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So over the years that I've owned my place, I've had this notion that I would eventually use the trunk of the cherry tree in front to make the back and sides of a violin. This year the tree became so large that it needed to be removed from the small yard in front of our building. I requested that they leave me the trunk, which they have done. It is a heavy son of a gun. I need someone to come cut it into slabs and I have a few questions. Is there a particular kind of saw person that does this? Is it something a handyman can do? What thickness should the slabs be? How do they remove the bark? Thanks for any info.

This outstanding 50-year old documentary reaches IMHO the very essence of the violin making craft/art, but at the same time with each cadre, it is witnessing remarkable film making art/craft. Hope you will enjoy watching, no less than I did.

through the years i have had and made violins with a "wolf tone" on the b note on a violin A string.... drives me nuts.... what can be done to fix it??

Do you think violin/viola/cello makers should be able to play their own instruments for optimum sound adjustment? Or for better understanding how to improve their instruments? Personally I do some parts of setup according to "feel", or "sound improvement" rather than sticking to perfect numbers. I spoke with someone long ago who said he would never buy a violin made by someone who cant play violin him/herself. What is your opinion on this? Personally i think it would definitely help to have someone around who can play the instrument, but if you understand the practical part of violin making and crafting, but cant play at concert level, should it matter?

Hi, I'm a student at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque working with Professor Peter White. We're gathering research for a talk he will give in a few months about music in New Mexico and a main topic is Arnaldo DeBassaccio. We know that he came to Mexico with Peter of Ghent in the 1500's, but that's about it. We are particularly curious if anyone knows: 1. if he knew how to play violin 2. if he knew how to make them Any other information is, of course, welcome, too! Thanks!

Hi again. Can someone please tell me where I might be able to find some wood carving gouges online? Ive been looking at hardware shops at so many places locally already but couldn't find any other than the normal flat surface chisels. Ive been able to find small gouges for the scroll, but nothing big enough for the body of a violin. Also, since I live in South-Africa, please only recommend websites where they ship internationally, if possible. I went to look on this website and found http://www.mehr-als-werkzeug.de/product/715257/Gouges-Blade-Width-24-mm.htm today, but the shipping cost alone is 32Euro, which is almost twice the cost of the gouge itself. Only other "bigger" gouge Ive been able to find locally, has a heel underneath the cutting area, which requires you to hold the tool at about a 60degree angle, and then lifting the front up to cut out a little piece of wood. You cannot just push it through the wood normally. Thank You. I'm also attaching a picture for those not exactly sure what I'm looking for.