Tuesday, December 29, 2009

A Strad Inspired Violin - Log 12/28/2009

Monday, December 28, 2009

The Ground, Varnish, and Glaze

The set of photos below were taken after two coats of ground and two coats of dark amber violin varnish had been applied to the "Saint".

Below is a piece of poplar shaped to act as a cover for the neck of the violin while glaze and/or varnish is being applied.

I show this because it contrasts with the light spot on the second photograph. This neck cover shows the resultant darkening from up to 10 coats of dark amber violin varnish versus then underside which received no varnish.


Last week Ben hand rubbed two coats of a ground compound on to the violin. This compound was composed of dark amber violin varnish mixed with ground white pumice stone. Tom Robson of Violin Varnish, Ltd. Trumansburg, New York made the dark amber violin varnish that was used as the base. The varnish is made from powdered Baltic dark amber and linseed oil with a turpentine solvent. Baltic fossil amber is a resin from coniferous trees that grew and were buried under the Baltic sea floor over 24-40 million years ago. It is the hardest of resins and being nearly inert must be fused at high heat to make it soluble in linseed oil. It lends itself to a high polish and is an extremely protective violin finish.

The process of rubbing in the ground takes approximately 5-6 hours per coat. The pumice embeds in the wood pores sealing the wood and causing increased surface tension. This limits the amount of varnish that the wood can absorb. It is thought that the more varnish that is absorbed the greater the dampening of the tone of the instrument.

The prior Wednesday, Ben temporarily fitted the instrument so that I could try it out and experience its sound. The violin had a great deal of power and resonance and was uniform across all strings and all positions. These were specific qualities I had noticed in the other violins of Ben I had played and were qualities I had requested. At that point Ben had applied only the two coats of ground.

As of this morning he had finished spreading and drying two additional coats of dark amber varnish with no color pigment added.


Below Ben has removed the nut and is removing the finger board prior doing some finish work under the fingerboard and starting the color glazing



Here with the fingerboard removed you can see some build up of the pumice from the application of the ground done after the finder board was in place. It has been deduced from the condition of the finish under the fingerboards of many old Cremonese instruments that the fingerboard was probably in place prior to the finishing of the instruments. Ben has chosen to use that approach on the "Saint".


Below the thickness of the neck is seen with the fingerboard removed.


Below Ben has scraped some of the excess pumice from under the fingerboard.


Ben holds the nut and fingerboard he has removed.


Ben is using his finger tip to dab a small amount of varnish on to spots that were too thin.


Here Ben is demonstrating use of a brush technique to apply larger amounts of varnish


The neck cover is being glued in place prior to starting the glazing.


Here Ben has donned a glove to apply the glaze using his fingers. The glaze is a mix of black and rose madder pigments added to the dark amber varnish.


The glaze coats are applied and then allowed to dry 1-2 days prior to application of the next coat. Depending on the color desired 2 or many more coats may be applied. Below Ben holds up the "Saint" with the first glaze coat applied to the lower treble bout to show the color contrast between glazed and unglazed sides.

A Strad Inspired Violin - Log 12/21/2009

Monday, December 21, 2009

Carving Done Wood Darkened

With the busy holiday schedule I was unable to take time to photograph the carving of the neck and assembly of the instrument. Ben pushed hard to ready my violin for a temporary setup just before Christmas.

Below in a lovely shot, Ben is showing the backside of the violin with finished neck and scroll assembled.

From this angle we can see the top with fingerboard temporarily in place.


Ben applied a single coat of a solution to enhance the darkening process. The weakened solution of potassium nitrate and water was applied, then the instrument was placed in an ultraviolet light box for twenty four hours. The result was a darkening from white to an aged/oxidized tan color which gives the wood a rich natural color very quickly. In the summer this color could be achieved simply by placing the violin in bright sun light for a number of days.
Below the arch is clearly shown with the beautiful flaming of the ribs.


The flaming of the neck and scroll is apparent in the picture below.

A Strad Inspired Violin - 12/16/2009

Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Dr. Samuel W. Siurua's 93rd Birthday Party




Dr. Samuel Wasson Siurua celebrating his 93d birthday (portraits taken by Clyde Hochstedler) .

To the left, above is a snapshot of Clyde Hochstedler taken by me yesterday. As is often the case photographers do not appear in the photos. So Clyde's image was added here along with credits. He contributed 6 of the photos shown including the portraits of Sam above.

