The Cello’s Little Brother

Eight years ago, our family started on a wonderful adventure. We were introduced to a local, self-taught luthier. A luthier is someone who makes violins and other stringed instruments. This luthier (Mr Morgan), has spent 8 years teaching Andrew, Timothy and Danny how to make instruments. Every Thursday afternoon while I teach private lessons, they head to Mr Morgan’s house and work on their instruments.

Before he left for college, Andrew completed a mandolin and a 5 string viola. Timothy has completed a violin and is almost through with a cello. Danny was the chauffeur to these luthier lessons and spent many afternoons watching the process. He wanted to do more than just watch so he decided to get involved, He took the leftover wood from Timothy’s cello and began making a violin for me.

I want to share pictures from this 2 year project but before I do I have to mention the other benefit of these luthier lessons. Not only has Mr Morgan shared his expertise in making instruments but he has shared himself as well. Every week, they gather in his workshop and work. The work is tedious, slow and must be exact. There is much time for talk. Mr Morgan loves to talk. He tells stories about his life. He has lead a fascinating life. We have spent many Thursday evenings discussing the stories Mr Morgan shared that day. Everything from his time in the Korean war to the time he raised parakeets to his encounters with various celebrities. It has been so beneficial for all the boys — Danny included. During all this time, Danny’s dad had been fading away. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about 10 years ago. He died this past February. While we have all been going through the “long good-bye” with Granddad, Mr Morgan seemed to just step right in and be the grandfather to the boys and even to some extent a father figure to Danny. Their afternoons together have been a true blessing.

Yesterday, Danny gave me the violin. It is beautiful. I love the sound. It is so exciting to see something that was a hunk of wood transform into something that can make beautiful music, something that will be treasured for generations to come. He has been photographically documenting the process as he’s gone along. I want to share some of the highlights of these pictures with you. If you’d like to see more, just visit his Facebook page.

 

This is how it starts.  A wedge of wood from a maple tree and a spruce tree.  This wood was left over from the huge piece that Timothy’s cello was cut from — hence the name Cello’s Little Brother.  The picture on the right is after the wedge has been split and meticulously (everything is done meticulously) matched and glued together.

 

This is the top after it was cut out of spruce.

 

The back is cut out of maple.

 

The ribs are ready to go.  They were left over from previous projects — either Timothy’s violin or Andrew’s viola.  They are laying on the mold that determines the shape of the violin.

 

The shaving begins.  It is a long process.  A very long process. The picture below shows the progress of both the top and the back.

Jonathan (Timothy’s little brother) works on the scroll (the cello’s little brother).  It is quite the family project.

Major pieces beginning to look like a violin — the neck, back, top and mold.

 

Ribs are shaped and then glued to the mold (or more accurately to the blocks on the mold.  Then they are held in place with the clamps.  It always makes me think of getting a perm.

 

Neck finished and ready to be attached to body of the violin that has been finished.

 

First stain is yellow.  I forget why but the guys could tell you.

 

Second stain is looking more like the color it will eventually be.

 

The final color is finally achieved.  It is ready for the finishing touches.

 

A finger board almost completes it.

 

Every handmade instrument needs a label letting future owners know who made it, when it was made and where it was made. This is the one placed inside this violin.

 

All the finishing touches have been added.  One request I made was that the violin have Perfection Planetary Violin Pegs.  I love these things.  They are geared but look exactly like regular violin pegs.  They make tuning a breeze.

Isn’t it beautiful?  Thank you so much, Danny!