's what comes to mind. Maybe I'll take a break...

I think all the members of the Rosewood family (I'm not a botanist--maybe "family" is not the right word) tend to be allergenic. My first major reaction to wood dust was when I made my first instrument. I used Brazilian Rosewood for the fingerboard, and made it from scratch, so there was a lot of shaping, and, as I used a drum-sander to hollow the underside (first try--didn't have proper gouges) I breathed a lot of rosewood dust. I enjoyed the smell...poor fool that I was. By that evening or the next day, I was having a MAJOR allergic reaction, sneezing incessantly; and it lasted for several days. Ebony is not quite as bad...Cocobolo seems to be worse. Now I wear a respirator every time I work on wood...even spruce sets me off, now, if I forget the mask.

"Does anybody know the principle of these kids' cards with a real depth effect?" If you are referring to the ones with tiny grooves on the surface, it is a modification of the Fresnel lens (q.v.). I have one that is clear, exactly as thick as a credit card, but magnifies like a large glass lens.

"How about a contest for tonal discrimination with prize money? " How would you go about adjudication? No one even agrees about what they hear, and all insist they hear better than the machines...

The problem is not that those foods are defective, it is just that they just are "not as healthy as other foods". Would you rather your computer (or TV...pick your poison) shut down every 45 minutes, with the requirement that you go do some calesthenics, and read a good book in between uses? Or some other thing? Maybe require that all TV sets and computers run only on pedal power, so we don't continue to become couch potatos? The problem is human nature and our tendency toward excess...at least I think that is probably the case. I have never had a deep fried twinkie, though I have heard they exist. Can't be a healthy food item. But I can't see banning them, or even regulating them. Where would you stop?

Whole bridge looks pretty thick...maybe just my eyes. What is the thickness at the feet, and in the center? Not saying that thinning the bridge will fix the tone. Just observing, and wondering.

Well, I have seen some violas reminiscent of that shape, that had great tone. Does that violin, by chance, sound viola-ish? My first several violins were frequently accused of sounding like a viola. But in my case, the arching was at fault. For future reference, you might try emulating some particular well-known instrument, knowing that, since the original was a great violin, you probably can't go too far afield by attempting at least a "inspired by", if not a "copy of" that original. OTOH, there is nothing wrong with coming up with your own design. It just may invite criticism that you may or may not feel like absorbing. Depends on how thick-skinned you may be. My first, a viola (which you have evidently seen) had tons of things wrong. It was a half-baked copy of some cheap student instrument that had been lent to my youngest son. No idea of the maker, let alone a particular model, if there even was one. And still, I made way more serious errors than you did. (Notice the "five-ply purfling"? (actually it is six) That was done because my purfling groove was so hopelessly sloppy that in may places it was twice as wide as needed. So I bought a dremel bit, twice the thickness of the purfling, reamed it ALL out to that width, and doubled the purfling. (sigh...). Yes, I think you did fine. Now, the second one will eliminate maybe half the errors on the first. The third will do the same for the second, but probably introduce a new one or three. Then you regroup and try on #4 to clean it all up. And so forth...

Yes, Walter! You have been warned! This is an addictive craft, and "no one can build just one" (with apologies to Frito-Lay & Co.). Nice work, for as little input as it seems you had from others. Much better than my first. I will look forward to seeing what you do in future iterations. Welcome aboard. Hope you enjoy the ride. Chet Bishop

I only meant that Michael's diatribe against water was a joke. The EEU's position is laughable, but unfortunately real.

Lyndon; Just for the record, I haven't voted, nor will I. I have only played two old master instruments (those belonging to Dr. Sloane), and, quite honestly, tapping did not occur to me. Playing and looking were all I had in mind. And, were I to have another go at them, I would take about a hundred photos, carefully showing the arching and details, the spend some time playing again. So that takes care of the first three options. I will not take the fourth option, either, because, far from wanting to ignore you or tune you out, I would simply rather you "play nice"--knock off all the insults, sarcasm, and ugly talk (that, and don't claim expertise you don't have), and I think you could find yourself fairly comfortable here...this is a fairly receptive group. Anyway--none of this is intended as an insult, but simply an explanation why I will not participate in the poll. I really hope your new year is a good one.

Yep! just some silliness in response to officialdom's idiocy...goes right along with the DHMO spoof. But the ruling was not a joke...those who made the rule are.

I went about as far as you, and began hoping to sell (actually, my fourth instrument, a 420mm viola, was my first sale), but to date have made sixteen, and have six violins, four violas and a cello cluttering my space. One viola was given away, two were sold; one violin and the bass were sold. I have six more on the bench (four violas, one violin and a five-string fiddle), so something has got to change.

Carl, I'd like to hear what you come up with. What I have managed to glean, from conversations with old makers, younger makers of some repute,etc is that after wood quality, a close second may be arching. Obviously everything has an effect, but one thing that caught my attention some time back was someone relating how the late Bob Bein (of Bein and Fushi) used to sort through piles of violins for prospective purchase, hold each up long enough to look at the arching, and either set it aside as a reject, or set it aside for purchase. And he consistently could come up with great violins for the shop. I seriously wish I had his eye, and/or at least knew what it was he was looking at. My archings have inproved, and with them the overall sound. I think I am headed in the right direction. I really wish I had access to more "face-time" with extremely good instruments, to absorb more of the sense of their arching, etc. (If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride...)

Here are some photos of what I have, in the condition it came...I have done nothing, so far. Maybe this will give an idea (to those who know what they are looking at) of what I have on my plate. Serial number 74108, if that helps.

Thanks, Carl. I can see that I am missing the whole mountain of change gears, if indeed the machine was supposed to have had that many. I did go ahead and register on the practical machinist forum. I'm going to need all the help they can offer.