Just found your channel today. I am a classical violinist and a fiddler but I have always been extremely fascinated by the luthier side of things although I am not much of a handy person unfortunately. I wanted to say that it is wonderful to see that you are making these unique instruments out of these woods, I have often fantasized about making violins out of the very kinds of woods that you have, that is if I could make violins. So its great to see a skilled luthier creating these in the real world! Keep it up and you have a new subscriber!
You made my day, Zachary! Thanks very much. I only fell in love with the violin a few years ago-- I have loved experimenting. I do hope you try your hand at a fiddle sometime. It is terribly addicting!
I know this is an old comment, But I believe if you have the drive to make an instrument you should. You can make a violin using hand tools, you don't need a crap ton of specially tools or anything. Just get yourself a violin making book and go from there. I didn't think I would be any good at woodworking and I started with cigar box guitars, a cigar box fiddle and now im planning my first two more traditional violin builds (one for me and one for my daughter). with youtube and the internet, I believe anyone can learn anything they want in this day and age, as long as the want and drive is there.
This is what life should be all about, the intermixing of emotions and logic and reason. This gentleman does not only appreciate the music when the violin is played, but also appreciates the silent and hidden music that is there being generated in his workshop while he works and the harmony of the grains in his selected wood that have harmonious rhythm of their own. I have always thought that there is no separation of Ethics, Religions, Science, Physics, Mathematics, Music, art and so on, they are all matched and interrelated and life is all about finding that interrelations and if it is something of our own making we need to learn to match, natural materials with emotional music to create various spirits. Jon Mangum, does enjoy his music and the beauty found in its material and engineering structure that support it all. Congratulations.
The beauty and amazing engineering in nature that causes us to stand in awe, speaks with a loud voice and proclaims the goodness of the Designer. Thankyou!
Great work. I wish I could get you some pieces of the tropical hardwood down here. Monkeypod, teak, mahogany, blue mahoe, etc. I'm always picking up scrap from the local lumber guy.
I know this video is over 2 years old now,so I hope you are still around and reading comments and making Fiddles! Have you ever thought of making one out of a wood with some spalting? My brother just gave me a huge slab of spalting silver beech, and the colors look as though they would make a beautiful instrument....I am kicking around the idea of trying my wood working skills at making a fiddle of my own....
Yup, still kicking....doing a series on building now. Look on my channel. Yes! I HAVE made a fiddle from spaulted maple. I would definitely do it again. Go for it!
Not bad. I like it. Thank you. For Irish music sounds wonderful. I also make classical violins with my sister. It is very difficult to make one, but it is more difficult to play it. I stopped practicing violin, when I got children. So go on, whatever you decide to do. Good luck! Greetings from Serbia.
Excellent work. This sounds just like a dream. It has its own reverb and it looks awesome. Thank you again for sharing this exploring and laid back (in the best way). I would loved to have you as my neighbor.
Jon,, I really enjoy your videos. Sorry that someone gave a thumbs down to this one. Probably someone who enjoys being negative and doesn't have anything worthwhile to contribute to the human family. I agree, you don't play as well as Isaac Stearn, and neither do I. So what? We play for enjoyment, not to please snobs. You are brave to put your work on public display, knowing that not everyone will appreciate it. Keep up the good work!
Thankyou, again, Fred! At least I can say I'm getting a little better as time goes on--- you are right, though, we SHOULD be playing for our own enjoyment! Btw-- I just brought this fiddle down to TN for a new bridge, fittings and strings. I'll have it done in a week. Maybe I'll post an update.
Thankyou very much. The violin has brought me a lot of smiles. I keep hoping to get a little better at both playing and making. Check out my oak fiddle -- it is my best sounding one.
I just found your channel and absolutely love it. I’ve played violin for 25 years, my grandfather mad my violin and I’m not considering making one. Thank you so much for creating such wonderful and informative content!
Jon, this violin is very special...because, it is not usually to make violins in this wood. I have been looking Walnut for making one too. Congratulations, it's very good work.
Just found this channel and love it, I use walnut for mandolins and guitar necks all the time. I love the tone of it, its availability, and the way it carves. Never would have thought of it for a violin. Id love to see that instrument on a spectrum analyzer to compare it to maple.
fascinating! By my amateur experience, spruce is very flexible, the tree itself is almost elastic when bent, while cedar is so rigid and strong it resists. These qualities probably vibrate in unique ways.
