Topic: Having fun with my old violin. Bending of the belly at the bridge's feet.

[tarisiosfever]

It has a cylindrical wood peg on the middle of the upper block, IMHO to conceal the original nail trajectory.

[tarisiosfever]

Sorry to post the images in disorder: it takes time to edit them. If there is interest, I could share (through gmail) more images so yo can download to  a file and scroll down on a viewer, alike a real CT scan. That way a better notion of the graduation is reached.


I am still learning how to use the software and the technician promised me some 3D compositions.
So far I can say that:


1) The belly is not re-graduated, as I measured around 3,9mm on the central part.
2) The back is very nicely done and the maple looks healthy: also 3,4mm at the soundpost area and 3.9mm at the thickest central area.
3) One can see the thin hard fibres of the belly's spruce with a density comparable to the hard maple of the back, interspersed with the softer conjunctive tissue, of variable and much lower density. This is good to a sound board, IMHO, as it allows for independent movement of the longitudinal units.
4) Appart the loss of curve and the diminished thickness of the belly at the (right) bridge foot area, which was the original reason to open this thread, I think the belly has still a lot of life to it.  Don't you think?

5) The measuring tool allowed some more dimensions to be known:
length of back from upper to lower rib (without considering the overextension of the back) is 35.36cm.
Height of the violin measured (strangelly) at both the bass and treble feet of the bridge is 59.8mm. Interior height is also the same at the two points: 52.5mm.
Length of the bass-bar: 27.7cm.
Height of the bass-bar: 12.2mm.
Height of the ribs varies from 28.9mm at the vicinty of the neck (and also at the lower extreme but it is difficult to judge due to noise caused by metal) to 31.2mm at the lower blocks, with an average of 30mm.
The graduation of the back was the most interesting! I would send a copy of this DVD-ROM if anyone is interested. I am also trying to upload to YouTube for easy viewing: cine mode is fun and telling...

Edit: some dense lines of the belly are actually glue joints.
Also, look at the Hamma & Co. bridge foot surface, which was done on measure, it seems...
The wide and not so deep purfling is also discernible and is made of high density woods, even higher than maple, or so it seems.

[tarisiosfever]

Some more:

The linings are not into the blocks, as Petherick predicts for the early violins 

[tarisiosfever]

More upwards, upper corners and upper bouts:

[tarisiosfever]

Still upwards:

[tarisiosfever]

Almost there...

[Epitome]

Tarisiofever, please help me out by not bumping your posts, wait for a reply before posting again and again. It just makes it easier for me and
for others to reply to a specific post. Keep up the good work tho.



I sometimes do it too, so it's no crime.
Thank you.

[Epitome]

Look what came in last night for repairs. A bass mandolin made in the USA.
The owner is a bass player and swears by it, best bass he ever played. I have permission to show it.

[tarisiosfever]

Tarisiofever, please help me out by not bumping your posts, wait for a reply before posting again and again. It just makes it easier for me and
for others to reply to a specific post. Keep up the good work tho.

Thank you.

Oops! Sorry    It wasn't meant as "bumping": I have hundreds of images and I just wanted to share the most significant ones. It is a great diagnostic tool without the need to open the "patient". 


OK. I'll rest for a while.
T.

[admin]

I thought perhaps the dowel went further but it appears only to go through the block.

[tarisiosfever]

How many wood cleats does your beloved violin have?




I uploaded some interesting pictures to my Picasa:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uX_mRkBEgH9r5tzxKdB9Sw?feat=directlink
(not to overburden the place)

[admin]

Tarisiofever, is the sunken area on the left side (bass bar side) or sound post side?
Or is it generally sunken in the bridge area.
thanks

[tarisiosfever]

It is on the soundpost side, where the right foot of the bridge rests. Though both sides show some surface wear.
The arc on the bass bar side looks normal to me, both in longitudinal and transverse axis, and should be viewed as the standard to copy...
Look at the following image where you can see the loss of normal arc. When you scroll down fast on the CT scan the difference in this and other imperfections is evident. I can send you a CT scan copy on DVD-ROM for you to study the reach and limits of this technique. 


PS: I will be needing some more help trying to ID my latest toy 

[admin]

Ok, I can see it clearly now. 'Just wanted to be sure and that is good news for the violin.

[tarisiosfever]

Just for practice.