Official Luthiers Forum!

Filippo, I built mine using "Violin Making Step by Step" by Henry Strobel. Good book. Probably the other most-referenced book is Technique of Violin making by H.S.Wake. Like guitars, you can find as much info as you can bare on violin making. Michael Darnton has a good overview of violin making on his website as I recall.(google)

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Dave
Milton, ON

I haven't built a violin yet but I have several books and the one that I like the best is the Courtnall book. It is similar in scope and feel as the Cumpiano book is for guitars. It isn't cheap but you should be able to find it at a better price than StewMacs. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_plans/Building_and_repair:_Violin/The_Art_of_Violin_Making.html

Filippo:

Here's a site I just found last night, by Matthew Welsh, a hobbyist builder:

http://z11.invisionfree.com/Stringed_Instruments/index.php?s=28967f14c4863986adb56b5961300abb&showforum=4

He's pretty detailed and has chronicled his building of three violins.

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Kathy Matsushita
San Jose, CA USA
http://theamateurluthier.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathy.matsushita

There's a lot of good information by Michael Darnton in the archives at the MIMF. I was lucky enough to have participated in an on-line course that he had done at the MIMF also, and the violin I made then is still my favorite, and still gets high regards by everyone who plays it.

For which book to read, read them all! get the book titles and authors from a google search, then head to your library and get them to bring-in the books, spread out 2 weeks apart. There's a library book exchange system in place that very few know exists. Use it!

Also consider a white violin. All the major work is done, you get to do final graduation(if you wish), varnish, and the setup. It's a relatively quick and simple way to get a really good violin into the player's hands.

Grumpy's right about the Library Book Exchange. I drive my local librarians ingnorant. All the time emailing requests for a new book. They are very helpful.

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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

I have Courtnall's book. It is excellent. If you have to buy just one book, I'd suggest starting here. If you want to learn all that you can, well, it won't be in just one book!

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Hmm, @Welsh. Have a look at the blocks, the grain runs the other way we would do with a guitar:

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Build log

On a slight tangent...

Does anyone know anything about cellos? Last time I looked (it's been a while), google was DIY-cello-less. I started with the guitar, but I really want to make a cello. Are they just big violins? Can I take violin info and scale it up? (Of course I could, but would that be a step in the right direction?)

Miek

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Mike Lindstrom

I would also recommend Courtnall's book. It's highly informative and an excellent read.

Though I wouldn't say making a violin is difficult, I would say having a good knowledge of hand tools and having the fine motor skills when using those tools will definitely make the build easier.

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Michael Lloyd

“I was born to ignorance, yes, and lesser poverties ...
I was born to privilege that I did not see ... I didn’t know it, but my way was paved” – John Gorka

Miek, I think Stroebel has a step by step book for the cello as well. Google him. (I know H.S.Wake does). At some point, I downloaded a complete set of dimensions (must be 50) for 1/2, 3/4, 7/8 & 1/1 cellos from some website (no idea which), so info is out there.

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Dave
Milton, ON

Go to Meastronet and poke around.

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Ken