Why do I feel like a doctor when I repair a violin : A hopeless case? No! This can not be! As a violin, viola, cello or double bass have a high market value, it is important to get a quote for the necessary repair. Such as in this case: A music teacher came to my workshop and showed me her cherished violin which shed played since she was in her teens. A tragic accident occurred and at first glance, it looked like a total loss of the violin. The damage comprising of several longitudinal and transverse cracks in the back and two large longitudinal cracks in the top.In addition, the back had a complicated sound post crack directly under the soundpost. This violin was built by and bears the original stamp of:Silvio Vezio Paolettifece in Firenze A. 1923. Before the damage, this violin had the market value of Skr. 200.000 - The repairs are estimated at around Skr. 40,000 - Makes you wonder, Whats the value of the violin after repair? Of course, the many cracks have, even if they are perfectly repaired, a value-reducing influence. The repair took me, intermittently, about 6 months. A temporary interruption was necessary to allow the plaster mould of the back, to dry completely.This plaster mould is required for the precise fitting of the soundpost patch and for the gluing of the soundpost patch.The fitted soundpost patch is then glued at a high pressure with help of the plaster mould on the inside of the back.The plaster mould thus guarantees the original arching of the instrument. Descriptions of single images:Figure 1 + Figure 2. shows the top with large cracks. Figure 3. shows the back with 8 different cracks.The back was completely detached from rib cage and the first longitudinal crack along the floor joint is bonded with the help of crack braces. Figure. 4. The glue is a clear and strong binding, so-called Hasenleim, the gluing leaves no visible glue joint. A special glue, especially suitable for joints and high quality repairs. This glue and the so-called bone glue have been used for instrument making since the 15th century. In contrast, for example, if you buy the white casein glue in any hardware store, it will always leave a dark, visible line.Figure 5. shows the gluing of the upper right back part.Figure 6. shows the preparation of the plaster mould for the back.Figure 7 shows the development of a oval calibration for the patch in the area of complex soundpost cracks.Image. 8 shows the new and the grain matching piece of maple with lateral fixation of small wooden parts.Figure 9 shows the fitted patch with the help of chalk. Here, the whole area must be fitted exactly into the egg-shaped cavity.Figure 10 shows the newly fitted, patch and worked out to the thickness accordingly to the original.Figure 11 shows the color code to match the surroundings. After the top cracks were also glued and reinforced with small wooden crack cleatings I could put the instrument back together. The last two pictures show the ready made instrument.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 10:57:44 +0000
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