This has a great sound! It is a tone that complements Irish and Scottish folk music, OMG imagine that sound on a Viola! I am hoping you can give me your opinion of how you think a fiddle with spruce top and mahogany sides and back might be. There's a seller of unfinished violins with the mahogany sides and back violin and while I like that two tone look, I want it to be enjoyable to hear as well. I have a rosewood fingerboard and nut that probably would go well with it. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Anyone's thoughts are welcome.
Now that I have made fiddles of many kinds of wood, I would say mahogany would be a fairly warm sounding instrument suitable for close quarters. It is soft, so won't reflect alot. I tune my tops to match the back acoustically. I really believe that is key when using alternative woods. I hope you give it a try!!!
Man that’s a beautiful fiddle. Thinking about trying my hand at building one. I’ve been playing for about 25 years now (not professionally or anything though) and have wanted to build one for awhile. I really like the idea of playing around with different woods.
Thanks, oussama. I like the dark woods, too. The trick with the Cedar is to keep it a little thicker thsn the Spruce. I wanted to try Walnut for a back, and Spruce for a top, but I thought the two colors of wood might look silly. I hope to hear you are building your own instrument soon.
hahaha yeah!! Maybe that was an incentive for your success..There is a French proverb Says: si on veut on peut..If we want..we can I hope to meet you sir By the way, I am from Tunisia and I love the United States very much and I wish to visit and live in it.
WHAT IS THIS!? Metal Detecting I am starting another matching pair guitar/fiddle. I stumbled upon a nice piece of birdseye maple. Thanks for the comment!
Well.....maybe it's your speaker or ear buds....The Walnut fiddle is really mellow and warm. Probably my warmest violin. I like your idea for wood....I will ask around...Do fruit trees get big enough to cut a slab for a fiddle?? I am planning on Cherry for my next one. I apologize for my playing...I am getting better little by little :)
would you ever consider building a violin for someone who provided the wood to you? i love this violin, both the color and the sound. that dark color is so beautiful and i like you didnt make it over shiny.
What a fantastic result!! Maybe it's just my eyes, but how did you get the cedar top to match color so well with the walnut, is there stain used? I always thought cedar was a bit more bright yellow-orange but in this video it looks beautiful and golden brown
You helped me build a talgeharpe, I just made my choice in soundboard. I'm going for cedar if I find a good piece. Thankyou for all that research I didnt need to do, haha
I really have been enjoying your videos so much since I subscribed a few days ago! I'm going to see if I can find a series in your videos now that can help me get a better idea about making one myself without the large spaces in between. I'd love to have a teacher, but sadly, it's just not likely to happen where I'm at as I have little to zero experience with carpentry at all. Anyway, keep it up! I love these videos!
You are very kind, Kenny. I HIGHLY recommend you get a copy of "The Art of Violin Making" by Johnson and Courtnall. I paid about $125 for a used copy, but I hear that one can be found for half that. You most certainly would regret the purchase, and used copies sell rather well, so you will not lose money if you decided not to keep it. Making music with a piece of wood that you formed in your hands is an amazing experience-- little is as rewarding. If I can help, please just ask.
I'll definitely look into that book! I love working with my hands, I've just had very little opportunity to do the things I want I.E. different priorities set at the time and a difficult time rearranging those priorities to something feaseable.
It is important to have an outlet for your creative energy-- It gives hope to a dreary day. The wonderful thing about a fiddle, is that you can build the whole thing at the kitchen table...and I DO that myself in the cold months. I have a little work station that sits on the end of the table. My wife loves to look over and see me carving away. Wood shavings and saw dust are easy to clean up.
Do you happen to have a decent set of wood carving sets and glue you'd recommend for a beginner? I liked the idea of the Wal-Mart clamps in the most recent Home Depot Violin* videos.
You need 3 gouges, a chisel, an Exacto knife....and 2 thumb planes...I got 2 used old gouges from Ebay, some gouges from the dump...the thunb planes came from China and cost $30. I got a Stanley #5 plane (for joining and planing) at a second hand shop for $30. Just start with one thing at a time....I made many of my tools, jigs, and fixtures. Maybe I will make a video about that kind of stuff next. I would start with a book. Then hunt for some gouges -- I will tell you what you need. Start small...the important thing is to START.
You played Ashokan Farewell....great Civil War era music! I just recently found you on U Tube & I am hooked! They should give you a show on the History or Discovery Channel!
Haha! You are way to kind :) the Ashoken Farewell was written in 1984 (or real close) and was not well known until some tv show used it. I don't do tv, so I am a bit foggy on details. Thanks so much for the compliment!
@@grandpasmountain the TV show was Ken Burns series 'the Civil War'. The tune itself was written by Jay Ungar. I am a beginning fiddler, and that tune is one I have been working on the most...I love to practice on my back porch on warm spring and summer evenings when practicing that tune!
