Violin Forum/Message Board

Thomas Southern · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 11:18 am Post subject: Maple Wood

What type of maple is used in the necks of violins? Is hard or soft?

Thank You
Thomas

M.Lange · Member Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 81 Location: Germany

European maple has been used, traditionally.
Mainly sycamore maple (acer pseudoplatanus), I think.
I'm not familiar with the terms soft/hard maple but I think sycamore would be soft maple?

Matthias

MANFIO · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:13 pm Post subject:

Yes, traditionally Bosnian maple. But I've been using North American red maple with good results.

Simeon Chambers sells some nice slab cut red maple, I used it to make my "Veronica Franco" viola, I posted some pics of it here, I think. He has also an spruce that is very good.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/7875988@N02/with/464604020/

Geemac · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:46 am Post subject:

I've found there are a few names for the maple you seek. Ask for "Tiger maple", "Fiddle back maple", or "Flame maple" and you'll probably like the result. Here is a link so you may see it:

http://www.edroman.com/customshop/wood/flame.htm
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GeeMac

Andres Sender · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 2:52 pm Post subject:

In the US, most 'soft' maples are softer than the European woods usually used for violins (backs, necks, bridges, whatever). People sometimes use these woods, i.e. even big leaf, the usual complaint against which is that it looks wrong.

The 'hard' maples are definitely harder and heavier than the European woods, but sometimes people use them with minimal to no complaints, they just have to adjust for things.

The red maple Manfio mentioned is sort of the common choice US wood for violins. It's a denser sort of 'soft' maple, sometimes even mistaken for a 'hard' maple. It just has to be carefully chosen as it often has markings on it which give it away and which some people try to avoid.