Violin Making

Have you ever wondered how to make a violin? This section not only shows how to make a violin, but explains about famous violin makers and types of violins.

Famous Violin Making Links:
Amati Family
Stradivarius Violins (Stradavarius)
Guarneri Family
Directory of Violin Makers

Types of Violins:

German Violins
Italian Violins
Chinese Violins

The Peter Prier Violin Making School in Salt Lake City, Utah has taught close to 500 luthiers over the years. There are over 130 violin makers from around the world who have graduated from the school, some very well known for their fine instruments. The following images, from the Prier Violin School, show the process of making a violin from start to finish.
1. Blocks of wood, typically made out of Spruce, Poplar, or Willow, are placed in violin molds made of Walnut wood.

2. Ribs for the C bouts are bent into shape using a special iron.

3. C bouts are then attached with glue to the violin mold and clamped into place

4. After the C bouts are in place, the rest of the ribbing is attached to the blocks.

5. A thin wooden lining is placed inside the ribbing to reinforce the violin when the mold is removed.
6. Wood is then chosen for the top, back (Spruce), and scroll (Maple) of the violin. The top and back can be made out of one piece of wood or two pieces glued together.
Learn more about the wood
7. The wood is "arched" or carved into the correct shape. Then a channel is cut along the perimeter of the top of the violin for the purfling to be placed into.
8. The purfling is placed into the channel and more arching is done to smooth the shape of the top and bottom of the instrument.
9. A bass bar is then added to the underside of the top of the violin.
10. The body of the violin is now complete (3 violin pictures)
11. The scroll is then carefully sized. An error as small as a millimeter can completely change the feel of a violin.
12. The scroll is then carved into the desired shape.
13. The fingerboard, made of ebony, is carefully shaved into shape
14.Once pieces of the violin are finished, the instrument is carefully glued. Clamps are placed along the instrument until the glue dries.