Violin Forum/Message Board

james ansara · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 4:31 pm Post subject: Slab sawn back

I have some birdseye maple that would make a nice back and ribs. It's not wide enough for a full size violin. Is it acceptable to make a two piece slab cut back?
Thanks
James

rs · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 5:38 pm Post subject:

Yes. It isn't common for violins, but the AS Youssoupov was a two-piece slab-cut violin I believe, at least, according to my notes. AS made several violas (Axelrod and Cassavetti for example) and a host of cellos this way.
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Randall Shenefelt

L P Reedy · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 7:21 pm Post subject:

I've done it a few times, with good results. I would recommend making the ribs from as nearly quartered wood as you can, for stability.

kubasa · Member Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 212

Start lifting weights! It's a workout. I just finished a 1 piece birdseye slab back and wow, was that hard work. I'm happy with the results but it will be a while before I make another one.

james ansara · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 12:30 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the responses. Kubasa, it certainly is hard wood and heavy too. This will, I am sure affect graduation thickness. Did you also use birdseye for the neck/scroll? L P Reedy, I read a piece written by M Darnton that mentions slab cut wood is almost as strong as quartered but to avoid wood in between slab and quartered. (Hopefully I remember this correctly). I had to abandon a set of ribs that were slab sawn due to cracking on the mould about a year after mounting. This maple was quite flamed, not birdseye. The birdseye is very pretty and will look nice with a centre seam but I don't want another disappointment.
Cheers, James

kubasa · Member Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 212

Hi James - my name too. For the last one and my current one, I've been using just a plain neck block. I was concerned about the way it would look but then after doing a little research, I found a few "famous" instruments or makers that also had plain necks so I didn't feel like I was violating any "norm". The 1st one turned out good so I'm going to be using a plain neck on my 2nd birdseye violin because it's next to impossible to find birdseye blocks.

Are you able to make some ribs from your slab? My board was almost cut on the quarter so I was able to make some decent ribs out of one of the boards by angling my cuts. I'd be happy to send you a set of ribs as I ended up with a couple extra sets. They might not match your birdseye completely but at least they'd be better than non-quartered ribs (from everything I've been told) It all depends on what you are up against. You might be okay but I thought I'd offer. They are about 34mm wide due to the way I had to cut them. It is air dried and was cut about 10 years ago from northern Wisconsin.

James