Steps in Fiddle Construction
1980
I have dry heated the center ribs to shape and am gluing them in.
1983
Ribs fit around the shape of the form. Next step, linings.
1985
The rest of the neck is cut on a bandsaw, and now will need shaping by hand.
1987
Rough peg box cut in.
1988
Roughed out scroll, ready to be trimmed and shaped.
1990
This is just to show how the center rib is glued to the center blocks.
2126
Here, I'm clamping linings that I have pre-fit to the tops of the ribs to strengthen and help hold the shape. When the form is removed from the middle, the shape will remain.
It also provides more glue area for the top and bottom.
2128
Fitting sides of fingerboard to sides of neck. The length is left long at this point.
2129
Front roughed out and purfling cut in.
2142
I have removed the ribs from the form.
2144
Final shape completed, and the F holes cut out.
2145
Underside of front has been shaped, and the base bar fitted and glued on.
2146
2149
I've glued two pieces of highly figured, quarter-sawn maple together to make the back of the fiddle.
2150
Two-piece, quarter-sawn spruce, glued together , which will make the front.
