Update: Violin Build, Finishing Process_Finished Violin

Hi friends and Family,

Here it is!!! I finished the violin just before Thanksgiving and am just now getting around to publishing the last pics. It has been an awesome journey. Starting with a violin “kit” that had some of the parts, instructions and no tools. The back and sides were already formed, carved and glued together and the top was carved. That made it easy to get started on building the thing. Much of the work was in carving the small parts, sanding and finishing. Be sure to check out the first two posts showing the body and neck work as well as the process of ‘finishing’ (coloring) the body and neck . . . links are at the bottom of this post.

If you scroll through the pictures, you will see some of the process. Notice in pic two and three the difference in the color of the ebony neck. I used a technique that luthiers use to stain the neck for a uniform color.. Effectively making a (sustainable wood) Macassar Ebony into a Black Ebony piece. Much more appealing in my opinion. I also bought some ebony tuners, tailgut, end-pin, tailpiece and chin rest because I like the look (the kit came with tan Dogwood parts).

Scrolling through the pics you will see the processes of gluing the neck, cutting and shaping the tuners, the tailgut after shaping (it was a square piece of ebony), shaping and slotting the nut (where the strings sit near the tuning box), (another square piece of ebony) and carving and shaping the bridge (the white Maple half-moon shape part that holds the strings up near the ‘F’ holes..

Then . . . Yes! I strung the violin up, tuned it and promptly found I have a lot of work to do learning to play the darn thing! It helps that it is such a beautiful instrument and sounds fantastic! Give me a year, I think, and I’ll be playing it as naturally as I play the bass.

I hope you enjoy the pictures, and thank you for following me on this artistic journey. It has given me the confidence I need to continue with other acts of ‘luthierism’ . . . I made that word up, I think . . .

My next major project is making an electric guitar that will have a convertible, carved top. You will be able to unscrew the top and change pickups,bridge and the look/color of the top when the mood strikes you. The tops I have are a beautiful Quilted Maple and a really crazy Curly Flamed Maple. I also have a “Roasted-Flamed Maple” neck that will go nicely with the body. Roasted necks are baked in an oven to take all the moisture out of them, essentially ‘aging’ the neck so that it will have no warping or bending problems that can plague new guitar necks. This guitar will be interesting! Stay tuned for the pics! I have to do much of the work in the garage, which is not heated. I have a small heater but, with temperatures averaging in the 20’s, the little heater won’t keep up. We’ll wait until it’s gone up to the high 30’s, at least.

Love to all,

David T

p.s. Comments are welcome at the end of each post . . .