Antonio Stradivarius lives!

A violin blog must introduce the great Antonio Stradivari! Did Antonio learn in the Amati workshop? Did he learn next to Andreas Guarnerius? Did he use the label "Amati"?  We may never know!

He did start with some maple backs cut on the slab (i.e.one piece construction). At ViolinsofPlymouth, I have started with a "slab" back as Stradivari did...

Great violin with a length of 13 3/4". Perfect for a smaller player but offering a bold sound!

Secrets of Violin Making- Lesson 1

"White violins" are carved from spruce and maple. That is my answer when people ask me how I make a violin. But what does that answer mean?

Wikis can help..     First,      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/steel     explains how steel evolved.

Next,       en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_wood_carving       reviews 1,000 years of wood carving in western Europe.

Finally, a violin wiki     en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_violin

shows historically significant instruments.

So the secret is that I carve wood with sharp steel!


First, spruce quarter-sawn wedges are joined.

Then, the mold is selected to fabricate a specific reproduction, around which the maple sides are carefully bent. 

 Then the top and bottom plates are carved!

These  photos shows a back plate in progress. Gouges, files, and plane were used first and scrapers are shown.

Lots of exacting work to achieve great acoustic properties.  More details will follow.....stay tuned.

Violins of Plymouth first post!

Violins of Plymouth first post!

The Violins of Plymouth blog begins here.....

Time out from violin making for the "first blog post" describing the first ten years of my violins and violas. Blogspot looks good for a blogging tool. I have lots of photos of fiddles in various states of fabrication. And lots of help in digital photography and blogging. Many friends expect this blog and are interested in specific instruments! Your suggestions and questions will help as there are so many pithy topics.

Violins are about 500 years old in western Europe. As they were introduced and became capable, virtuoso players performed and great composers wrote! Violin design progressed to meet new requirements and to utilize better materials, all good blog topics!

Now, which blog topics should I include? Maybe, how and why I started. What space and "shop tools" did I need? What materials including wood and varnish should be used? Next, how do I choose a candidate reproduction. What is an early violin? Which makers are interesting? How do I match oil finishes? Arching? F-holes? Scrolls? What strings should be considered?

Stay tuned for lots more!