Kevin M. said:

I like the cleats to keep the bass bar from sliding around.  I have had one move on me when clamping and then had to reheat and reglue.  That hide glue sure does set up fast.

It's so easy to add the cleats - don't know why I didn't do it on the first one. No slipping around getting the clamps on this time!

BCShalom said:

I think I am going to get the 48 dollar kit and see what I can do with it.  I have all the hard ware on order now, so all I need it a saddle, glue and a glue pot. Planes and scrapers.  It would be so wonderful to play a violin you had a small part of bringing into this world.  LOL  can't wait to give it a whirl. I can convert my sons old bedroom into a work shop.  He can sleep on the couch when he comes home on leave. 

 

Shalom Shalom

Yay

Don't bother with an expensive glue pot - I use a potpourri pot with a tiny canning jar for the glue. Doesn't have to be fancy - mine cost $2.24 from the local thrift store and works just fine - takes about 10 minutes to heat the glue. I can post a pic if anyone is interested.

bezdez also sells glue crystals and saddle/nut packages for cheaper than I've found elsewhere - ebony, bone or horn.

You can make your own scrapers from spring steel for a fraction of what you'll pay retail and they can be shapes that will work for you. It's easy to cut with tin snips and smooth with a file. Let me know if you need a link, or send me your address and I'll send you a piece of the stuff I use - bought three pieces and it should be enough to last me approximately 17 lifetimes...

You can make your own finger planes, too, with just a little bit of wood and a good blade. It may be a better idea to buy a good gouge (#5 sweep, 1/2" or 3/4") instead of investing in a fingerplane - you likely won't need a finger plane for a kit build, and it's easier to take down the purfling with the gouge, especially in the corners.

A flat chisel, 1/2", will be needed to set the neck, and you could go with a cheapo from the hardware store.

You'll only need a little space in your son's room and a vacuum to tidy up when he comes home

Can't wait to see what your kit looks like! Anyone else want to join us?

myguitarnow said:

Cat... sure does look like she's coming along great!

 

I didn't make my goal of being finished by turkey day, but it won't be long.

I've been doing some research about corner blocks (they are sloppy and it's driving me crazy!) and what to do about less than perfect ones. The general consensus is that many great violins don't even have corner blocks and that their main purpose is to enable using an inside mold and some stabilization of the corners, but they (generally speaking) have little input on sound. An Artful Dodge (knitter-speak there ) is in order, I think. Details to follow.

The bass bar is in, sanded and trimmed. It looks great, even if I say it myself. More pics after the Holiday - we're driving three hours North to see the family - our once-a-year get-together. Hopefully there won't be bloodshed or tears

BCShalom said:

Happy Thanks Giving Cat McCall. 

Can't wait to see the finished product.  You will have to draw the bow across the strings for us once so we can hear it too.  ???  Please.

 

Shalom Shalom

For this one I plan to play it a bit in the white and again before I send it off to MGN, and I'll have the camera rolling. Still need to get a video up of me playing. Picked up a tripod just the other day for fiddle movies...

I'm gonna hijack my own thread to wax nostalgic about my son*, (whose name is Harley David, so it kinda keeps with the biker theme) shown here playing his first notes on the fiddle I gave him yesterday -

Turkey Day Madness

He plays cello and viola, self taught, but this was his first time holding a fiddle. Not a bad sound, if you ignore the crazy family antics going on in the background You see, there were three men (family members by marriage) trying to open a bottle of wine with an inadequate corkscrew, which they broke – the chorus of "Uh-ohs" behind the camera. Poor kid (22) had about 10 people standing around watching and at least two video cameras trained on him. You would think he would be used to it, being the only Grand Child, but he was nervous anyway.

* His hair is cut so you can see his eyes! He smiled and talked like a normal person and not the moody, angry boy he's been for years! He cooks – looks like all those nights forcing him into the kitchen have paid off! And his eyes shine when a cheap fiddle is in his hands. I think I done good!

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