Violin Forum/Message Board

MikeF

Is there a particular book you would recommend to a person who is interested in learning about violin making. I am a hobbyist, part time maker of classical guitar and am fairly knowledgeble about wood in general but know very little about violins. Thank you in advance for your advices.

Andres Sender · Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 2:27 pm Post subject:

The Art of Violin Making by Johnson/Courtnall

By the way, be very careful and picky about accepting what you read on this forum, there has been a phenomenal amount of backwards advice posted lately which will send the unwary astray.

mr_violin · Member Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Posts: 52 Location: Chicago

I will secont the coment by Andres.
"By the way, be very careful and picky about accepting what you read on this forum, "
( I know Andres said :"lately" ) I think you should be careful about all of what you read about making Violins on this sight, on others sights,in books, everything.)

At the same time I`ll tell you you should read as much as you can of all of them! ( some Books I wouldn`t wast my time with.) It will not take you long till you make up your own mind what people give the best advice, then you will start looking for what they say on each topic.
There is a lot of very good information on this forum!!!!!
Take your time to learn all you can befor you start making a violin.

I think it helps to do repairs on violins first. ( That is at the point were I am right now. Still learning.)
By the way Mike, I live just west of Chicago (about 20 miles west of the lake.) I`ed love to get to mete you some time. Hope you would email me. At: Mr_violin@hotmail.com

Good luck!!!

CT Dolan · Member Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Posts: 143

Whether on this forum or anywhere else, follow the advice of those who have established their reputation in the real world, whose work is acknowledged and of a consistenly high level. Advice from any other source should be taken with a HEFTY dose of salt!

Andres Sender · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 1:55 pm Post subject:

...even when no one is bothering to correct it. Wink

Dave Chandler · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 5:57 pm Post subject: Newbie

MikeF, now you probably think you've come to the wrong forum, given the responses you're getting. Most of the people using this forum are novices, trying to help each other, so yes, keep that in mind. Instead of the negative feedback you're getting, I think it would be more helpful if you were directed toward the few professionals that do use and monitor the forum, such as Michael Darnton, or Manfio, so you can pull up their postings and see what they have recommended on the subject of what book to start with. Perhaps some of the other users will also mention the names of those makers that use this forum, which they hold in high esteem.

This is an outstanding forum for learning more about violin making -- but failing to correct bad information makes this forum less useful than it could be. It isn't prefect. Perhaps this is a subject for a new discussion.

That said, if you have the name and author of books you want to peruse, you can get them through interlibrary loan through your local county, city or college library. All you pay is postage, usually only $2-3, to have it shipped to the library from anywhere in the country. I ordered dozens of books that way, and had several weeks to reed through them before deciding what I wanted to spend $$ on. I read more than a dozen during the year before ordering wood for my first violin.
_________________
Dave in the Blue Ridge
Southern Violin Association

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm" Winston Churchill

"I took the road less travelled, and now I don't know where I am." Marco Polo

Mat Roop · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 7:01 pm Post subject:

I second Dave Chandlers comments... Darnton & Manfio are the authentic experts! ... I read everything they write. Andres Sender seems to be right on the mark. On the otherhand, others that comment do have different perspectives that they are entitled to, and I find them useful in the sense that they make me think and analyse what is being offered.... and helps me understand the myths and tales that do exist.
BTW this is the only forum I watch closely!
Cheers... Mat

DonLeister · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 7:32 pm Post subject:

Thanks Andres , I second your advice too!

MikeF · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:26 am Post subject: Thank you very much.

Thank you all for your advices.
I have read Courtnall's "other" book and was very impressed by it. I was also thinking about Bruce Ossman's and H. Strobel's books, taking my time to slowly accumulate knowledge and perhaps down the road consider taking some lessons from masters.

Michael Darnton · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:31 pm Post subject:

I'm holding off on the Ossman book. This one is one I haven't see, I have just realized. . . I was thinking of another. So no comment on that one at this point. . . .

Strobel's books are OK, but Courtnall & Johnson covers the same territory better, and deeper. The most useful of the Strobel books is Useful Measurements. I had four copies at one point, but they seem to evaporate--it's a valuable text for a working shop.

If you haven't found it already, check the viola-making bit on my own webpage: http://darntonviolins.com --the yellow oval on the left of the opening screen. Also, the GAL red books have 40 or so of the articles I wrote for them about violin making techniques. There's also my work-in-progress at http://violinmag.com but it's rough at this point, with lots of stuff to add, and no photos yet.

Andres Sender · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:45 pm Post subject:

Dang you guys lucked out. Laughing

_________________
You can only connect the dots that you have.

CT Dolan · Member Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Posts: 143

Why do you think I walked away from maestronet???

Answer: Because another member walked first.

Who???

Answer: Look up the page a little (two posts, to be exact). Wink

Mat Roop · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:43 am Post subject:

Thank you Michael for your link to your work in progress.... Your professional courtesy is most generous... And appreciated more than I am able to express!!
Thanks and Merry Christmas!... Mat

DonLeister · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:55 am Post subject:

I was able to look at the Ossman book in our local Woodcraft store and passed on it. It's just too rough and amateurish looking work.
The Courtnall book is nice, I wish it had plans in it. As far as getting a decent outline for a mold, I'm not sure if there is a great (affordable) source.
Strobels book is helpful, it does have plans, just a bit clunky looking though.

There are lot of small books and booklets out there with awkward looking plans, MikeF, you are asking a good question!

CT Dolan · Member Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Posts: 143

Yes, Michael, thank you very much (again) for the knowledge you have shared. Some of us could never have hoped to reach the level of thought we now enjoy were it not for your generosity, and the online book in progress is just another example. Thank you.