14 1/4 inch (36.2cm)cornerless viola  

March 2009

I regularly make this model of viola for younger players and for adults who like a smaller-sized instrument.  It's light and manageable, but has a really "grown-up" viola sound despite its small size.

I've chosen to use poplar for the back.  It's a light wood, but with a high stiffness-to-weight ratio, which means that the finished back will be light but strong.  Poplar violas tend to have a warmer and darker sound than maple, so this should help to give this small viola added depth of sound.  I've matched the poplar with a low-density spruce front which has attractive hazel figure - which looks a little like streaks of lightning across the grain.  This picture shows the back and front sawn out from the solid wood.

I've now finished the arching and inlaid the purfling. I choose strong, simple arching shapes with help to give a powerful sound to the finished viola.  You can see the "contour lines" pattern of the grain of the poplar quite well now, as well as the hazel figure in the spruce of the front.

The next job is to hollow the underside of the back and front.  The bulk of the wood is removed with a big gouge, and then the rest will be smoothed with small planes and scrapers.  It's critical to get the thicknessing right for these small instruments, and I spend a lot of time checking the weight, stiffness and tapping the wood until I feel I've reached the optimal point.

I build the ribs for these violas directly on to the back.  First, I glue the back temporarily to a wooden former, to stop it twisting.  Then I glue the top and bottom blocks in place.  The long strips of maple for the ribs are planed to about 1.2mm thick.

This picture shows the ribs bent and glued into place.

April 2009

The f-holes are cut in the front.

I've now fitted the bass bar inside the front.  The job of the bass bar is to strengthen the front, helping to support the tension of the strings.  It also reinforces the lower frequencies of the viola.

The rib assembly is now finished, with the linings fitted and shaped.  The front is ready to glue to the ribs.

The body of the viola is finished, ready to fit the neck.  I think that the plain poplar of the back works well on the simple outline - the "contour line" effect of the grain of the wood emphasises the simple curves of the outline, and gives an understated grace to the instrument.

The viola has a simple, sleek head that fits with the body of the viola.  It's also light in weight.

I've now fitted the neck to the body of the viola, and finalised the shape.  It's slender and will fit comfortably in the hand.

The viola is now finished "in the white", ready for varnishing.

June 2009

	The viola is now finished.  I've chosen a warm honey-golden oil varnish that seems to suit the poplar well. The viola is sounding good - powerful and responsive with a clear, warm and round sound. return to top of page return to work in progress