@@MrSeniorJR That tune is probably the biggest reason I'm playing a fiddle! I love it, too, and was just playing it an hour ago, haha. I'm better at it now, thank goodness!
@@grandpasmountain that's funny! I watched this video on my lunch break (i work five minutes from home, so I go home for lunch...) and on my way out the door to go back to work, I grabbed my fiddle and kicked out Ashokan Farewell and Shenandoah! Lol
Wow! what a beautiful piece of work. I love the fact that you use "unorthodox" woods and the results are awesome. I've been repairing and setting up violins at home for 4 years, and would love to attempt to build one. I currently live in Colombia, so I wonder if tropical woods would be adequate for violin building. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I really admire your work. Thank you for sharing it!
Regular pine tree, South american red and white cedar, South American oak, balsa wood and the tropical ones like Guayacan, Teak, Granadillo, Canarywood, boxwood, ivorywood, lignam. They are mostly used for furniture and flooring, except the cedar which is used to make guitars.
I have made several violins using Cedar. Tools must be very sharp and you must leave it .5 - .75mm thicker than spruce. The pine will be good-- look for tight, even grain. The pine will sound nice and clear. Pick a hardwood for a back and neck. Not too hard to carve. Oak works well, and bends nicely for sides, but was tougher to carve. I am certain that you can make a wonderful violin from local woods to be proud of. I would certainly love to see it!
Thank you for your advice. I think I'l use pine for the top and cedar for the back, oak for the sides, and some tropical hardwood for the neck and fingerboard. I will let you know when I'm finished. It will take a while for I have to learn the techniques and get some tools. Thanks again for your help!
I would love to make a violin request one day, likely $1,000 to $1,500 for it. if you ever have the time, please let me know. Your fiddles have some of the most character I've ever seen, and each one is truly it's own.
I’m not one to comment, but I have to say that this walnut one is gorgeous! I love all the stripes of color in the wood! If you sold these I would totally buy one! (:
OK - so you made the back out of Black Walnut - I get that. You said the front or belly was made of Red Cedar - is that Western Red Cedar, (Thuja plicata), which is commonly used for making the bellies or soundboards of classical guitars, or Eastern Red Cedar, AKA Aromatic Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), which is commonly used for making aromatic cedar chests and the Native American Flute? Which type of Red Cedar is it?
It takes about a month for each fiddle. Each one I made has it's own voice. The Cedar is a little mellower....has a dusky low end, melodic highs. The Spruce tops are more focused, and more pronounced lows. I have violins hanging all over the walls, and I play depending on my mood, haha. So much fun!
Oh, I do that too, diff violin per what I want to hear I have few Romanians and 2 Germans...Really fun indeed, I wish i could try play this particular violin on a piece I am learning, an ambitious piece lol but I have enough courage to try 5 bars. :)
Well...handmade violins are rather expensive...compared to Chinese fiddles. I am going to have some violins for sale and I will post them when I do. Thank you so much for asking and for the kind comments.
I mostly have Romanian violins, I have a few but it would be truly nice to have homemade local wood...Do you have a site so I can browse and find out the price? Thank you much.
You have a Gliga violin? I had one a year or so ago. The Romanian violins are nice. I can't help but prefer handmade instruments to factory ones....maybe it's not just the sound, but the hours of carving and the fact that part of the maker is instilled into the violin.
:) Yes, I love my Gliga violins, cello and violas :) They sound sweet to my ears and very affordable, recently I bought another one an advanced student level for my nephew but it sounded really nice so I kept it and bought him another one lol...Hope i'll have this one you made, wish i know so i could save up. I wish you have a site in ETSYdotcom so you could share your handmade violins.
Well... It is hanging on the wall right in front of me :) Although it is one of my finest sounding fiddles, it is one of my earlier creations and I have not thought of selling her. I truly appreciate your inquiry!
When I first found you, I was thinking, why not use "real" tone woods since you have the skills, and this one doesn't sound all that bad. The one that actually impressed me though was the one where you gathered your wood from the Carpathian Mountain region of.... Home Depot. That one had a pretty balanced woody tone that was rather nice.
Ha! Thanks --- What is going on behind the scenes is a lot of learning...and experimenting with a couple different schools of thought on plate tuning and bass bar carving. Spending hundreds of dollars on "real" tonewood made no sense. These are truly "fiddles", and each one is more different than you might think. Through using different woods, I have grown in areas I would not have by just doing what everyone else does. Thanks so much for the comment, it is much appreciated!
