| Various types of wood have been incorporated in the making of string instruments with varying degrees of sucess; however the tonewoods of tradition remain spruce, for the top, and maple, for the back, neck and scroll. |
|
|
| Though some instruments are built with one-piece tops and/or backs, most plates are made from two pieces cut from a wedge shaped section of the tree and edge-glued. |
|
|
| To make sure that the two pieces form an almost invisible joint, each is individually planed to a 90 degree angle with a hand plane or jointer. The sides are then joined using a water soluable glue (to facilitate any future repair) and firmly clamped together until dry. |
|
|
| Using the latest in "hi-tech" instruments, the outlines of the top and back are traced on the plates then cut out on the bandsaw. |
|
|
| Arching of the back plate, which is hard Maple, is roughed out using a "SAFE-T-PLANER" in the drill press. Then the hard work begins . . . |
|
|
| The softer, Spruce, top takes more kindly to the hand chisels and gouges and when the arching is nearly complete, a channel is carved on both plates to prepare for the purfling. |
Purfling |
Back to |