Thanks all. I completely understand that the monetary value is likely minimal on this instrument, but i love learning how to repair and restore instruments. Will it be a keeper when all is said and done? Will find out soon enough. And, i am trying to find as many books, articles, and videos as i can (thanks for the references above! have already begun reading some of them).
I was messing around with the violin and started to bring it up to tension, at least on one string (it did have a soundpost in place). On doing that i noticed that the neck joint was extremely loose. (this is where the fun begins. It is like a mystery novel, but please pardon my poor terminology). Anyways, i watched a few videos from a couple luthiers on how to reset the neck. I then proceeded to remove the neck. Well, as it turns out, this thing didnt even really have any sort of block for the neck joint to sit in. Two small grooves were cut into the neck joint and the ribs of the violin were glued directly into the grooves. Those of course had come loose over the years. In addition to that, there were no corner blocks at all on the instrument (just in the back, by the tailpiece). I have blueprints for a violin that has a block for the neck joint to sit in, so i am using those blueprints to add more strength to the neck joint. Fun little process. The instrument did still have the soundpost in-place, so i marked where it was roughly and will fight that battle when i get to it.
Another interesting fun fact. The closest thing i saw to a corner block was a small dwelling that a couple of wasps had built in the corner of the instrument.
Seriously.. this is a fun project. Hoping it at least partially resembles a violin when all is said and done
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