The closer the grain to each other on the top plate and bottom is the better the sound for the violin. Most violins have a two piece back, not usually on the front but a one piece back is rarer. You're definitely a workman if you can build a violin from those parts, Jim. Good on yer bloke. You're a real worker that's for sure !!
Dont rush the kit! Take your time that way youll be happier with the results. You can always do a documentary after its all been done. Just a suggestion.
Did one 24 years ago. Tuned plates, used two special silicate coatings Double purfling with ivory dots. Inlaid ivory top to back on bout points. Have garnet, sapphires & opal in tail-piece. Diamonds in the eyes of scroll. Strong but sweet tone. Good projection. Beatiful red violin and companion. "NAMASTE" is the name I gave it. "We are one" Thanks & tribute to Marvin Etherton for guiding me in construction of this special instrument.
Built this kit about 5 years ago. Not easy, but learned a lot. Didn’t fine-tune the body. Just assembled as shipped. Sound quality was poor. Have subsequently learned there are many things that make a violin sound beautiful. Life is too short for me to perfect the technique, but I love the challenge of new things. A self-taught 70+ violinist. Left hand is hard at this age.
Thanks for the info about your build Don. I am still not done, I had really not got to far along and ended up with some serious health problems and in the hospital and a long recovery. I am finally getting back to this project. I think I will try to tune the top plate with mine to get, hopefully, a better sound/tone.
The inside of the top plate needs to be carved on the inside to fine tune this instrument. Antonio Stradivari tuned his in 3 different regions: 1, thinned under the soundpost on bottom plate. 2, Carved a finger of thicker wood under the fingerboard. 3, Carved the region to the left of the left F-hole on the top (complex topology). See William F. Fry for details.
I am very interested in this kit but I don't know if the the wood has been natưrally dried longtime over 10 years as required for a good violin of 2000ƯSD price ?
I have not completed this yet. I am still working on it. You know how real life gets in the way of things =) I will work on getting an update on my progress and my thoughts on the kit up to this point. Sorry for not having a completed instrument to show you yet but I will get there eventually.
I took a whole year to build mine as I was careful each step of the way and was in no hurry.... Pretty sure I could knock one out every month now if I wanted to....
Please continue & take your time! Read,research,be patient! Keep your receipts, take pictures. I made one from a S M kit in 2000, took a year. With the help of Marvin Etherton, Lupton Hill, Chatoonga, Tn. I double perfumed front & back, put diamonds in eyes, put ivory dots between purfling. Put garnets, sapphires, opals, on it. It has a red with golden hues. Sounds great! I play it regularly. Get help setting neck,finger board, bridge, pegs, tuning of front & back. Good luck. Oh, I NAMED it "NAMISTE," we are one.
This kit is no longer available from stewmac. It comes with the top glued on also the bass bar is installed. So if you want to fit the bass bar or control the plate thicknesses you will have to take it apart . I was disappointed for sure.
I enjoyed putting mine together.... The killer is getting the neck set in correctly.... That borders on having to almost be a genius which I'm not.... In spite of my ineptness,,,, I got it set almost perfect and I have no idea how I did it.... I can't play a fiddle but I play most bluegrass instruments.... When asked why I can't play a fiddle I jokingly tell people my thumb pick keeps getting stuck in the f holes....
I’ve been pricing out wood bending heaters, but omg, a curling iron is a brilliant idea! Thank you for that!
The closer the grain to each other on the top plate and bottom is the better the sound for the violin. Most violins have a two piece back, not usually on the front but a one piece back is rarer. You're definitely a workman if you can build a violin from those parts, Jim. Good on yer bloke. You're a real worker that's for sure !!
Dont rush the kit! Take your time that way youll be happier with the results. You can always do a documentary after its all been done. Just a suggestion.
Did one 24 years ago. Tuned plates, used two special silicate coatings
Double purfling with ivory dots. Inlaid ivory top to back on bout points. Have garnet, sapphires & opal in tail-piece. Diamonds in the eyes of scroll. Strong but sweet tone. Good projection. Beatiful red violin and companion. "NAMASTE" is the name I gave it. "We are one" Thanks & tribute to Marvin Etherton for guiding me in construction of this special instrument.
Built this kit about 5 years ago. Not easy, but learned a lot. Didn’t fine-tune the body. Just assembled as shipped. Sound quality was poor.
Have subsequently learned there are many things that make a violin sound beautiful. Life is too short for me to perfect the technique, but I love the challenge of new things.
A self-taught 70+ violinist. Left hand is hard at this age.
Thanks for the info about your build Don. I am still not done, I had really not got to far along and ended up with some serious health problems and in the hospital and a long recovery. I am finally getting back to this project. I think I will try to tune the top plate with mine to get, hopefully, a better sound/tone.
The inside of the top plate needs to be carved on the inside to fine tune this instrument. Antonio Stradivari tuned his in 3 different regions: 1, thinned under the soundpost on bottom plate. 2, Carved a finger of thicker wood under the fingerboard. 3, Carved the region to the left of the left F-hole on the top (complex topology). See William F. Fry for details.
I am very interested in this kit but I don't know if the the wood has been natưrally dried longtime over 10 years as required for a good violin of 2000ƯSD price ?
Hope she turns out for you!
I have not completed this yet. I am still working on it. You know how real life gets in the way of things =)
I will work on getting an update on my progress and my thoughts on the kit up to this point. Sorry for not
having a completed instrument to show you yet but I will get there eventually.
I took a whole year to build mine as I was careful each step of the way and was in no hurry.... Pretty sure I could knock one out every month now if I wanted to....
Please continue & take your time! Read,research,be patient! Keep your receipts, take pictures. I made one from a S M kit in 2000, took a year. With the help of Marvin Etherton, Lupton Hill, Chatoonga, Tn. I double perfumed front & back, put diamonds in eyes, put ivory dots between purfling. Put garnets, sapphires, opals, on it. It has a red with golden hues. Sounds great! I play it regularly. Get help setting neck,finger board, bridge, pegs, tuning of front & back. Good luck. Oh, I NAMED it "NAMISTE," we are one.
Did you ever finish this?
This kit is no longer available from stewmac. It comes with the top glued on also the bass bar is installed. So if you want to fit the bass bar or control the plate thicknesses you will have to take it apart . I was disappointed for sure.
So so sad you never followed up on this kit.
I enjoyed putting mine together.... The killer is getting the neck set in correctly.... That borders on having to almost be a genius which I'm not.... In spite of my ineptness,,,, I got it set almost perfect and I have no idea how I did it.... I can't play a fiddle but I play most bluegrass instruments.... When asked why I can't play a fiddle I jokingly tell people my thumb pick keeps getting stuck in the f holes....
Good video. Thinking about getting one for my father because he's somewhat of a self-taught luthier.
Hope it all went well for you?
Izzy Evans I
Where can I buy
I got the stewmac fiddle kit recently, the top and back are already glued on...
Okay that is very strange. Mine was not glued at all. Not sure why you got one with the top and back already attached.
me either, this one im going to finish and then buy another, if it is the same thing i will take it apart just to tinker.
A few years after the kit was introduced, StewMac started shipping them with the top and back already attached to the sides.
Does this mean you don't have to fine tune the body ? or will you possibly have to unglue it and fine tune it?
how did the build go? just curious you posted this awhile ago. cheers.
I really wish I had a violin
Everything is already done
Not necessarily. A decent amount is done, but not the fine tuning like they said in the video.
Volume?
Did you finish this?
The new version of this kit, the box is closed already. No fun!
Dude, feed your cat first. :)
Finish and glue the top on. Then remove the back to finish it.
12:29 purfling not a sea belt...
Жаль, что из такого прекрасного материала будет изготовлено очередное дерьмо!
Peg hole alignment is crap.
This is too heavy.