Could YOU really make a violin? Yes! Violin making is for everyone!

You might want to make violins as a career. Professional violin makers are called luthiers. Or perhaps you are looking for a new hobby? Maybe you want a new violin and reckon this is the best way to get one.

"Will it playable?" I hear you ask.

Well - each instrument will be an individual and there are lots of variables. You get out what you put in. It might not be possible to make a professional fine violin if you are an amateur making your first few instruments. You wouldn't expect to be a brain surgeon after your first aid course after all.

But with a little help and knowledge about working with wood you CAN absolutely make a very nice hand made instrument which will be YOURS and which will be better than many instruments you could buy.

Getting Started

First, you need to plan some time. People estimate it takes around 300 hours to make an instrument all by hand. Ifyou enjoy working with your hands its really therapeutic. It doesn't matter how long it takes. If you can enjoy making instruments with others, then it becomes a regular social event.

If you can't get to a class you can still make a violin. Its like any project. Its about doing the research, making the right contacts, getting help at critical stages and breaking the whole thing down into bite size chunks. If you want to make a viola then the same basic principles apply.We will be putting up more pages on the whole processof violin making so keep visiting.

There are a number of ways of going about starting. Even if you go to a class, its important to get a good violin making book. You will dip into it often!

Going to a summer school for a week or two on a residential course or contacting a local violin maker to see if they can help on a part time basis is agood idea. Most violin makers are very nice - obviously! They simply love it and are often happy to spend the time of day with others equally besotted. The web also a good resource - especially this site!

We have used most of these forms of help at various times and they all work.

Are you ready? Then we'll begin.

Hmmm. What to build? Click here for our advice on which violin model to build and where to find plans for violin making.

You want to get some beautiful tonewood for the violin. Maple for the back, neck and ribs, spruce for the blocks linings and the front. Ebony for the fingerboard, nut and saddle. What is “tonewood” and where can I buy it?.

You will need some handtools. Click here for our list of luthier tools you might need. You might have some of these already and you can also get tools as you go along. For those you don't have you don't need to buy these all at once. Just get them as you need them.

Once you have got your kit together, its time to start! We will be putting up links on the following pages so come back and visit often.

Making the mould and then making the blocks and ribs and fitting the linings.

Making the Back. Fitting the purfling. Main shape and thicknessing. Why make the back first?.

Making the Front. Fitting the purfling. Main shape and thicknessing, Forming the “f” holes.

Making the bass bar and fitting it into the front.

Making the neck.

Making the fingerboard.

Fitting the fingerboard to the neck

Parts you need to order to finish off. Pegs, tailpiece, strings, bridge, nut, saddle and end pin.

Fitting the neck into the violin body and finishing off.

Fitting the pegs, end pin, saddle, and fingerboard nut.

Finishing the bridge from a blank.

Varnishing.

Final finishing off and stringing up!

There! After you have done that list you will have finished your violin and have lots of ideas about your next instrument. You will want to start another immediately...

That's being passionate about violins.

Finally, here is an interesting video. Who knows? This could soon be you?