Violin Society of America Papers

Archtop Guitar Dynamics

2021-02-26T20:35:39-08:00

This study is a modal analysis tracing acoustic changes along each step of the build process of an archtop guitar. The eigenmodes and corresponding eigenfrequencies were theoretically modeled and experimentally measured for the archtop guitar through finite element analysis, frequency sweep analysis and Chladni figure analysis. The archtop shares acoustic behaviors with instruments in both the violin and guitar families, resulting in its own acoustic signature.

Conchoidal curves for the violin maker

2022-03-28T19:28:51-07:00

This article explores the possible use of a geometrical system to describe the traditional shape of the long arch of the violin family instruments. It presents a historical context based on period documents on which a hypothesis is established. A solution to the geometrical problem is described and then compared to actual period instruments arching shapes. The results show a good correlation to the samples which appears to validate the efficiency of the solution.

Lupot's Dichromatic Stain

2021-12-12T17:25:46-08:00

Optical dichromatism is commonly seen on varnished violins but poorly understood and misidentified. A dichromatic stain used by Nicolas Lupot (1758–1824) nicely helps to explain this optical phenomenon. Moreover, it shows why a proteinaceous medium is needed not only to transport and control the stain but also to protect it from oxidation and light — a true binder.

Taper Design and Wood Selection for Reverse Engineering of Bows for String Instruments

2022-11-08T19:46:35-08:00

After discussing the difficult conflict between stiffness and density in producing professional quality bows, we derive the new taper required to produce the same local stiffness as the target bow from a blank of possibly different modulus of elasticity. Furthermore, we prove that by selecting wood with the same value of the parameter as the target bow, both the mechanical bending and mass properties between the head and forward frog position of the target can be reproduced exactly. This parameter replaces the speed of sound measurement as the general basis for wood selection as a measure of wood quality. In outlining a procedure for reverse engineering, modeling of the target bow, geometry and methods for estimating the modulus and density of bow or blank are presented together with a derivation of the associated camber and its relationship to maximum hair tension and proximity to full camber. The Tourte taper is discussed with particular emphasis on its close approximation to linear stiffness as a function of position along the stick. Data on modulus, density and damping ratio from a sample of 50 violin bow blanks is also presented.