Books › An encyclopedia of the violin, 1925 › scan 117
Scan 117
An encyclopedia of the violin, 1925
16 lines. Read by computer on 26 September 2026. Printed page 93. See the scan on archive.org.
1with scrapers and glass paper. The gouge should be changed conformably as the curve of the scroll grows broader as it leaves the button.
3This done, there remains to work out the species of slide or groove on both sides of the neck, which, starting behind the neck, proceeds in turns to the top of the peg box, where it ends, and in which, eventually, the mortise is made. The construction of the neck is anything but easy; yet, given patience and practice, one will soon be able to build a fine neck.
5We will indicate how the neck is to be completed up to the moment when it is joined to the body of the instrument.
7Since the grip, which should have a thickness of 16 millimeters (2/3") from top to bottom, offers no special difficulties, we will say no more about it, and turn our attention to the foot of the neck, which is the portion inset in the upper block of the violin on the one side, and on the other resting on the nut of the sound board where the neck joins the body.
9Opening the compasses 35 millimeters (1 1/3") and setting the two points on the lower end of the neck, exactly opposite the two points which were previously marked which indicate the breadth of this part, a circle is traced with one of the compass points while the other point remains on the spot in which it was set down. This first circle drawn, another is drawn inversely, and the point of meeting of the two circles serves as the point of departure for a line drawn from the center line of the neck, which is an extension of this line, dividing the end of the neck into two equal parts.
11The breadth of the nut at the junction of neck and sound board is now measured, and equally divided by the compasses. It is marked on the foot of the neck by placing one point of the compasses on the line which has just been drawn, and marking a point to the right and to the left of this line, in the place which is to rest on the nut. As it is not possible to judge by the eye where this place should be, it is found in the manner described.
13Since the neck should extend beyond the sound board of the violin 5 millimeters (1/6"), one should commence by drawing a line of this thickness with the compasses at the end of the neck, resting the tool on the flat surface which is to receive the finger board. An ordinary foot rule should then be used to measure the height of the ribs and of the sound board, beginning from the flat surface of the nut, below the line traced by the compasses. It is there that the breadth of the nut should be established by the two points already mentioned.
15Beginning with the two lines at the right and the left of the neck respectively, at the spot where they stop at the end of the neck, two lines should be drawn which will come to rest on the two points just mentioned. The superfluous wood is then removed from either side of the neck, as well as any wood extending beyond the two points indicating the breadth of the nut, and now the neck is ready to be mortised into the instrument. Figure 19, Plate 32, shows a sketch of the base of the neck.
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