Violin Forum/Message Board

famuswood · Member Joined: 28 Sep 2009 Posts: 75 Location: Smyrna, TN

I have heard many times a reference to the violin's ability to "speak". I understand the ease of speaking sensitivity. I'm curious what the forum believes affects a violin's ability to speak. What elements determine it and what improves or takes away a violin's ability to speak? Thanks very much.
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byacey · Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 6:14 pm Post subject:

I think mainly what they are referring to is how responsive the instrument is to the bow. Lesser instruments have a slight lag from when the string is excited by the bow, to when it actually starts producing usable sound. The more responsive instruments produce sound almost instantaneously and tend to produce a stronger tone with less effort on the bow.

I believe what causes this phenomena is the dampening of the instrument. A highly dampened instrument will resist being set into a state of resonance and will take more energy input to set up the required resonance.

A more freely resonating instrument will tend to be easily excited into a resonating state and maintain resonance with less energy input.
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Michael Darnton · Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:40 am Post subject:

Bad arching and too much varnish are two easy things to blame, as well as a setup that's too tight. Usually the setup is the only one you can change after the violin's made.
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Benedict White · Member Joined: 27 Jan 2011 Posts: 113

What makes arching bad? Too much? Too little? The wrong shape?

Michael Darnton · Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:48 pm Post subject:

The wrong shape.
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Chad48309 · Member Joined: 26 Sep 2010 Posts: 110 Location: Michigan

Lemuel · Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 10:41 am Post subject:

Oded Kishony · Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 7:38 pm Post subject:

If the wood is too dense/heavy it can slow response time.

light wood + high damping can result in a first rate instrument.

Oded

famuswood · Member Joined: 28 Sep 2009 Posts: 75 Location: Smyrna, TN

These comments are very helpful. Twice now I've heard the term "Dampening" and wonder what it means and how does one dampen a violin. Has this to do with arching or thickness of the plate? Please explain. Thanks
_________________
I love the feel of wood in my hands - the smell of fresh cut lumber and the challenge of a difficult woodworking project on a sunny day . . .

Oded Kishony · Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:55 pm Post subject:

dampening is a property of the wood, neither arching not graduations have a significant effect on damping. Dampening is the difference between something vibrating in the air vs the same thing vibrating under water.
The sealer and varnish can increase dampening. A properly dampened instrument will sound smoother, less harsh.

Oded

Chad48309 · Member Joined: 26 Sep 2010 Posts: 110 Location: Michigan

Oded Kishony · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:53 pm Post subject:

Chad48309 · Member Joined: 26 Sep 2010 Posts: 110 Location: Michigan

Lemuel · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:04 pm Post subject: