Handbook of violin playing

by Carl Schroeder

The bridge must stand on the middle of the upper table so that both feet are in line with the nicks of the f holes. Through the forward pull of the strings,—increased during playing,—the bridge has a tendency to bend forward. To avoid this one must frequently watch, and pull it backward, yet keeping the feet in the same place. The bridge may be fixed sloping somewhat backward rather than forward.[4]

Amount of pressure upon
the upper table.

Through the combined influence of the strain and pressure of the strings upon the upper table, it supports a weight of about 100 lbs. Against this burden, this, in other respects, fragile instrument, opposes a wonderful power of resistance, an example of its ingenious yet simple construction.

Size of the violin.

The violin measures in the length of its body 14 in., in breadth in the upper part 6⁹/₁₀ in., in the lower 8³/₁₆ in. The top height of sides 1³/₁₆ in.; bottom height of sides 1¼ in. Three sizes are distinguished,—“full”, “three-quarter”, and “half” size. These last serve for children.

The wood of the violin.

The upper table is made of pine. This must be very old, dry, compact, straight in grain, whereby the choice of suitable wood is rendered difficult. For the back, ribs, neck and bridge, maple is used. The sound post and bass bar consist usually of pine. For the fingerboard and pegs[5], ebony is the most serviceable.

The old Italian violin makers procured their pine wood from Italian Switzerland, and from the South Tyrol; maple from Croatia, Dalmatia, and Turkey.

The varnish.

This is of great importance for the instrument. In the first place it preserves it from the influence of the weather, and then it also has its influence upon the tone. A fine varnish must be transparent, so that the wood underneath may be fully shown up, and it must also be of a fine, but not glaring or staring, colour. The finest varnish is found on the violins of Stradivarius. Two kinds of varnish are used,—spirit varnish,—a gum dissolved in alcohol; and oil varnish,—a gum dissolved in oil of turpentine.