Resonant's Bench

[resonant]

Dear Maestronet

Here is my first violin. Frustrated with my well setup yet nonetheless dead-sounding student violin, and not able to spend say €5000 on a professionally made violin, I wondered if I could split the difference and attempt to make a violin. Although as I thumb-sucked my way through making it I questioned if it would even be as good as a factory made violin. 

I am very surprised at the sound, it is markedly more resonant compared to my student violin, audibly but also I can feel it in my hands and body. It's also not nasal or harsh like the student violin. I am however only a student violinist so I can't really put it through its paces. My violin teacher played on it a bit and said it was quite pleasant, obviously not a masterpiece but a step up from the student violin.

I dislike the colour, I really underestimated the complexity of finishing a violin, but I feel like I have a base to go off of for next time. I also underestimated the complexity of setting up a violin which has so far been a really fun learning experience.

This is also a thank you to everyone who contributes to this forum. Everybody vigorously argues every conceivable topic and you all often go on nonsense tagents, but the wealth of information which results is amazing.

PS no close ups of the scroll for a reason

Edited June 5 by resonant

[Sean Couch]

Right on, good on you for completing your first violin and for it sounding good. I think you found the correct location, but I may be wrong, I have only been around for a couple months.

I hope you are proud of the work you did, I will be quite pleased if my violin sounds good. Flaws and all, I will be proud of mine. I don’t think it is any small feat to finish an instrument. Unfortunately, I don’t know how to play or even hold a violin so I will have to find someone to critique the sound for me and fine tune my setup.

I am working on my first violin now. It is quite the adventure. I don’t have much wood working experience and I tend to rush things, so I am taking my sweet time working on it. I haven’t touched it yet today, had some errands to run and chores to do, but tomorrow is another day. I might sneak in a few hours today, but having a couple drinks sounds like a better option to me. Hehe.

You can start a thread here in the Contemporary Maker’s Gallery and name it “Resonant’s Bench” and post your pictures as you build. You might be able to have this thread renamed if so desired.

I’m sure more people will be by to leave feedback also. There are many very talented people here who have a keen eye for detail, so don’t get discouraged by any critical replies, they will help you along your journey. All any of us can do is try and make the next one better.

[resonant]

46 minutes ago, Sean Couch said:

Right on, good on you for completing your first violin and for it sounding good. I think you found the correct location, but I may be wrong, I have only been around for a couple months.

I hope you are proud of the work you did, I will be quite pleased if my violin sounds good. Flaws and all, I will be proud of mine. I don’t think it is any small feat to finish an instrument. Unfortunately, I don’t know how to play or even hold a violin so I will have to find someone to critique the sound for me and fine tune my setup.

I am working on my first violin now. It is quite the adventure. I don’t have much wood working experience and I tend to rush things, so I am taking my sweet time working on it. I haven’t touched it yet today, had some errands to run and chores to do, but tomorrow is another day. I might sneak in a few hours today, but having a couple drinks sounds like a better option to me. Hehe.

You can start a thread here in the Contemporary Maker’s Gallery and name it “Resonant’s Bench” and post your pictures as you build. You might be able to have this thread renamed if so desired.

I’m sure more people will be by to leave feedback also. There are many very talented people here who have a keen eye for detail, so don’t get discouraged by any critical replies, they will help you along your journey. All any of us can do is try and make the next one better.

Thanks for the reply! Yeah I'm very proud of the violin, it was a lot of effort and hoping for the best. I love it all the more for all its flaws. I also wasn't aiming for perfection, in fact my motto was perfection is the enemy of the perfectly adequate. I'll have to post some pics of the 'bloopers' and my hacky fixes. But I'm glad I decided to prioritise finishing the whole build and not toss out my first attempts and take another year to finish it, because I feel like I know better now which bits I should spend longer on next time.

Thanks for your suggestion I changed the thread name - will be following yours as well!

[Shelbow]

Nice job @resonant if you get a chance it would great to hear how it sounds.

[resonant]

Starting my next violins with what was easily my least favourite part of the first violin: the neck and scroll. Because this time I have a secret weapon...a bandsaw :p

 

[resonant]

On 6/6/2024 at 10:09 AM, Shelbow said:

Nice job @resonant if you get a chance it would great to hear how it sounds.

Many thanks! I'll upload a sound sample ASAP. I have been playing with the bridge thickness and soundpost height and position a lot to try dial in the sound, but alas I am still a rank novice

[Sean Couch]

On 6/5/2024 at 4:21 PM, resonant said:

Thanks for the reply! Yeah I'm very proud of the violin, it was a lot of effort and hoping for the best. I love it all the more for all its flaws. I also wasn't aiming for perfection, in fact my motto was perfection is the enemy of the perfectly adequate. I'll have to post some pics of the 'bloopers' and my hacky fixes. But I'm glad I decided to prioritise finishing the whole build and not toss out my first attempts and take another year to finish it, because I feel like I know better now which bits I should spend longer on next time.

Thanks for your suggestion I changed the thread name - will be following yours as well!

Right on. I am doing the same thing, I will keep plugging along and learn from the mistakes of the first, and apply those lessons to the next violin. I started a list of things that I need to pay more attention to on the next one. Worts and all, I like (maybe love) my first violin. It’s hard to hate an ugly child, especially when you know it is your own. lol.