:) No.....This violin has evolved into a great playing violin...and it is a perfect match to my wife's guitar which I made out of the same pieces of wood. thankyou for asking!
Carve a V-twin engine block on the end of one. I'm probably worse than you at playing the violin, but I let the HOG waste my practice time as well. Love watching you carve them. I'm lazy and 3D print stuff. Someday I'll print one in probably more time than it takes you to carve them.
Maybe the G-string sounds somewhat weak. But I love the sound on the A. In all quite impressive. Way better than those carbon fiber things. Violin must be made of wood!
Your actually pretty good at making them have you ever considered doing it professionally? I mean I could think of people that would pay for a well crafted instrument such as the ones you make.
Thanks....one of these days...I will HAVE to get rid of some of these violins, haha. When I find someone who enjoys one of my fiddles, then we'll talk about an adoption :)
Do you have any contact info? I would love for you to create a scroll and do the repairs for this antique violin I have. I was thinking about getting it fixed and donating it to Blume Haiti Let me know. Thanks.
Hello, Paris. Sorry for the late reply. We have been sick. That is a wonderful cause. We could chat via email if you like. Riding on two wheels at gmail.
Your violin playing isn't the best, but it isn't so bad either, I'm sure if you played a bit more it would go better, it's better than my violin playing though.
Did you keep it up then?:) what other woods have you used tomake violins out of, I'm interested of how they sound, rather than just traditional maple spruce combination
Just found your channel today. I am a classical violinist and a fiddler but I have always been extremely fascinated by the luthier side of things although I am not much of a handy person unfortunately. I wanted to say that it is wonderful to see that you are making these unique instruments out of these woods, I have often fantasized about making violins out of the very kinds of woods that you have, that is if I could make violins. So its great to see a skilled luthier creating these in the real world! Keep it up and you have a new subscriber!
You made my day, Zachary!
Thanks very much. I only fell in love with the violin a few years ago-- I have loved experimenting.
I do hope you try your hand at a fiddle sometime. It is terribly addicting!
I know this is an old comment, But I believe if you have the drive to make an instrument you should. You can make a violin using hand tools, you don't need a crap ton of specially tools or anything. Just get yourself a violin making book and go from there. I didn't think I would be any good at woodworking and I started with cigar box guitars, a cigar box fiddle and now im planning my first two more traditional violin builds (one for me and one for my daughter). with youtube and the internet, I believe anyone can learn anything they want in this day and age, as long as the want and drive is there.
This is what life should be all about, the intermixing of emotions and logic and reason. This gentleman does not only appreciate the music when the violin is played, but also appreciates the silent and hidden music that is there being generated in his workshop while he works and the harmony of the grains in his selected wood that have harmonious rhythm of their own. I have always thought that there is no separation of Ethics, Religions, Science, Physics, Mathematics, Music, art and so on, they are all matched and interrelated and life is all about finding that interrelations and if it is something of our own making we need to learn to match, natural materials with emotional music to create various spirits. Jon Mangum, does enjoy his music and the beauty found in its material and engineering structure that support it all. Congratulations.
The beauty and amazing engineering in nature that causes us to stand in awe, speaks with a loud voice and proclaims the goodness of the Designer.
Thankyou!
Hello Carmel, I am in agreement with you.
The best violin building class I attended. I will inspire in your teachings. Congratulations.
Thankyou :)
I have a 10 video series on my channel if you're interested.
Great work. I wish I could get you some pieces of the tropical hardwood down here. Monkeypod, teak, mahogany, blue mahoe, etc. I'm always picking up scrap from the local lumber guy.
thats amazing violin
I know this video is over 2 years old now,so I hope you are still around and reading comments and making Fiddles!
Have you ever thought of making one out of a wood with some spalting? My brother just gave me a huge slab of spalting silver beech, and the colors look as though they would make a beautiful instrument....I am kicking around the idea of trying my wood working skills at making a fiddle of my own....
Yup, still kicking....doing a series on building now. Look on my channel.
Yes! I HAVE made a fiddle from spaulted maple. I would definitely do it again. Go for it!
Self taught? Did you go to UNH workshops. I want to try it this summer
Watching this is amazing. Beautiful wood working skills Jon and a very unique violin.
Gee -- thanks alot. Really appreciate all the encouragement.
The dark walnut makes the pale purfling really stand out. It's a gorgeous contrast!
Thankyou, I like it too! I would like to hear a violin with Walnut on back and Spruce on top....but it would look like half an Oreo cookie!
Ashokan farewell! Most beautiful civil war song not written in the 19th century! Fantastic job.
