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The types of wood used in the making of violins has traditionally been
confined to:-
1. Maple,
2. Spruce,
3. Poplar,
4. Willow,
5. Ebony,
6. Lime,
7 Rosewood
8. BoxWood.
The following article will describe the Properties, and Applications
of each wood type, also Where & Why each wood type is used.
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1. Maple :-
Maple of the family “Aceraceae” is traditionally used in the
construction of the Violin Back, Neck/Scroll, Ribs and Bridge.
European or Bosnian Maple “ Acer Platenoids “, is the most common type
used to construct these elements.
The Maple wood used for violin making has a certain amount of “ Figure “
or “Flame” , an optical effect caused by light reflection disturbed by the
wavy pattern in the wood structure, the “Tracheids” , this orientation in
the wood structure causes this “Flame” effect . The presence of this flame effect does not appear to have an adverse effect on the sound of an
instrument, through figured wood is weaker than plain wood and more difficult to work.
The Density of European, Bosnian Maple “ Acer Platenoids “ is in the
region of 660 kg/m3, at 12% moisture content.
Maple has very good mechanical properties which allow the maker to
create a low weight instrument while retaining excellent acoustic
properties, resulting in a very responsive arched instrument.
Maple in regards to the “Ribs” should be cut on the quarter as for the
“Back” . This is so the growth rings run in the same direction as the
“Front”. If the “Ribs” were not cut on the Quarter it is difficult, near to
impossible to bend the “Ribs” accurately with out them twisting and
breaking.
The Scroll has been traditionally made from Maple because of its
excellent mechanical properties which allow the “Pegbox” wall to be hollowed out to accommodate the String tuning by the Pegs.
The orientation of the grain in the Scrolls “Pegbox” is critical to its functioning and crack prevention.
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2. Spruce:-
Spruce of the family “Pinaceae” is traditionally used in the construction of the Violin Front, Bass-Bar, Sound-Post, Corner/Top/ Bottom Blocks, & Linings.
European Spruce “Picea Abies” and Sitka Spruce “Picea Stichensis” are commonly used to make the violin Front, Bass-Bar, and Sound-Post .
The Density which is ideal for the construction of the Front from
European Spruce “Picea Abies” is around 470 kg/m3 at 15% moisture
content.
Sitka Spruce “Picea Stichensis” is around 430 kg/m3 at 15% moisture
content.
The wood for the Front is quarter sawn for maximum strength. The use of
Spruce as the Violin Front enables the best acoustic properties to be
realized when converting the string vibrations into the violin Body
amplifier.
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Medway Cottage, Main Street, Youlgreave, DE45 1UW, Derbyshire, England. (0044) 01629-630099
All information on the Rocheviolins website is the copyright of Brian Roche.
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