How Are Violins Made?
- The modern violin dates back to 16th Century Northern Italy. The earliest of the modern luthiers is believed to be Andrea Amati, who founded the Cremona school of violin making. Although there are cheaper factory-made violins available today, the best examples continue to be made by hand, in much the same way that they were made centuries ago.
- The tools used in traditional violin making are woodworker's tools: wood planes, saws, chisels, gouges and knives. Violins are traditionally made of a combination of woods such as maple, spruce, rosewood or willow. Ebony wood is used for the fingerboard. The woods are chosen for quality of the grain, which adds to the beauty and warmth of the instrument. Each finished violin is considered a work of art.
- Once the wood is chosen, the sides of the violin are crafted. Thin strips of wood are bent to shape inside a pre-made mold. Corner and end blocks are cut and put in place to reinforce the sides. The top and bottom pieces are then cut to fit, and carved with a chisel to achieve the correct shape. The bottom of the violin is often one single piece of maple, but the top is usually two pieces of quarter-sawn wood, joined together and planed so that the join is invisible to the naked eye.
- Once the top and bottom pieces are carved and sanded, the F or sound holes are marked and cut into the top using a sharp knife, and the bass bar is glued to the underside of the top. Throughout this process the resonance or acoustics of the wood is tested using various methods.
- The top and bottom are now glued to the sides and a channel is gouged around the edge of the violin body for the purfling. Purfling strips are then bent to fit and glued in place. This prevents any splitting or wear to the edges of the wood over time. The neck, pegbox and scroll are carved from wood matching the back material, and joined tightly to the body of the violin. At this stage, the instrument is sanded, varnished and polished. Each violin maker has his own closely-guarded formula for varnish. Ebony is used for the fingerboard, which is carved to a slightly concave shape and glued to the neck.
- The last pieces to be added are the bridge, the sound post, the tailpiece and finally the pegs. Once those are precisely measured and added, the instrument can be strung. Every piece of a violin affects the final sound, so after every stage the tonal quality is tested.
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