Building?

[ctfreak44]

I would LOVE to attempt to build my own violin. I know this is a mandolin board(i play both), but maybe some of yall could help me.
I came here and looked at a previous post about all the tools and stuff you need, and i think my chin hit the floor!!!!! Is there any advice you all could give me about this? I feel like a little league player listening to the Yankees--im totally lost. I am being very honest with you all---i have no idea where im going. i just need to be introduced to the basics.
Thank You
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[Brookside]

I just started myself, last December with no experience building anything. I think the first thing to do is to find reading material, preferably with pictures (books or websites) that demonstrate the process. I'm afraid I cannot recommend any for violin, but I'm sure you can find some. Study the process for awhile, in as great a detail as possible. Once you have a grasp on the process from beginning to end you can start branching off from there. For instance, what tools will you use, what woods to select and where to get them from.
As I studied the process of mandolin construction, I collected printed material, some books or printed pages from websites that I found helpful, and put them in a mini library to refer to. This is, in my opinion, how to start from the absolute beginning. If you truly hold an interest in the subject, it is amazing how fast you can accomplish all of the above. I was building within a month of the contemplating stage.
As for tools, don't look at any particular tool list and get frustrated. In many cases you can do with less if you have to. (as a young child I once watched an old fellow build a fiddle with little more than a knife) Once you fully understand the process you will be able to figure on what you must have and what would be nice to have.
You can really do this if you really want to. If you get hooked like so many of us have, you'll do it for the rest of your life. There are some world-class builders here but plenty of first and second-timers too. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Good luck!

[RI Jim]

VERY well said Brookside, and after 20 years of building i'm STILL clipping, printing and saving stuff to a binder like you say ! No need to be intimidated Allyson, everybody starts at the same place. Theres tons of information on the internet that makes it so much easier for a builder to get started than it did years ago, use that to your advantage. Visit the MIMF.COM site, lots of material there, especially when you register and pull up a seat in the library ! Don't pay too much attention to ' tool talk ' as that's what most of it is, talk, too many folks get caught up building tools and fancy jigs and never do any actual building ! You can build great instruments with minimal tool investment, especially on the small scale of a violin. The biggest investment you could make is to get yourself a copy of Roy Courtnall and Chris Johnson's book ' The Art Of Violin Making ' Dave Smith of Smith Creek Mandolins turned me on to this book and while it's expensive, it's an incredible resource to have on your shelf, it's completely changed how i build a mandolin, which is nothing more than a larger violin. That should be the FIRST thing you buy before you even order a piece of wood.

GOOD LUCK and most important, take your time and enjoy every step of the process, don't get discouraged.

Jim #
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[K_D]

There are some violin making tips on Pete Schug's site:

Pete Schug's web page (http://home.att.net/~PeteSchug/)

[WaywardFiddler]

Pete Schug and a couple other builders tend to hang out on the rec.music.makers.bowed-strings news group. Yup, news groups still exist.
-dave

[Yonkle]

Try going here. this may be a better way to break into it.
There is a tool list too!
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Kits/Violin_Kits.html

[samuel]

I would definitely start with a kit...

[John Jesseph]

Courtnal and Johnson's book, and www.maestronet.com ....

One foot in front of the other!

[JeffS]

Allyson,

This lady has documented herself building several instruments and this link is for when she built her violin. I thought the page was very informative. Building a Violin (http://pweb.jps.net/~msmatsu/htmlpages/violin1.html#anchor173491)

[Brookside]

How could I forget? Kathy's site is fantastic. I spent hours studying the steps she documents on mandolin building. I had forgotten that she also built a violin. (among other instruments) In my earliest "thinking about it" phase, I e-mailed her with some questions. She was very pleasant and encouraging. It's a great place to begin to learn the building process.

[Yonkle]

http://pweb.jps.net/~msm/index.html
Here's a link to Kathys site. She is good at answering E-mails and here site is very helpful.

[ctfreak44]

i did look at kathy's site through another recommendation. i am going to consider buying one of those books...other peopl have told me about it. i didnt want to do a kit, b/c looking at all the materials they already give you, it doesn't seem like i could really make it my own. i mean other people would think "wow thats cool" but in my mind i would be thinking "yeah, well all the pieces where cut already.." i dont know i just feel like i would rather build it my self.

thanks..ill post more later.:)

[John Jesseph]

Don't use the Ossman book as a guide like on Kathy's site. That would be worse than building a kit.

[ctfreak44]

yes-i heard that the ossman book was not a good choice. I mean to get the other one. forgot the name. thanx for all of your help. If i ever get started Ill be sure and tell yall! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif