DoorMouse Report post Posted October 14, 2018 A Carlo Bergonzi scroll in the works.. It’s a challenge to keep the long handlebars’ in alignment. I’m definitely gaining more of an appreciation of his skill through the process. As a side note, I’ve run into a few problems in using the Bergonzi book as a resource. The scroll photos are not only larger than 1:1 scale but the different views are out of scale from one another. I spent a bit of time in Illustrator re-scaling the views so that I could work from them. In addition, the photographs of the two forms need to be stretched lengthwise as well as enlarged to achieve the correct dimensions. It really is a lovely book and invaluable resource. It just seems like more attention could have been paid to accuracy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoorMouse Report post Posted October 22, 2018 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoorMouse Report post Posted October 22, 2018 The Bergonzi scroll is turning out a little more Strad looking than expected. I think I made the second turn a bit wide. I’ll leave it for now and move on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoorMouse Report post Posted October 28, 2018 I managed to get enough pigment in one layer of varnish for the maple. The spruce required an extra coat. This is the thinnest I’ve been able to get my varnish application so far. A bit more antiquing and then a thin un-pigmented coat for polishing and then we’ll be ready for setup! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FoxMitchell Report post Posted October 29, 2018 It's looking great! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoorMouse Report post Posted October 29, 2018 Thanks Fox! Here are some daylight photos that show more of the madder red. I’ve stopped worrying about taping off the fingerboard during the varnishing process. I’ve found that it cleans up easily with alcohol and allows for a less fussy application. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoorMouse Report post Posted November 9, 2018 Here we are after antiquing and a final thin coat of polished varnish (I’m contemplating whether this is necessary.) I started getting the hang of softening the color coat with alcohol and removing areas with my fingernail. I didn’t go too overboard but I may try to get more of an aged pattern on the back of the next one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoorMouse Report post Posted December 8, 2018 Here are a couple of new additions to the shop.. a hand-cranked precision disc sander for quick squaring off and a set of bassbar clamps that I finally got around to making. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoorMouse Report post Posted December 18, 2018 Here is the Bergonzi model coming together. The neck root still needs shaping but it’s starting to feel like a real instrument. I tried the Bergonzi style purfling joints on this one. It’s definitely faster than a mitre but I’m not sold on the look. My plan is to string it up in the white and attempt some thicknessing adjustments from the outside. I’m curious to see how noticeable the effects are. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FoxMitchell Report post Posted December 21, 2018 Looking good! Your cat is there taking all the credit for it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoorMouse Report post Posted January 5 Here are a couple iphone recordings of the Bergonzi model in the white. After a couple days of soundpost adjusting and a week of playing in I started trying some scraping from the outside. I was concentrating around the edges mostly and the c-bout area. There was a noticeable increase in volume but the tone stayed pretty consistent. There's definitely a soft/woody character to the sound that I'm assuming will recede once the wood is varnished and hardened. Overall I'm pretty happy with the results. Bergonzi_White_Zorn.m4a Bergonzi_White_Scale.m4a Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoorMouse Report post Posted January 5 The wings snapped off one of the cheap Indian boxwood pegs as I was fitting it so I’ve been tuning the A string with an adjustable wrench I’ve decided it’s time to seek out better quality fittings and possibly consider a less aggressive fitting process. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoorMouse Report post Posted January 12 Here is my first successful peg! The shape is based off of the ornate Vuillaume/Hill pegs. I’m using a copier on my lathe to get the proportions, then finishing by hand with some homemade tools. The wood is African and hard as ebony but not endangered as far as I can tell. The color finished darker than I expected but it’s actually pretty similar to the color of the Lady Blunt pegs so they’ll likely look good with a darker red varnish. The daunting challenge now is to make a matching set. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Urban Luthier Report post Posted January 12 wow that is really beautiful! I love the colour. I'd like to learn how to turn pegs one day Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Janito Report post Posted January 13 6 hours ago, DoorMouse said: Here is my first successful peg! The shaft looks thin. Have you tried it in a peg-shaper? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thomas Coleman Report post Posted January 13 9 hours ago, DoorMouse said: Here is my first successful peg! The shape is based off of the ornate Vuillaume/Hill pegs. I’m using a copier on my lathe to get the proportions, then finishing by hand with some homemade tools. The wood is African and hard as ebony but not endangered as far as I can tell. The color finished darker than I expected but it’s actually pretty similar to the color of the Lady Blunt pegs so they’ll likely look good with a darker red varnish. The daunting challenge now is to make a matching set. Awesome! Is the follower aftermarket? Please post of photo of the lathe and copier? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoorMouse Report post Posted January 13 I wouldn’t recommend the setup I have. The lathe is oversized/overpowered for this application and the copier is made for a smaller lathe. I’ve been looking into a small machinists lathe just for pegs. The initial shaft size at the collar is 8.5mm. I’ve been shaping pegs to about 8mm for fitting. Here’s yesterday’s haul. I’m finding that there’s a pretty wide variety of coloring with the wood I’m using. It would be nice to try some of that Mountain Mahogany Eric Myers raves about but I haven’t been able to source large enough blanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoorMouse Report post Posted January 13 One thing that’s nice about the copier setup is that I can just switch the motor direction when I want to use hand tools on the rest. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rue Report post Posted January 13 If I was having a custom set made, and there were slight variations in colour, I wouldn't mind. Adds to the "uniqueness"... I like your oak table top too. What style table is it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FoxMitchell Report post Posted January 14 Nice pegs! That's a nice setup you have there also! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoorMouse Report post Posted January 14 Thanks, I don’t know too much about the table other than it coming from my partner’s family. It has a wax finish and the legs look nice.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoorMouse Report post Posted February 8 (edited) Here is the Bergonzi model in it's finished shape. Violin #9 for me. The sound turned out pretty close to how it was sounding in the white. I found that process of adjustments to be extremely helpful. I ended up going with a boxwood tailpiece. The one I made was too heavy and was having a dampening effect. I've been experimenting with afterlength a bit and I'm finding that different lengths necessitate repositioning the soundpost for even tone across the strings. As always, if you see any glaring issues or areas of improvement please let me know. Thanks Edited February 8 by DoorMouse Photo colors fixed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rue Report post Posted February 8 Looks great! And you're right - the table has nice legs... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bress Report post Posted February 8 I would not have noticed the Bergonzi purfling miters w/o you telling me about them. They look like they belong, nice work. I'm playing the tail cord dance now with the viola. I'll bring it by when I'm home long enough to finish the setup. -Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