Well done. Super inspiring,
How beautiful! It does resonate well, and your playing is certainly improving :)
Thanks :)
Jon, I'm just going back through your videos again. I'm on my second violin. You have some of the best content on RUclips. Your talents amaze me.
You are very kind.
Thanks for the encouragement!
Not bad. I like it. Thank you. For Irish music sounds wonderful. I also make classical violins with my sister. It is very difficult to make one, but it is more difficult to play it. I stopped practicing violin, when I got children. So go on, whatever you decide to do. Good luck! Greetings from Serbia.
Good sound I have some dried cedar and dried walnut boards. Now I think I’ll try one out of that wood…good job….
That sounds really cool. I'm looking to make one out of cedar/rosewood
Excellent work. This sounds just like a dream. It has its own reverb and it looks awesome.
Thank you again for sharing this exploring and laid back (in the best way). I would loved to have you as my neighbor.
Thanks, Christopher
Jon,, I really enjoy your videos. Sorry that someone gave a thumbs down to this one. Probably someone who enjoys being negative and doesn't have anything worthwhile to contribute to the human family. I agree, you don't play as well as Isaac Stearn, and neither do I. So what? We play for enjoyment, not to please snobs. You are brave to put your work on public display, knowing that not everyone will appreciate it.
Keep up the good work!
Thankyou, again, Fred!
At least I can say I'm getting a little better as time goes on--- you are right, though, we SHOULD be playing for our own enjoyment!
Btw-- I just brought this fiddle down to TN for a new bridge, fittings and strings. I'll have it done in a week. Maybe I'll post an update.
I think you did a great job and it sounds wonderful. Black walnut is so beautiful
Thankyou very much. The violin has brought me a lot of smiles. I keep hoping to get a little better at both playing and making. Check out my oak fiddle -- it is my best sounding one.
Love these projects! I really love that you played Ashoka Farewell also...it’s the song that got me playing the fiddle. And nicely played.
Thankyou! I am still learning....I can play that song better now....AND it really spoke to me, too!
Amazing violin
Thankyou, Mikasa!
Hey man, I feel it's more beautiful, hearing someone perfecting their art. Thank you, kind sir. Norman
Gee-- thanks. When I look back at old videos I cringe at my playing, haha. Hopefully someone feels encouraged!
Thanks very much.
Awesome fiddle!
I just found your channel and absolutely love it. I’ve played violin for 25 years, my grandfather mad my violin and I’m not considering making one. Thank you so much for creating such wonderful and informative content!
Well, Robbie, you made my day.
Thankyou for the very kind words :)
Jon, this violin is very special...because, it is not usually to make violins in this wood. I have been looking Walnut for making one too. Congratulations, it's very good work.
Thankyou, Carlos. I have enjoyed trying different woods.
Just found this channel and love it, I use walnut for mandolins and guitar necks all the time. I love the tone of it, its availability, and the way it carves. Never would have thought of it for a violin. Id love to see that instrument on a spectrum analyzer to compare it to maple.
Thanks, Quinton! Maple is harder, so it's a little brighter.
fascinating! By my amateur experience, spruce is very flexible, the tree itself is almost elastic when bent, while cedar is so rigid and strong it resists. These qualities probably vibrate in unique ways.
Beautiful sound!
This has a great sound! It is a tone that complements Irish and Scottish folk music, OMG imagine that sound on a Viola! I am hoping you can give me your opinion of how you think a fiddle with spruce top and mahogany sides and back might be. There's a seller of unfinished violins with the mahogany sides and back violin and while I like that two tone look, I want it to be enjoyable to hear as well. I have a rosewood fingerboard and nut that probably would go well with it. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Anyone's thoughts are welcome.
Now that I have made fiddles of many kinds of wood, I would say mahogany would be a fairly warm sounding instrument suitable for close quarters. It is soft, so won't reflect alot. I tune my tops to match the back acoustically. I really believe that is key when using alternative woods.
I hope you give it a try!!!
Man that’s a beautiful fiddle. Thinking about trying my hand at building one. I’ve been playing for about 25 years now (not professionally or anything though) and have wanted to build one for awhile. I really like the idea of playing around with different woods.
Thankyou! That day seems so long ago! I am currently doing a series on how to build your own fiddle, if you'd like to check out my channel.
Looks & Sounds Great ! :)
Very good sound
Thanks for listening through the poor playing!
@@grandpasmountain You're welcome keep going sir 💪
Ashokan Farwell! I to play this. Great tune nice job!
i like the sound i like the color i love everything in that one and the others violins
Thanks, oussama. I like the dark woods, too. The trick with the Cedar is to keep it a little thicker thsn the Spruce. I wanted to try Walnut for a back, and Spruce for a top, but I thought the two colors of wood might look silly.
