Modern Violins
Although the violin has existed for nearly 500 years much of the construction process remains similar to how the very first violins were made. Violins constructed of tonewood, the term applied to preferred woods utilized in instrument-making, are still usually crafted individually by a single maker, as they have been for centuries. This is not to say that violins cannot be and are not mass produced, but that most musicians prefer a handcrafted instrument even in the modern day. These violin makers retain processes from older masters and many violins created today are designed from templates passed down from previous makers through the centuries.
A comprehensive guide outlining the anatomy of the violin, noting where each key feature is located. For an interactive guide, where you can learn about each feature of the violin separately, click the picture above.
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The majority of most modern violins are constructed from maple and spruce, utilizing the hard and soft woods where best. Stiffer wood with a lower density is preferred in crafting stringed instruments. In this manner the instrument is light and yet stable, capable of producing loud sounds that project well.
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Due to the complexity and wide variety of musical styles played today, no single type of material used to create stringed instruments is favored. Rather, many artists rely upon a variety of instruments created from different materials to craft different arrays of sounds. For example, see the videos to the right to witness the creation of instruments from carbon fiber and even ice! To compare how the sounds of instruments vary based on their composition, click the button below. The linked videos compare the sounds of a natural cello and a carbon fiber cello.
Modern tonewood violins are all generally constructed using the same practices. The video above provides a brief yet descriptive look at how violins are built today.
Modern musicians explore the extreme boundaries of instrumental materials composition. Instruments today may be constructed out of different materials to suit different needs or perform under specific conditions. The two videos above document the construction of a cello made entirely of carbon fiber while the video below provides a look at a violin made of ice.