Violin Making

Walter H. Mayson

Violin Making by Walter H. Mayson is a detailed, step-by-step manual for crafting violins by hand, written by one of the foremost English violin makers of the 19th century. This classic guide offers a comprehensive look into the traditional craft of violin construction, from raw wood selection to the final setup and varnishing. Each chapter of the book follows a logical building sequence, starting with the selection of tonewoods and progressing through the intricate processes of carving the back and belly, purfling, creating soundholes, installing the bass bar, ribs, scroll, and neck, and concluding with varnishing and final assembly. Mayson's tone is both instructive and intimate, reflecting decades of personal workshop experience. The book is richly informative not only for aspiring luthiers and craftspeople but also for professional violin makers, restorers, and instrument historians. Its focus on handcrafted methodology and traditional techniques makes it a treasured reference in the art of violin making—where precision, intuition, and artistry must work in harmony.

Table of contents

• PREFACE.
• INTRODUCTION.
• CHAPTER I. SELECTION OF WOOD.
• CHAPTER II. THE BACK.
• CHAPTER III. PURFLING.
• CHAPTER IV. BENDING THE PURFLING.
• CHAPTER V. MODELLING THE BACK.
• CHAPTER VI. WORKING OUT THE BACK.
• CHAPTER VII. THE BELLY.
• CHAPTER VIII. THICKNESSES OF THE BELLY.
• CHAPTER IX. THE SOUNDHOLES.
• CHAPTER X. THE BASS BAR.
• CHAPTER XI. THE RIBS.
• CHAPTER XII. FIXING RIBS, ETC.
• CHAPTER XIII. FIXING THE BELLY.
• CHAPTER XIV. THE SCROLL.
• CHAPTER XV. FIXING NECK, FINGERBOARD, ETC.
• CHAPTER XVI. OF VARNISH AND VARNISHING.
• CHAPTER XVII. FITTING UP FOR USE.
• CHAPTER XVIII. CONCLUSION.