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Introduction
Most musically inclined people who use eBay are aware of the vast array of unfinished violins, violas and related instruments sold by Chinese lutheries. Such instruments are called “white instruments” in the lutherie trade. If properly completed, most if not all of these low cost Chinese white violins can become very nice instruments. More serious craftsmen and craftswomen are usually able to establish themselves as plausible luthiers and obtain accounts with the major suppliers to the lutherie trade. With such an account, one has access to high-end German and Eastern European white instruments, some costing as much as $650 (that is for an unfinished instruments and NO fittings!).
To the uninitiated, a white instrument could seem like a very affordable way of obtaining a violin ranging from intermediate to master level quality. Think again!
Something that all professional luthiers know is that the cost of tools and supplies necessary to complete a white instrument is FAR GREATER than the cost of the base instrument. Read on…
Minimal Supplies Tools Needed to Complete a Unfinished White Violin or Kit Violin
The following items are NOT luxuries. They are ALL essential for setting up a new violin. The total cost for essential tools comes to about $750!
Quality Bridge, Strings and Tuning Pegs
High-quality white violins never come with these items. Cheap white instruments will often be supplied with a cheap bridge, strings and tuning pegs, which should simply be discarded.
A minimally acceptable bridge, set of tuning pegs and strings will cost in the $75 - $100 range (average $88)
Other Fittings
High-quality white violins never come with these items. Cheap white violins will often be supplied with a cheap chin rest and tailpiece. The cost a minimally acceptable chin rest and tailpiece will be about $40
Heat gun
In order to varnish a violin, the fingerboard must be removed. A professional level heat gun (with a 250 degrees and 400 degrees setting) will be needed to remove the fingerboard, which, on good white violins is tack glued and easy to remove. Cheap violins often come with the fingerboard attached with a virtually heat proof glue (very difficult to remove). Cost is about $35.
Heavy leather gloves
These gloves are essential when working with a heat gun. Cost is about $20.
Files and Rasps
- Shaping files and rasps ($150)
- Nut groove file set ($80)
High Quality Scraper
$31
Peg Hole Reamer
In order for the tuning pegs to work properly, the peg holes must be reamed with a proper reamer. Cost is about $85
Peg Shaper
Contrary to naïve belief, new tuning pegs, even good ones, are not shaped for use. The pegs much be shaped to match the peg holes perfectly. Cost is $65
Sound Post Wood
You cannot just use a hardware store dowel to make a sound post. You must use a .25” spruce sound post dowel. Cost is about $10 for a 1-foot stick.
Sound Post Setting Tools
You will need all of the following to make and fit a new sound post:
- Sound post height gauge ($15)
- Gemini sound post setting tool ($65)
- Traditional sound post setter ($20)
- Scissor type sound post setting tool ($6)
- Sound post retriever ($11)
Bridge Fitting Tools
- String lifter (aka String Jack)…used for determining bridge height ($27)
- Bridge foot fitting tool…used for sanding the bottoms of the bridge feet correctly ($35)
Minimal Supplies and Equipment Needed for Varnishing
All of the following are needed for a proper varnish job. The minimal cost is about ($750…far more for more complex colors); not to mention the experience necessary to properly varnish a violin.
- Technical Gelatin ($8)
- Ground Varnish ($78)
- Refractive Grounds ($35)
- Purified Kerosene ($5)
- Oil Varnish ($78)
- Oil-based Color Concentrate ($140)
- Applicators ($20)
- Rottenstone ($20)
- UV Box (You have to build it!) ($350)
- Polish ($15)
Information and Instruction by D. Rickert Musical Instruments
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