On Wed, 25 Feb 2004 03:15:31 GMT, Howard wrote:

My first career was playing my violin with the El Paso Symphony.

I would like my last career to be *making* violins. I have only the
rudiments of a shop, and some hand tools.

So, what could I do to move incrementally toward my goal of making
wooden acoustic musical instruments? I have a budget of maybe $1000
per year.


seek out the best luthier in your area. make friends, help out when
you can and learn as much as you can.

On Wed, 25 Feb 2004 03:15:31 GMT, Howard wrote:

My first career was playing my violin with the El Paso Symphony.

I would like my last career to be *making* violins. I have only the
rudiments of a shop, and some hand tools.

So, what could I do to move incrementally toward my goal of making
wooden acoustic musical instruments? I have a budget of maybe $1000
per year.

Well, you already have one HUGE advantage over most people who might
want to delve into violin making: you know what a good one sounds like
and you can play one you make well enough to verify its tone and
perhaps be able to make adjustments to improve on that.

I saw a TV show once about a violin maker who was in exactly that same
position, and it made it abundantly clear to me that no matter what my
woodworking skills might ever become, there was no way I could close
the deal, so to speak, on the best configuration of my product. On
accounta no fiddlin' skills, you see.

A couple of things you'll probably want that the average maker of
sewing cabinets and entertainment centers don't have are a steaming
thing (for bending wood) and a bunch of those nifty little clamps for
gluing the top and back onto the curved sides. I also think violin
makers use tiny planes and scrapers, too.

It probably wouldn't hurt to get in contact with actual violin makers
and pick their brains. I would think with the contacts you must have
made in the symphony it wouldn't be hard to scare up a couple of
possibilities. All else failing, do a search on the internet.

I am envious of musicians of your caliber.

Good luck.



- -
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

Several places on the net have violin's in kit form along with =
directions of course on the tools needed and proper construction. If I =
where you I would start this way. That is of course if there was no =
Luthier around to get to know for help.
Puff

"Howard" wrote in message =
...
My first career was playing my violin with the El Paso Symphony.
=20
I would like my last career to be *making* violins. I have only the
rudiments of a shop, and some hand tools.
=20
So, what could I do to move incrementally toward my goal of making
wooden acoustic musical instruments? I have a budget of maybe $1000
per year.
=20

http://freshcoffee.opportunity.com
http://freshjava.opportunity.com

Try www.mimf.com

Montyhp
"Howard" wrote in message
...
My first career was playing my violin with the El Paso Symphony.

I would like my last career to be *making* violins. I have only the
rudiments of a shop, and some hand tools.

So, what could I do to move incrementally toward my goal of making
wooden acoustic musical instruments? I have a budget of maybe $1000
per year.


http://freshcoffee.opportunity.com
http://freshjava.opportunity.com

Try www.stew-mac.com and www.lmii.com.

Kevin
"Howard" wrote in message
...
My first career was playing my violin with the El Paso Symphony.

I would like my last career to be *making* violins. I have only the
rudiments of a shop, and some hand tools.

So, what could I do to move incrementally toward my goal of making
wooden acoustic musical instruments? I have a budget of maybe $1000
per year.


http://freshcoffee.opportunity.com
http://freshjava.opportunity.com

On Wed, 25 Feb 2004 03:15:31 GMT, Howard brought
forth from the murky depths:

My first career was playing my violin with the El Paso Symphony.

I would like my last career to be *making* violins. I have only the
rudiments of a shop, and some hand tools.

Not too many tools are needed and most are hand tools.
(I picked up a Chiwanese violin for $26 and am learning
how to swing a cat. I'm sure they use machines to make
the parts, then hand-fit/finish them with cheap labor.
Got any tips for me to make it more comfortable to play?
My shoulder doesn't like it much.)

1) Pick up some books on instrument building at your local
library. (Dewey 787 section)

2) Check with local music shops for info on luthiers in your area.
You might be able to trade your time helping them for their
instruction. They could probably use your expertise in the
use and sound of a good instrument, too. Win/win.

3) Check your local high schools/comm. colleges for night courses
in luthiery. (probably mostly for guitar)

4) Check local hardwood lumber stores for music-grade lumber.
Grizzly's president builds guitars and now sells wood kits. Check
with him to see if he'll supply violin kits, too. www.grizzly.com


Search www.amazon.com for "luthier" and get some books to
start.


So, what could I do to move incrementally toward my goal of making
wooden acoustic musical instruments? I have a budget of maybe $1000
per year.

That will increase as you sell your violins. Are
you ready to start teaching violin, too? You are
sure to be asked.


Now about that red varnish...



----------------------------------------------------------
--== EAT RIGHT...KEEP FIT...DIE ANYWAY ==--
http://www.diversify.com/stees.html - Schnazzy Tees online
----------------------------------------------------------

education, education, education.
Places like stew-mac make kits and sell them but they often offer wood,
parts, books, plans etc. on the subject
Check out www.Musickits.com (I think that's right)
www.Internationalviolin.com is a supplier of luthier/parts and educational
material.
Think about starting with a non-violin instrument like a Lap Dulcimer, an
instrument cheap to make and hard to mess up.
try a few other links too
http://www.graffiti.it/violin/welcome.html (this may be dead)
http://www.markedwardsviolins.com/
http://www.centrum.is/hansi/
http://www.violink.com/ (may be dead)

There are a few who have messed around with violin making on
rec.music.makers.bowed-strings. There is a instrument making group too I
just can't remember the name.
As for financing see if there are any friends in the area who have "always
wanted to play a _________" and see if they will pay for the kit or
materials or something.
Band saws and maybe a table saw are the main power tool. Various planes,
finger planes, hand saws, and a few unique [to the instrument] tools make up
99% of the rest. oh yeah and the bending thingy

--
Young Carpenter

"Violin playing and Woodworking are similar, it takes plenty of money,
plenty of practice, and you usually make way more noise than intended"

{Put the fiddler back "on" the roof to reply}

--


"Howard" wrote in message
...
My first career was playing my violin with the El Paso Symphony.

I would like my last career to be *making* violins. I have only the
rudiments of a shop, and some hand tools.

So, what could I do to move incrementally toward my goal of making
wooden acoustic musical instruments? I have a budget of maybe $1000
per year.


http://freshcoffee.opportunity.com
http://freshjava.opportunity.com