Random thoughts of Terry Hamblin about leukaemia, literature, poetry, politics, religion, cricket and music.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Interesting fact
The front of a violin is made of spruce and the back is made of maple. However did they arrive at that combination?
1 comment:
Anonymous
said...
Sorry for the late response, but better late than never. Here is my understanding as a hobbyist woodworker.
Of all European woods, spruce has about the best sound. Spruce is resonant and contributes to the violin's sound. Maple is strong, workable (including having good bending properties), and selected pieces have beautiful figure.
Some New World and African woods may rival spruce for sound and maple for strength and beauty, but since violins were made before widespread trade in these new-to-European woods, tradition has kept spruce and maple as the primary woods for violin making.
1 comment:
Sorry for the late response, but better late than never. Here is my understanding as a hobbyist woodworker.
Of all European woods, spruce has about the best sound. Spruce is resonant and contributes to the violin's sound. Maple is strong, workable (including having good bending properties), and selected pieces have beautiful figure.
Some New World and African woods may rival spruce for sound and maple for strength and beauty, but since violins were made before widespread trade in these new-to-European woods, tradition has kept spruce and maple as the primary woods for violin making.
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