Violin Forum/Message Board

John Cadd

Has any luthier ever made a violin (or viola) with a slim block just where the chinrest normally fits so that there is no strain on the ribs or top and back ? Surely any repairer would remember at least one or two repairs in that area. There is a chance that the rest clamp could create a damping effect .whereas the block would leave the back and belly unstressed.A slim piece of willow would not be as chunky as a chinrest.

Andres Sender · Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:34 pm Post subject:

Do you mean instead of a chinrest?

I doubt the idea would fly in the very conservative modern violin world. Odd shifts like this sometimes get tried by early music people trying to both be, and not be, historical in their setup. And during the time when chinrests first started to be used something like this probably was done by someone somewhere.

FiddleDoug · Member Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 227 Location: Hilton, NY

Are you talking about putting an extra block inside the violin? If you are, I don't think that it would fly. Too much extra work with fitting, linings, & carving inside the top and back. It would also mess up the smooth curves inside the instrument. Much simpler to just use a chinrest that fits over the tailpiece. That way any pressure is on the endblock.
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John Cadd · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 1:21 pm Post subject:

No not instead of a chinrest,just inside to counter act possible overtightening.Even two smaller pieces instead of one block.It would not be terribly thick but would balance the vertical pressure and also the continual tugging that the player would impose on the rest.
The centre block fitting type look very efficient but if you combine that with a shoulder rest clamped on the body there is a new danger from leverage .Does leverage get worried about enough?
Tradition has to be put on the shelf until all the pros and cons have been looked at.Just in case something good pops out.Think about Martin Schlieske`s large scale wobbles that these violins enjoy when they have a chance.

Dave Chandler · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:07 pm Post subject: extra block

I've not heard of this being a problem, so it would seem the best approach is to let it go, i.e. "if it ain't broke..." Have you run across this being a problem? Couldn't you just go 1.5-2.0 mm on the rib through that area and address it that way?
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Michael Darnton · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 7:48 pm Post subject:

It's not uncommon to open an old violin to find that someone has backed up this area inside with a layer of veneer, expecially if there's evidence that there was some previous warping followed by the area having been straightened out.

Andres Sender · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 2:49 am Post subject:

I have recently seen an x-ray of, I think it was a late Stradivari violin which had the tail block extended on one side presumably to strengthen the chin-rest area.

John Cadd · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 3:19 pm Post subject:

This chinrest fixing area is on the borderline between luthier and player.Many players will buy and fit a chinrest without ever seeing a maker.Come to think of it would you welcome a stream of players anxious for a spot on job to be done on that?
Those annoying little pins to tighten up the screw adjusters provide a danger to the ribs or at least the glue fixing.Even a piano tuner uses his little finger on his tuning spanner when tightening a piano wire.A failsafe precaution against overtightening.Imagine a violin player trying to grip the clamp pin with a pair of pliers. Players have been known to set about their tuning pegs with pliers. Very Naughty!
The apparent benefit of an offset chinrest which clamps on the endblock makes me think there is a fair bit of leverage at the left side of one of these.
So that made me wonder if a violin had ever been made from scratch with that idea in mind.
A conversion job would not be such a good idea .
The extra weight in a new instrument would be negligible.
A thicker rib would not be necessary as the rib itself is a very strong item even though it is thin.The danger is the possible twisting of the junction between rib, lining and belly.The back junction is always going to be stronger.I remember this , of course , because my first violin had a messy repair done there before it ever got to me.