Opus # 11 "In Harmonia" (In Harmony)
(revised 5/2009)
...A good name for a violin, it is inspired by a favorite a-cappella song entitled "living in harmony".
...It refers to all parts working together in (musical) (acoustical)(vibratory) harmony.
...The top is made of European silver spruce which was destined to be made into a cello. I used the outside wood for best sound transmission possible (several notes higher in tap tones than traditional violin wood which is usually made of small diameter trees).
...The back is made of quarter sawn and book matched French Maple (150 years old). It is an attractive fine 'flame' wood pattern.
...The professional violinist who tests my violins (Ron Kilde) thinks it has a superior response and tone/ power.
...I have heard this violin played by a professional in a large concert hall and the sound really carries (at least 200 feet).
. Photos are below: . price is $3,500...
...The spruce and maple blocks of wood we started with. These are both 'book-matched' which means that there is center line glue joint. This violin making wood came from Europe, the maple back wood is from France.
Scraping the back plate to refine shape.
...The design is copied from a 1714 Stradivarius violin with a 14 1/8" plate length, a violin from his 'golden' period of making.
...This view shows the inside of the top plate nearing initial completion. Notice how both the wood grain and bass bar are angled for bettter performance. Also the Vigdorchik tone strips penciled on as a guide while fine tuning the plate tone.
...This violin has gone through some changes over the years, and as my violin making skills have increased, I have updated this violin with all the improvements. It plays with power and is even on all the notes over the entire fingerboard.
...Ready for serious music making. Weight about 400 grams with out chin rest.