Acoustic Guitar Construction

I have started a second violin. Perhaps it will better fit the description of a Fiddle.
Apparently non-traditional woods are not readily accepted in the "violin world".

So while I let the first violin settle in "in the white" awhile longer I've begun to build #2.

This one is Bradford Pear wood back and ribs from a 30year old tree we had removed about 7 years ago from our yard. The trunk was 7 feet of straight clean 18 inch diameter goodness.
I've used some for turnings and it is solid, dense closed grain with a pleasant tan color and swirly grain.

The top is redwood. At least 50 year old planks pull from a storage tank a few years ago. 5.5" wide x 3/4" thick. The boards were 10' long. I bought about 6 or 8 of them.
Many were near quarter sawn. Beautiful dark wood with some darker grain lines. I've resawn a bunch for three and four piece tops for guitars. I've built 2 thus far and it works out great. Grain lines totally hide glue lines and this actually adds some helpful stiffness to the top.

Anyway I looked at the boards and saw they are perfect size for a violin top. So I have the 2 pieces milled and glued together for the top cut to shape and ready for carving.
The rib structure is built still on the mold and will still need linings installed.

The back plates are joined. This pear wood us not as easy to carve with gouges as maple.

I believe this will produce a beautiful instrument that will hopefully make great violin sounds.

There is a violin maker here in California who recently made a violin from apple wood with a redwood top that sounds amazing so I have high hopes for mine.

I will post some pics of my status thus far tomorrow.
Another adventure.

Do you play or are you learning to play the violin? Violins are really interesting instruments to build and voice.

Hey John
I do not play but I have 3 grandaughters that do.
These will be for them
I have more flamed maple and Spruce coming for a third violin. I am crazy for sure.

My oldest granddaughter is here for Thanksgiving week from college and she has played my violin. The result is quite good. It sounds nice. Time will tell with a finish and a proper set up and better quality strings.

Pics will have to come tomorrow

That is great! Very rewarding to build for you granddaughters!

Yep it's fun to be able to do it
Progress pics

Some nice wood you got there. Looking forward to watching the progress.

The top arch is "mostly" carved and the channel for the purfling is now cut in. I hope to install the purfling tomorrow. Then there is a bit more carving and shaping to do before the inside is carved out.