Letter: Lutherie Tips and Stories

by Philippe Refig

Originally published in American Lutherie #93, 2008



Dear GAL,

When I was at the former College of Furniture in London, one of the students was experimenting with the moulding of violin plates. Instead of carving the plates, he bent them with the help of steam and jigs. I regret not having paid more attention. This was the system that was used in England during the Renaissance for shaping the soundboards of certain viols. By using bending techniques, soundboards could be made thinner and stronger because the grain was following the curves, instead of being cut short as in the carving method.

Viol soundboards were made of seven staves, all bent longitudinally and (except for the central one) laterally as well. Very little carving had to be done internally or externally, just some smoothing to shape.