I hope to hear you are building your own instrument soon.
Mr. John, thank you very much for your encouragement to me.. I hope that happens someday.
One time, someone told me they didn't think I could do it.... That was it for me, haha!
hahaha yeah!! Maybe that was an incentive for your success..There is a French proverb Says: si on veut on peut..If we want..we can
I hope to meet you sir By the way, I am from Tunisia and I love the United States very much and I wish to visit and live in it.
I hope you do get to come to America. It is an amazing place. My grandfather came here when he was 25, from Sweden.
Faded Love is always good. Not bad. Thanks Dave. I like its tone.
cool... I've started making violins too... thanks for the video... very cool
WHAT IS THIS!? Metal Detecting I am starting another matching pair guitar/fiddle. I stumbled upon a nice piece of birdseye maple. Thanks for the comment!
It sounds really bright. I like the idea of walnut. Have you thought about Peach or Pear? I prefer a more rich, mellow tone.
Well.....maybe it's your speaker or ear buds....The Walnut fiddle is really mellow and warm. Probably my warmest violin.
I like your idea for wood....I will ask around...Do fruit trees get big enough to cut a slab for a fiddle??
I am planning on Cherry for my next one.
I apologize for my playing...I am getting better little by little :)
Jon Mangum You are doing well. As a novice myself, I am sure you're doing better than I could. Ha. Keep up the good work.
Thanks-- I had only been playing for a year and a few months when I made that video 2 years ago....I always think "I should be better by now!!"
would you ever consider building a violin for someone who provided the wood to you?
i love this violin, both the color and the sound. that dark color is so beautiful and i like you didnt make it over shiny.
Short answer....yes, I'd consider it....
No fiddle I have made has gotten as much attention as this one, and it's been years.
What would you charge for something like that?
That's the exact wood combo I was curious about and I love the sound of it
my palo escrito violin have a patch like yours in the spruce top
What a fantastic result!! Maybe it's just my eyes, but how did you get the cedar top to match color so well with the walnut, is there stain used? I always thought cedar was a bit more bright yellow-orange but in this video it looks beautiful and golden brown
Just luck, I guess! The red cedar I picked darkened up nicely. Thankyou so much for the kind words!!!
You helped me build a talgeharpe, I just made my choice in soundboard. I'm going for cedar if I find a good piece. Thankyou for all that research I didnt need to do, haha
Haha! Wow-- I have never heard of that! I'd love to see it!
I really have been enjoying your videos so much since I subscribed a few days ago! I'm going to see if I can find a series in your videos now that can help me get a better idea about making one myself without the large spaces in between. I'd love to have a teacher, but sadly, it's just not likely to happen where I'm at as I have little to zero experience with carpentry at all. Anyway, keep it up! I love these videos!
You are very kind, Kenny. I HIGHLY recommend you get a copy of "The Art of Violin Making" by Johnson and Courtnall. I paid about $125 for a used copy, but I hear that one can be found for half that. You most certainly would regret the purchase, and used copies sell rather well, so you will not lose money if you decided not to keep it. Making music with a piece of wood that you formed in your hands is an amazing experience-- little is as rewarding. If I can help, please just ask.
I'll definitely look into that book! I love working with my hands, I've just had very little opportunity to do the things I want I.E. different priorities set at the time and a difficult time rearranging those priorities to something feaseable.
It is important to have an outlet for your creative energy-- It gives hope to a dreary day. The wonderful thing about a fiddle, is that you can build the whole thing at the kitchen table...and I DO that myself in the cold months. I have a little work station that sits on the end of the table. My wife loves to look over and see me carving away. Wood shavings and saw dust are easy to clean up.
Do you happen to have a decent set of wood carving sets and glue you'd recommend for a beginner? I liked the idea of the Wal-Mart clamps in the most recent Home Depot Violin* videos.
You need 3 gouges, a chisel, an Exacto knife....and 2 thumb planes...I got 2 used old gouges from Ebay, some gouges from the dump...the thunb planes came from China and cost $30. I got a Stanley #5 plane (for joining and planing) at a second hand shop for $30. Just start with one thing at a time....I made many of my tools, jigs, and fixtures. Maybe I will make a video about that kind of stuff next.
I would start with a book. Then hunt for some gouges -- I will tell you what you need. Start small...the important thing is to START.
Amazing!
Thanks, Saskia.
You played Ashokan Farewell....great Civil War era music! I just recently found you on U Tube & I am hooked! They should give you a show on the History or Discovery Channel!
