Replies

1. 
   Joe_Zuki | Sep 09, 2002 02:28pm | #1

   Glendo,

   If you would care to post the same question over on the Japanese tools.com forum, there is an accomplished luthier who hangs out there. I'm sure he could answer your questions. His name is Scott.

   http://www.japanesetools.com

   Take Care,

   Donald

1. 
   BarbaraGll | Sep 09, 2002 04:43pm | #2

   You also may be able to get an answer at: http://www.mimf.com/cgi-bin/WebX

1. 
   Glendo | Sep 11, 2002 10:00pm | #3

   Thanks !

   MIMF seems to be a well run web site.Their archives are easy to access and

   are a well of information.

   Glendo.

1. 
   BarbaraGll | Sep 12, 2002 12:28am | #5

   You are welcome; I am glad it helped.

2. 
   Bill5507 | Sep 11, 2002 10:26pm | #4

   http://www.garrettwade.com sells a 'Behlen Violin Varnish'.  I'm not sure if this what you're looking for. 

3. 
   DHambley2 | Sep 13, 2002 04:51am | #6

   Hi Glendo,

   i don't know if this post belongs in the finewoodworking chat room but I can't get any help anywhere else. Did you rebuild the violin or are you just refinishing?

   I'm looking for someone who can give advice for my fiddle. The body has warped slightly so that the neck is tilted up, making the strings 1/2 inch high. I want to do something like heat it slowly or put it in a steam chamber (or whatever it takes) and force it back into shape. I've taken it to 2 luthiers and they couldn't help.

   Any ideas?

   Darrell 

1. 
   hpthree | Sep 13, 2002 05:42am | #7

   It seems unlikely that the body of the violin would warp if it is intact. Is the neck block loose? Loosen the strings all the way and try to wiggle it. That could change the neck angle and make the strings too high. Other likely culprits would be simply a bridge that is too high, or in the wrong spot, or a soundpost that has fallen or is in the wrong place. (If your luthiers are primarily violin repairmen, I assume they would have checked these.) If the violin has had the top removed and glued back on, perhaps it was not aligned properly and that has forced the neck into the wrong angle. If the top plate has begun to flatten, it can be reshaped using heat and an appropriately shaped mold (I think). This is a BIG job, and is probably only worth doing if your violin is quite valuable, i.e., well into 4 figures at least. On the other hand, if it is not, maybe this is your chance to learn about violin repair. http://www.internationalviolin.com has books and supplies. There are other books also.

   BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING though, take your fiddle to a highly reputable repairman (ask the concertmaster of your local professional symphony orchestra for a recommendation), and find out what it is worth and what can be done. That way, if it is beyond economically sensible repair, you can start in and sleep well knowing you are not putting a valuable instrument at risk.

   Henry

2. 
   Glendo | Sep 14, 2002 10:25pm | #8

   Well, I'm afraid the only connections I have to violins are an old relic inherited

   from my aunt, that I occasionally brandish to relieve stress or clear the house,

   a love of the sound they can make in the right hands, and a friend who is building

   one. My friend asked if I knew anything about finishing violins. I did not. He then

   brought up how difficult it was to find out any useful information on the subject.

   I then became curious.

   The web site is a good place to start, if nothing else interesting stuff.

   On a whim, after a lot of digging, I tried a” Google” search on  violin finishing.

   My curiosity is now sated!

   I'm a architectural woodworker and furniture maker by trade. If you had a

   door or cabinet exhibiting symptoms like those of your unfortunate fiddle

   I'd be happy to offer my opinion. Good luck!

   Glendo.