![\"DSCF4182\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.davidfinck.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/DSCF4182.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe next challenge was carving the scroll and making the neck<\/p>\n
Producing the neck proved challenging, but enjoyable. Setting the neck into the body \u00a0was also a challenge, but went smoothly. The fingerboard is often removed prior to finishing the instrument to allow better access to the top.\u00a0 Here, a dummy has taken its place to protect the delicate edges of the neck. There is tremendous mystique surrounding the varnishing of violins, from the sealing and choice of a “ground”, to staining, and formulating and applying the varnish. I sealed with very diluted oil\/varnish mix, stained with a combination of various water-based aniline dyes applied in layers, and then French polished using a garnet shellac. I think the results were very pleasing and it should age nicely as well. Then it was on to fitting the pegs, sound-post, bridge, end-pin and tail-piece.<\/p>\n I got motivated to dive into this project when I knew that my eldest daughter would be needing a new violin.\u00a0 Was I naive, foolish, stupid?\u00a0 Probably all three and more besides. Ledah has been playing for about 14 years, she’s a freshman music major and an outstanding violinist.\u00a0 The violin she’s been playing for almost two years is a prize, (on loan) for winning the University of Delaware National String Competition in 2011. The instrument is a very costly one made by a prominent luthier, but it is due to be returned this Spring.<\/p>\n Well, here’s a clip of Ledah bringing out some of the first notes to come from my completed violin.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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