Many of Sam's friends over the years gathered in the Lounge at Robin Run Village to celebrate his 93rd birthday. Below in the early arriving circle of guests are shown from left to right four of his musical friends Anne Duthie McCafferty, Dr. Robert L. Rudesill, and to the further right Diantha Degraw and Beth Lawrence.



Here to the left and above in the early arriving circle of friends are those from North Methodist Church and Robin Run Village as well as Sam's musical past. Pat Thorlton in the left foreground from church, Emma Lou Endres, a greeter from Robin Run, Susy Smith Watt daughter of Sam's great friend and luthier Tom Smith, Mr. Louie Cain from church and Robin Run, and again Ann Duthie McCafferty and Dr. Robert Rudesill.


Seated on Sam's lap is my ever vigilant canine, Noble, keeping an eye on me and the camera. In the center background stands a Robin Run staffer behind Ada Dunn, a friend of Sam's in blue.

Standing below Neil S. Handley is graciously thanking everyone for the celebration. To his left seated are Anne, Susy, Jerry, Bob and Joie Kipka who has gotten to know Sam through Susy, Jerry and Bob.


To the left stand some of Sam's later arriving friends from church and Robin Run including Harold Dove who will turn 93 in 2010. On the table in front of Sam is a pale green box in which Sam found a copy of his biography completed with written contributions from a number of his closest friends.

Anne insisted on taking a photo of me, Noble and Sam's cake for history's sake. If you look closely you will see the chocolate cake with dark fudge icing is decorated with a chocolate violin.
All concerned agreed the violin looked a bit more like a viol da gamba without the frets than a modern day violin.


While Sam begins cutting the cake, Beth Lawrence is looking over Sam's biography


Here Sam is cutting and serving the cake. Next To him are Diantha Degraw and Beth Lawrence looking over his biography and to the far right in a red vest is Dottie Gerner, Sam's friend from North Methodist Church. Seated by the windows are David Klingeman and Karl Patton.




Neil S. Handley, Sam's dear friend and Ann Duthie Mc Cafferty are assisting with the cake and ice cream while Suzy Smith Watt, Jerry Allen and Bob Rudesill look on.


While the cake was being served friends signed the tributes page of Sam's biography.

Starting at the top left hand corner working across and down I have transcribed their birthday greetings and signatures below.

"Sam, you are such a special person I'm happy to share your 93rd birthday." Love, Dottie Gerner.

"With love & gratitude for your ongoing inspiration to me! Happy 93rd" Anne Duthie McCafferty

"May God Bless You" - Mary Snell

"Congratulations on 93 years, you inspire us all." Louie Cain

David & Rhea Klingeman - Younkin Dr. Robin Run

"I'm proud to have had your acquaintance and to have had the rides you gave me to North church." Clyde Hochstedler

"And Many "More"" Joyce and Malcom Hults "Love & Blessings"

"Thanks for sharing your life, music & birthday with us." Susy Smith Watt

"YOU ARE THE MAN" Neil (Handley)

"Best wishes on your special day!" Karl & Jean Patton (Robin Run)

"Happy Birthday Sam." Randy (Russell) "Much love on your 93rd Birthday!" Donna (Lively Clark Russell)

"Sam, Thanks for 60+ years!!! of music & friendship." Diantha Degraw

"It has been a pleasure getting to know you through Jerry" - Joie Kipka

"Happy 93rd Birthday" Jerry Allen

"Happy Birthday, Sam! I have such happy memories of playing music with you & Martha." With Love, Beth Lawrence

"Keep it going." Bob Rudesill

Saturday, December 5, 2009

A Strad Inspired Violin - Log 12/1/2009


Tuesday December 1, 2009
The Scroll Looks Like a Scroll

Ben called me Monday and told me he had continued carving over the weekend and thought I might like to come down to take photos. He said, "The scroll looks like a scroll."

I met Ben, Susy Smith Watt, and Donna Lively Clark at Indianapolis Violins, Tuesday at 10:00 A.M. Susy had borrowed a viola her father, Thomas Smith, made and needed Ben to adjust it before the Friday party in celebration of the 100th anniversary of her father's birth. Since Donna was to play the viola she joined Susy to see it, play it and recommend strings and adjustments.

Below is a photo of Thomas Smith taken in the late 1930's with one of his violins at about the same point of completion as the one Ben is working on for me.

This meeting also gave Susy and Donna an opportunity to see my new violin, 'The Saint', for the first time. In the photo below the carving to the treble side of the scroll done over the weekend is shown off.


Now the violin is beginning to look like a violin with the scroll taking shape.