Official Luthiers Forum!

When I first join this great forum I was building mostly guitars. Now I am making violins and have only made one guitar this year.

Is there a section in the forum for bowed instruments?

Hi Barry,
since this is the "Official Luthiers Forum" I think you're posting in the right spot. Nothing says the main forum is for guitars only. It'll be refreshing to see what you have to add in the area of violins. there are several frequenters/members that indulge in the world of violins. Go for it.
Craig S.

Absolutely! If you show us yours, we'll show you ours.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Great! Here is a 5-string I finished last week. I will be shipping it out to a 16 year old hotshot fiddler in San Diego.

Barry,
That is truely a beautiful looking instrument. I get a call for repairs once in a while but have never built one from scratch. Where did you get your training? Do you recommend any specific books or videos? I think a section on violins would be very nice...I'm with ya 100%.

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

That is really great! What a knockout instrument. Beautiful wood and finish.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

The best book on the market currently is "The Art of Violin Making" by Roy Courtnall.
It is a great step by step "how to" book. Many of the guitar making skill are directly transferable, particularly id you make archtop guitars.

I have received some formal training but I am mostly self taught.

That's interesting. His book "Making Master Guitars" is, IMO, one of the best, and most informative, historically, on the Classical Guitar and it's construction. While there are many ways to get it done, his approach is very good, and his book, well written. It doesn't compare to Romanillos' book on Torres, from a historical standpoint, but that book is not really a construction book.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Beautiful instrument Barry!

I could do without looking at that cankered leg. There has to be a story there, maybe in Off ToPIc? Excuse me while I go puke!

Barry, I hate to be the one to tell you.... fiddles have four strings!

More pics please, of the fiddle, the fiddle.....

That is a nasty looking photo! I hope this is better??

Are there some other violin makers here??

Hi Barry,
Nice bee sting you've done. I've worked on lots of fiddles and working on my first violin. It is on hold right now cause I've got a dreadnought started and don't want to quit.
Anyway, have you worked with Engelmann Spruce for your top plate? Some say it isn't a good as European or Sitka and others say it is every bit as good. What's your opinion?
I have just about every book that Henry Strobel made and I want to get Simone Sacconi's book "The Secret of Stradivari" but just can't afford it yet.
What do you use to seal your violin's? Every hear of or use Vernice Bianca. The recipe I use is Gum Arabic 25 grams, Honey 1/2 teaspoon, Rock Candy 1/4 teaspoon and 100cc water and one egg white to make a meringue.
Anyway, I'd love to discuss how your love of violin making. I just replace a bass bar and repaired a two inch split on with a couple cleats in an old Schweitzer copy over one hundred years old.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

It would thrill me to see some more discussions on building violins. If anyone is building a dog house bass, I am even more interested! Mandolins are another thing that I would love to learn more about too.

Bring it on!!

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Reguards,

Ken H

Thanks Chuck. I love Engelmann. The photos you have seen are Engelmann. I like it as well as Euro and a little better than Sitka. I use de-wax blonde shellac as my ground coat. I have tried other things and cannot tell the difference. Vernice Bianca is another ground that was used quite a bit in the past.
I will make a confession that I am not a believer in all the "Secrets" of Strad. A lot of that stuff is conjecture and opinions that have turned into Urban Legends. Many of those ideas have been started by people who have never made an instrument. The Varnish that was used in that time was made by the local varnish maker and most of the violin makers around would buy their varnish from that person.

The Sacconi book is a classic violin making book but a better book in my opinion is the The art of violin making by Roy Courtnall.

I would love to see more violin, viola, cello etc. discussions here.

Barry, that is a wonderful fiddle. Five strings are all the rage.
How many hours would you say you put into it.
How many bucks?
I tried a fiddle, but got bogged down and tossed it on Ebay.
Also, if you were to accept a commission, what would be a fair price?
I salute your fine efforts, nice instrument for sure.
Your bee stings!

Hi Barry,

I come over here from time to time and partake in the festivities. Congratulations again on a nice fiddle, lucky guy that hotshot.

My honest opinion would be that a violin related discussion would be slow to move and get lost on the next page. I highly urge Lance and Brock to create a section for Stringed Instruments Without Frets. I think they may even get some new sponsors.

I do mostly repair and set up of violins now but am making also as time permits. I have a Double Bass (dog house ) and am starting to design a 5-string violin. I have the fiver outline designed at 14 3/4 inch long and the mould made.

I realize my outline is a touch long but thought I would just try it out and see if it works to get a good C string, yet retain an airy violin sound in the higher strings. One thing I haven't decided is the rib depth Whacha think master? I am thinking just a 3 mm extra.

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Ken

It takes about 150 man hours to make a violin start to "finish". (pun intended)

As far as pricing I would rather not go into that on this site, but you can find it if your interested at http://WWW.barrydudley.com Brock/Lance I hope that is the way you would like that question handled.

Luckily, at this point all of my work is commissioned. I have a waiting list of almost a year.

As far as how to treat the subject of fretless instruments another way of going at it might be "Bowed" instruments. That would cover most of the viol family.

I am glad to see there is some interest here.