[MikeC]

On 6/7/2024 at 5:45 AM, resonant said:

Starting my next violins with what was easily my least favourite part of the first violin: the neck and scroll. Because this time I have a secret weapon...a bandsaw :p

 

I'm a little confused by this picture, it looks like you cut away the width on the scroll.  Is it because the whole block is too wide? 

[resonant]

3 hours ago, MikeC said:

I'm a little confused by this picture, it looks like you cut away the width on the scroll.  Is it because the whole block is too wide? 

Hm I think it might be the way it's photographed, here is another angle after some more material was removed. I'm not using a template/measurements for the peg box hence the pencil work of a mad man.

Edited June 8 by resonant

[MikeC]

oh ok, it was the photo, made it look like you cut away the width of the scroll, now I see what you're doing there. 

[Sean Couch]

Oh my, don’t say that making the scroll is the worst part of making the violin. I was hoping that the purfling was the worst bit. I reckon I’ll find out.

[MikeC]

Actually, I kind of like making the scroll.  Purfling is not bad but at my age I have to use good magnification!

Getting the mortice right for the neck join was a pain on the last build.  I got it a little too loose and had to fill it in and start over.  

The only difficulty I have with the scroll is that tight space underneath where it flows into the pegbox,  I had to use half round needle file to open that area up.  

[resonant]

12 hours ago, Sean Couch said:

Oh my, don’t say that making the scroll is the worst part of making the violin. I was hoping that the purfling was the worst bit. I reckon I’ll find out.

It was only the worst bit for me because at that stage I really just wanted to get the neck on so I could hear how the violin sounded (impatience), and I felt the scroll was so unnecessary. Well that and cutting the neck out of a chunk of maple with a little coping saw was no fun at all. I figured if I start with the neck/scroll this time round I won't be so impatient. I think MikeC is right, carving the scroll should be fun. Oh and I enjoyed inlaying the purfling, the plates became real violin parts for me with the purfling in, don't fear it!

 

8 hours ago, MikeC said:

Actually, I kind of like making the scroll.  Purfling is not bad but at my age I have to use good magnification!

Getting the mortice right for thei neck join was a pain on the last build.  I got it a little too loose and had to fill it in and start over.  

The only difficulty I have with the scroll is that tight space underneath where it flows into the pegbox,  I had to use half round needle file to open that area up.  

I think I somehow lucked out when I fitted the neck, I had a pretty straightforward experience of fitting, taking off a little material, refitting and so on. However it took me a really long time because I went slowly. Fitting the base bar and planing the top and back for their centre joints were the most maddening parts for me

Edited June 9 by resonant

[catnip]

Just to help you out cutting the outline of the scroll with a bandsaw.   There are many methods for cutting a scroll but this is the way I do it.  It all depends on your skill level and what tools you have.

I like to use a left and right scroll printout.  I used to trace the scroll turns from a template but then you have to carefully adjust the left - right alignment visually as you cut.

Here is another describing the same method:

Also, be  sure you have enough neck root length ie,  ~7 mm overstand + ~4 mm top + ~30 mm + ~ 4mm bottom  for a total length around at least 45 mm. It is a good idea to add an extra ~5 mm  for any 3-D tilt adjustment as you are setting the neck.

[resonant]

I've been quite busy with non-violin related things, but here are some progress shots of the scroll. It's my 2nd scroll and so far going much better than the first, much worse than the 3rd hopefully haha. The proportions aren't where I want them, I will see what I can get to eventually but I had to adjust because I accidentally cut the right hand side 'dowel' too small, so I was starting from a disproportionate place anyway (relative to the template) 

I also started on the blocks. The first violin I used a 'regular' inner mould, so I wanted to try out a skeleton mould. Looking forward to greater access to the rib scructure but I must say it feels like the training wheels are off with a skeleton mould...

I am aware how wonky the mould and blocks are - I don't see much point squaring most surfaces as they'll be carved off anyway. Preparing myself for the scolding!

[Sean Couch]

Man, I haven’t even given the scroll/neck any thought yet. I’m already starting to get nervous about cutting the f-holes. I think the neck block that came with my back is large enough to get two necks out of. I will probably need both. lol

I can see your logic with not squaring up the blocks. As long as the blocks fully cover where the corners are going to be located, I don’t see an issue. I’ll be watching to see how it goes.

[resonant]

Here is a recording of my first violin, pictured in the original post of this thread. Please excuse my playing. It goes: open strings, some G major scale, G major on G string, noodling highish on the E string, open string double stops.

I think it tends toward the muffled side of things, the recording makes that a bit worse. Easiest improvement would be the soundpost, it's currently tilted at around 87 degrees, makes poor contact and is probably too long. Sound posts are hard 

[Steve Rodriguez]

Congratulations on making your first violin!

[resonant]

On 7/19/2024 at 2:49 AM, Steve Rodriguez said:

Congratulations on making your first violin!

Many thanks!

[resonant]

Here is audio after I improved the sound post position. The fit is still not perfect but the sound is less dull now, as in there is more treble all round. However there is now a borderline wolf note on C on the g string.

Oh and it's my teacher playing which is why it's in tune this time 

[resonant]

Haven't had much time to build, but dropping by to say I fitted a new bridge to my first violin. It is an aubert deluxe, the previous bridge was like  €2-3 from amazon. I'm really surprised at the difference in sound. I will try upload a clip soon.