Haha! You are way to kind :) the Ashoken Farewell was written in 1984 (or real close) and was not well known until some tv show used it. I don't do tv, so I am a bit foggy on details. Thanks so much for the compliment!
@@grandpasmountain the TV show was Ken Burns series 'the Civil War'. The tune itself was written by Jay Ungar.
I am a beginning fiddler, and that tune is one I have been working on the most...I love to practice on my back porch on warm spring and summer evenings when practicing that tune!
@@MrSeniorJR That tune is probably the biggest reason I'm playing a fiddle! I love it, too, and was just playing it an hour ago, haha.
I'm better at it now, thank goodness!
@@grandpasmountain that's funny! I watched this video on my lunch break (i work five minutes from home, so I go home for lunch...) and on my way out the door to go back to work, I grabbed my fiddle and kicked out Ashokan Farewell and Shenandoah! Lol
@@MrSeniorJR That is awesome! It's a sickness, haha!
I'm getting better at it little by little. Check out my latest videos ;)
Wow! what a beautiful piece of work. I love the fact that you use "unorthodox" woods and the results are awesome. I've been repairing and setting up violins at home for 4 years, and would love to attempt to build one. I currently live in Colombia, so I wonder if tropical woods would be adequate for violin building. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I really admire your work. Thank you for sharing it!
Thankyou very much---What woods do you have available, Carlos?
Regular pine tree, South american red and white cedar, South American oak, balsa wood and the tropical ones like Guayacan, Teak, Granadillo, Canarywood, boxwood, ivorywood, lignam. They are mostly used for furniture and flooring, except the cedar which is used to make guitars.
I have made several violins using Cedar. Tools must be very sharp and you must leave it .5 - .75mm thicker than spruce. The pine will be good-- look for tight, even grain. The pine will sound nice and clear. Pick a hardwood for a back and neck. Not too hard to carve. Oak works well, and bends nicely for sides, but was tougher to carve. I am certain that you can make a wonderful violin from local woods to be proud of. I would certainly love to see it!
Thank you for your advice. I think I'l use pine for the top and cedar for the back, oak for the sides, and some tropical hardwood for the neck and fingerboard. I will let you know when I'm finished. It will take a while for I have to learn the techniques and get some tools. Thanks again for your help!
Don't use cedar for the back. You want a hardwood. The back functions both as a reflector and a sound board for higher frequencies. Cedar is too soft.
No it's not a bad fiddle. I love the sound of the lower notes.
Thankyou, Dave :)
Question, if I may please: have you found that varnish ever affects the spund of the wood? Did you like the sound of this violin? Thanks.
Well.... I think the harder finishes give a brighter tone.
Yes, this is a terrific sounding fiddle....although my playing back then was poor.
What did you use for purfling on this one? I'm making one out of walnut and cedar, too. I haven't put any purfling in it.
Regular purfling
You inspired me! I would also like to build a violin! Can I please get the templates/blueprints w the sizes etc.?
Tristan, I made them myself. If you want to buy stuff...check out eBay and international violin company.
I would love to make a violin request one day, likely $1,000 to $1,500 for it. if you ever have the time, please let me know. Your fiddles have some of the most character I've ever seen, and each one is truly it's own.
Thankyou so much for the compliments!
I’m not one to comment, but I have to say that this walnut one is gorgeous! I love all the stripes of color in the wood! If you sold these I would totally buy one! (:
:) Thankyou so much! I like the Walnut alot, myself, and plan on using it again. I am trying Cherry next!
OK - so you made the back out of Black Walnut - I get that. You said the front or belly was made of Red Cedar - is that Western Red Cedar, (Thuja plicata), which is commonly used for making the bellies or soundboards of classical guitars, or Eastern Red Cedar, AKA Aromatic Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), which is commonly used for making aromatic cedar chests and the Native American Flute? Which type of Red Cedar is it?
Lol. Western.
What tools do you need to make a violin
Are you selling one of the violins you've made ?
Not yet. Carsten :) Thanks for asking. I am embroiled in making a little place to live right now.
Do you sell these?
Hey Joe what strings are you using? Seems to be a good match for that instrument.
I use Pirastro Tonica strings. Like them alot, especially with the gold e.
$25 on ebay.
I think it sounds better than the oak one. Keep it up! How long does it take you to make one of these?
It takes about a month for each fiddle. Each one I made has it's own voice. The Cedar is a little mellower....has a dusky low end, melodic highs. The Spruce tops are more focused, and more pronounced lows. I have violins hanging all over the walls, and I play depending on my mood, haha. So much fun!
