CJones Posted August 22 Report Share Posted August 22 I just finished my first fiddle and I have to say it was a great learning experience. I learned much about what not to do. Lob 359, upper 169, mid 112.5, lower 208.5. Top arch 16.9 back 16.1 Not after any model in particular. The varnish is just dry and I don’t love the color but the flame has a nice shimmer to it. I made my own varnish as well based on Roger Hargrave’s from pine resin I collected on my property. I have no doubt I never would have accomplished this task without this maestronet forum and watching Davide Sora videos. Thank you sir for your help and the help of all those that contribute to this great forum. I made a lot of mistakes I purfled before checking that my overhang was right so I sacrificed my purfling to edge in places to get the overhang better. My a string peg hole is too close to the top slightly crooked. My purfling grove has some places as well. All in all I had a lot of fun and will build another one I’m sure. I will definitely get my tools and equipment more in order first. Please feel free to critique. I’m not easily offended. All in all was a wonderful experience. Thanks to all that contribute here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mysticpaw Posted August 23 Report Share Posted August 23 I like your f's. Well done on #1. Importantly, how does it sound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Brown Posted August 23 Report Share Posted August 23 Wel done. DLB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Noon Posted August 23 Report Share Posted August 23 Very decent job for #1. #2 will be better as you gain woodworking skill and learn from mistakes. A few observations and recommendations: Varnish is a never-ending quest to get a thin, even, transparent, and colorful result. Infinite possibilities. The heel of the scroll should be round. Either usea a compass or circle template. Your pegholes and endpin hole have nasty grain tear-out. Get sharp brad-point drills just under the size you want (the INSIDE of the tapered hole) and then carefully ream to the finished size. Drilling the peg holes in from both sides might help, as well as drilling before final thicknessing of the pegbox walls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonGeo Posted August 23 Report Share Posted August 23 Well done.. I’m about to finish the back on my first build.. I hope mine comes out as well as yours did.. can’t wait to see your future builds.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC Posted August 23 Report Share Posted August 23 As Don said about the peg holes. I like to drill them while the block is square on a small table top drill press. I drill them undersize, just big enough to get the reamer in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Preuss Posted August 23 Report Share Posted August 23 Your upper nut is risking to damage strings faster than you can buy them. But at least that can be fixed fairly easily. Well done considering that you didn’t have an instructor looking over your shoulder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Sun Posted August 24 Report Share Posted August 24 Great job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJones Posted August 24 Author Report Share Posted August 24 Thank you guys for all your kind words. A special thanks to you Don Noon for always being very helpful. I always pay attention to what you say in all your posts. I think my My peg tear out actually came from my reamer. I actually did drill from both sides. I think I just got aggressive reaming.And yes that heel. lol. I thought about making an attempt to fix that but I think I’ll play it for now. And thank you Andreas I am working on fixing the nut. At the time of the picture I had just strung it up like a proud parent I guess and I just wanted to play it and show it. It sounds pretty good so far though I just have some crap strings on it for now. Though I’ve never played a truly fine violin. I do have a couple decent fiddles( plus 15 vso’s) and it sounds as good as the best one I have. It’s loud and bows and notes easy. Though I play fiddle style and in mostly 1st position. We shall see in the coming. Months I suppose. This was my first varnish job ever and I still need to sand or polish it a little better ( lots of orange peel type texture still), cut the peg ends, put new strings, and better shape the nut. I have some dominant pro to put on but have never tried them. Thank you everyone else for your kind words and thank you mysticpaw for liking my f’s. I can’t tell if they’re good or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken_N Posted August 24 Report Share Posted August 24 It's always annoying when varnish looks dark, but doesn't look dark with a thin coat! At least you have instruments around to compare too. I compare to mine, and they all sound about the same! Your scroll looks pretty good. But deep undercutting like that is what I do too. Nice job. Mine always seem to get better, I just don't work on them all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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