LA Times article: Chinese violins

[LouisF]

I thought, given the various threads on Chinese instruments (cheap and otherwise) that the article in today's LA Times (prior to the NAMM show out here) would be of interest.

Louis

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...home-headlines

[Peter McFerrin]

Zheng said he has respect and sympathy for the European instrument makers who are confronting a challenge from China, as they did from Japan and South Korea. But, he said, "their problem is, they believe the world won't change, that they don't need to change their traditions. That they will just continue forever…. But in China, we understand that nothing lasts forever."

So very, very true.

[PB+J]

Thanks for posting that--very interesting.

[PoorPlayer]

Originally Posted by Peter McFerrin

So very, very true.

According to the article, the Chinese factories still use a manual process to make instruments. What effect would there be on the tone or quality of an instrument if the front were carved to within 1/8" or less of a given dimension by a CNC machine and finished by hand?

[PB+J]

I may be wrong about this, but I assume you're probably better off, with a carved acoustic instrument, having someone who does a lot of hand carving. If your that fast with wood you have to understand the material--you don't want waste, so you probably are really good at avoiding tear out, knowing when a given piece of wood is too thick or too thin, etc. The woman quoted doesn't show any artisanal interest in the final product, but she must be really good at what she does, and I'll bet unconsciously she ends up "feeling " a difference between different pieces of wood

A CNC machine just carves to tolerances--but who knows, maybe that's all she's doing as well

[TSP]

Interesting that the person they featured was employed solely on sanding: a technique that, as I understand it, isn't actually used in most traditional stringed instrument making (the usual way, I believe, being plane followed by scraper). I could be wrong....

[Dubbin]

I'll be very interested how people's attitudes about Chinese instruments play out over time. There was a time when "Made in Japan" had negative connotations. As somebody who makes a living importing, I know that its possible to source any level of quality you wish in China, especially if you are working closely with the factory from the design stage forward. Instruments are a little bit off trend in that people actually care where they are made. Witness Fender, where an American made product valued much higher than an identical design Chinese product. This really isn't the case with consumer goods where people buy mainly based on price and brand. Country of origin is undeniably a factor in how people view instruments. I found the bit about the exponential changes in product quality interesting. If one listen's to some of the more critical folks about Chinese instruments, you'd be under the impression that a gluing issue 5 years ago is somehow inherent to the product and will continue indefinitely, as if a factory isn't able to get feedback from its U.S. distributor and adjust. I'd be curious if the luthiers on the board have noticed a similar improvement in quality for Chinese basses (first-hand, recent experience).

By way of disclosure I own mainly Chinese instruments including a Cremona. To my eye and ear they are fine for a hobbyist like me. I've seen better finish levels but it doesn't appear to be made of green wood or have any structural issues.

[arnoldschnitzer]

Originally Posted by PoorPlayer

What effect would there be on the tone or quality of an instrument if the front were carved to within 1/8" or less of a given dimension by a CNC machine and finished by hand?

None whatsoever. If there were CNC machines around when Strad was building, I think he would have considered using them. The wood doesn't know if it has been carved by a human-powered gouge or a spinning router bit.

[M Ramsey]

Originally Posted by arnoldschnitzer

None whatsoever. If there were CNC machines around when Strad was building, I think he would have considered using them. The wood doesn't know if it has been carved by a human-powered gouge or a spinning router bit.

Kudos to Arnold! My buddy Sim Daley (builder of Daley mandolins) is getting his own CNC router setup to PRE-carve his mandolin tops and backs. These will be finished by hand and Sim has allowed me to see his technique for maintaining consistency in his tops.

Now, mind you, all wood tops are different. They may be stiffer or looser, depending on the differing qualities of the pieces used to assemble the tops. Sim has devised a way to pre-determine the flexibility of these tops and then do the hand carving (or finish carving) to make each top as consistent as possible.

Instrument building techniques are evolving. It's kinda like the music business and the internet. Figure out how to make the newer technologies work FOR you, because, if you don't, they probably will be working AGAINST you.

YMMV