Violin Forum/Message Board

CAHopf1770 · Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 6:24 pm Post subject: Violin Back Arch Correction

All,

I am seeking opinions about an arch problem. I am currently restoring a c. 1720 English violin that is of decent overall initial quality (some have suggested the instrument may be Bolognese because of the arch profile, sound hole design, and that back is of wide-grained poplar, as are the corner blocks. But I digress. The back has some significant distortions from age. The wood is also more brittle and less pliable than I would have expected for poplar. The distortions are located across the widest portion of the lower back and take the form of overall lumpiness or waviness. There is no distortion in the upper half of the back or sound post area. The wood is also extremely thin. The back is currently off the ribs. My initial plan was to make a plaster mold of it and through multiple pressings with heated sand incrementally return the back to its original shape. I have done this procedure many times, all with success, for violin tops. However, I am worried about the thinness and brittleness of the wood in this case. Best to leave well enough alone?

Overall thoughts?

Steven

Michael Darnton · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 11:04 am Post subject:

Mostly, reshaping hardwood isn't very rewarding, but you might get lucky. With maple, putting a patch behind helps, if the wood was already thin, but I'm not wild about the tonal effects of patches: they never seem to make anything better, tone-wise. Sometimes it's better to leave things alone, if there isn't a real problem.
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