MIMF

Thanks Craig --- and so good hearing from you again. I also like using unusal woods and combinations for my violins. I figure I am an amateur, and I don't sell them, so I am free to do my own thing. I've used an old maple kitchen table that was my Grandmothers. Several tops from a a 2X10 piece of pi...

Thanks. I agree.

Barry,

Did an experiment. I think the color is from the wood itself.

Cold glue in dispenser: Glue spread on white paper. Glue area circled with pencil: Original color of Soundboard used:

Mario, I also kind of like the way the glue line looks. Trying to hide it or cover it would have looked a whole lot worse. I also am a believer in "making a feature of it". The glue used was Behlen Master, from International Luthiers (now out of business). I think Woodcraft and Stewmac also sell it....

Randy,

I am still trying to figure out how you did it.

Does the fingerboard rotate, or bolt on/off? If rotated, how does it lock in place?

Thanks Michael, for the plaster mold technique. The dark area: Again, I don't know. I assume it's a combination of all three, most likely oxodized and glue, though. Soundboard basically in the dark all those years. "Like I always say, "if you can't fix it, feature it"" I agree --- transform a negati...

Is there any particular risk of separation, or is such a glue joint as good as any other (assuming appropriate joint preparation and glue application)? Jason, I don't know. I sure hope not. I saw a picture once of an instrument, cello I believe, done by a well known maker, don't remember who, that ...

Doug, I've just posted again after many years of being away. Yes, I've also noticed that it is a lot slower here than back when I first joined in 2000-2001. MIMF is one of the warmest and friendliest of forums. Deb and Charlie have done a nice job of running it. Hopefully, some of the other "old tim...

Really like this thread. Maybe I missed something, but what is the roundish staining all around the top plate maybe an inch in from the edges? Wait! reading this thread again, I see it is from a laminated glue joint? Nice fiddle but that doesn't look right. Thanks, Doug. Yes, that is a laminated to...

Bryan Bear wrote:I love everything about this thread!

Glad you enjoyed it. I enjoyed sharing it.

Thanks, Steve. I really like that idea of the walnut between the two layers. I have enough unsplintered soundboard left for one or two more tops. Perhaps when I finish the latest two I'm working on with standard fronts. Usually, I'm thinking about the next ones halfway through the current. For space...

Thanks, Chuck.

That's a great story John, So many old pianos have only the key tops saved. That you have made another musical instrument from the one which gave you so much pleasure I'm sure softens the blow a bit. Clay, Ya --- I loved that piano. I become emotionally attached to all my instruments. Violins 14 an...

A few more pictures of my Piano Wood Violin

P.S. To Pianos at the dump— from Jam Session There is a thread on destroying old pianos in the Jam section of MIMF. I posted there about my old piano, which I broke up and made a violin from its wood. This is a continuation and overlap of that post. Virtually every piece of wood in my violin Number ...

that is so very sad just think of all the history a pianos holds within it's key's,wooden frame and all the people that have sat before it. James Let me tell you guys my sad piano history story (with a happy ending): This was my piano. I used it to write and record many songs. After I bought a new ...

Thanks Charlie. That does help.

And actually, it is "Welcome back". I used to hang out here back in the early 2000's. Just sort of lurked past couple years. Fantastic forum. Helped me tremedously.

Sorry if this has been addressed elseware, but what is the optimum picture size, format, pixel number, etc. for including in a post. I read that 100k is max. file size. Are there instructions anywhere for just how to add photos to a post?
Thanks,

John

Hello James. It's been a while since I posted here. Your building an electric cello sparked my interest, as I have been wanting to also build one "someday". I have built 18 acoustic violins over the years, and am working on 19 and 20. Couldn't have got started without the help of this forum back in ...