Oh, I do that too, diff violin per what I want to hear I have few Romanians and 2 Germans...Really fun indeed, I wish i could try play this particular violin on a piece I am learning, an ambitious piece lol but I have enough courage to try 5 bars. :)
Nice sound. Faded Love, I believe? ! Good job. Walnut back and red cedar top, correct?
No......and Yes!
I played Ashoken Farewell :)
i love the sound of thi one compared to the oak...would it be expenive to ask to make me one like that?
Well...handmade violins are rather expensive...compared to Chinese fiddles. I am going to have some violins for sale and I will post them when I do. Thank you so much for asking and for the kind comments.
I mostly have Romanian violins, I have a few but it would be truly nice to have homemade local wood...Do you have a site so I can browse and find out the price? Thank you much.
Especially this one you made, I like its sweet sound it would be nice to play in our backyard in front of a mini bonfire. Thanks again.
You have a Gliga violin? I had one a year or so ago. The Romanian violins are nice. I can't help but prefer handmade instruments to factory ones....maybe it's not just the sound, but the hours of carving and the fact that part of the maker is instilled into the violin.
:) Yes, I love my Gliga violins, cello and violas :) They sound sweet to my ears and very affordable, recently I bought another one an advanced student level for my nephew but it sounded really nice so I kept it and bought him another one lol...Hope i'll have this one you made, wish i know so i could save up. I wish you have a site in ETSYdotcom so you could share your handmade violins.
Do you sell your fiddles?
Where do I buy this violin and how much does it cost?
Well...
It is hanging on the wall right in front of me :)
Although it is one of my finest sounding fiddles, it is one of my earlier creations and I have not thought of selling her.
I truly appreciate your inquiry!
When I first found you, I was thinking, why not use "real" tone woods since you have the skills, and this one doesn't sound all that bad. The one that actually impressed me though was the one where you gathered your wood from the Carpathian Mountain region of.... Home Depot. That one had a pretty balanced woody tone that was rather nice.
Ha! Thanks --- What is going on behind the scenes is a lot of learning...and experimenting with a couple different schools of thought on plate tuning and bass bar carving. Spending hundreds of dollars on "real" tonewood made no sense.
These are truly "fiddles", and each one is more different than you might think. Through using different woods, I have grown in areas I would not have by just doing what everyone else does.
Thanks so much for the comment, it is much appreciated!
Sounds like a rainy day at a funeral,not bad..
Haha!! That is a great compliment! Love it. Thanks!
is it for sale?
:) No.....This violin has evolved into a great playing violin...and it is a perfect match to my wife's guitar which I made out of the same pieces of wood. thankyou for asking!
Carve a V-twin engine block on the end of one. I'm probably worse than you at playing the violin, but I let the HOG waste my practice time as well. Love watching you carve them. I'm lazy and 3D print stuff. Someday I'll print one in probably more time than it takes you to carve them.
Ha! I thought if a HD themed fiddle! Maybe I will do something along those lines.
Do you got that for sale
Haha! No... been playing it!
Maybe the G-string sounds somewhat weak. But I love the sound on the A. In all quite impressive. Way better than those carbon fiber things. Violin must be made of wood!
Definitely more "woody"...this violin is dark and romantic. Cedar has a nice color to the sound. Thanks!
Your actually pretty good at making them have you ever considered doing it professionally? I mean I could think of people that would pay for a well crafted instrument such as the ones you make.
Thanks....one of these days...I will HAVE to get rid of some of these violins, haha. When I find someone who enjoys one of my fiddles, then we'll talk about an adoption :)
:) How old is this ceder?
At the time...just a couple years. Now...more!
Do you have any contact info? I would love for you to create a scroll and do the repairs for this antique violin I have. I was thinking about getting it fixed and donating it to Blume Haiti
Let me know.
Thanks.
Hello, Paris.
Sorry for the late reply. We have been sick. That is a wonderful cause.
We could chat via email if you like.
Riding on two wheels at gmail.
Beautiful! Sounds a little bit nasal
sound graet
Thanx
Woah
HAHA-- That could be taken so many different ways!
Jon Mangum I mean it looks stunning
Ha!! Thankyou very much :)
sounds good , and its not traditional wood species!
Have a professional violinist demonstrate. And repost. Your business will take off.
Your violin playing isn't the best, but it isn't so bad either, I'm sure if you played a bit more it would go better, it's better than my violin playing though.
Well....that was a couple years ago! ;)
Did you keep it up then?:) what other woods have you used tomake violins out of, I'm interested of how they sound, rather than just traditional maple spruce combination