Ever Want To Make A Violin?

Gregg Glessner, playing each instrument for tone judging.
Steve Murphy, center with his finished violin. Gregg and Scott presenting tone and craftsmanship certificate.
Harry Mayden, center with his finished violin. Gregg and Scott presenting tone and craftsmanship certificate.

Final class night with finished instruments.
Jim Wilson, center with his finished violin. Gregg and Scott presenting tone and craftsmanship certificate.
Sandra Schlessman, center with her finished violin. Gregg and Scott presenting tone and craftsmanship certificate.

Thomas Loughry, center with his finished violin. Gregg and Scott presenting tone and craftsmanship certificate.
Tone Judge, Gregg Glessner explaning his tone evaluation to the class.
Instructor Scott W Hershey evaluating the craftsmanship of finished violins.

Jim, reviewing his notes on bridge cutting and sound post cuting during our last session.
All instruments are ready to move to the next color varnishing steps. All students have exceeded my expectations and have produced great results. Skill levels, finishing and attention to details are fantastic! I can't wait until the final instruments are finished and played for the first time.
Steve and Harry comparing their bridges.

Harry Mayden is reviewing his bridge cutting in advance of his instruments completion.
Sandra Schlessman, tweeking her newly cut bridge for propper fit. Her instrument now has the ground coat applied and is ready for the color coats.
Thomas Loughry & Harry Mayden reviewing the next steps in setting a violin neck.

Tom and Harry, practicing some recently taught scraping techniques.
Sandra Schlessman, Jim Wilson, Steve Murphy (back row), Thomas Loughry & Harry Mayden (front row). Checking the progress they are making on neck setting and correcting measurements.
Sandra, setting the proper angles on her instruments neck.

Sandra & Tom marking their necks for cutting and fitting.
Teaching the technique of placing purfling around your instrument.
Learn the assembly techniques for your instrument.

Learning how to set a neck into your violin ribs, is just one of the many lessons you will learn..
How to radius the neck root for proper comfort.
Final finishing details.

Gluing-up the corpus and preparing the instrument for varnishing.
Bridge cutting and soundpost placement and adjustment.
Learn how to spirit varnish the finished product.

The final varnishing and instrument set-up.

Now You Can!

Enroll now for a 6 week violin making course.
Beginning: April 6 thru May 11, 2010.
Instructor: Scott W. Hershey, Master Maker

Price: $800.00 plus tax.

This intermediate study on the basics of building a violin requires limited tools to build. Students begin with a violin outfit that has most parts pre-finished for easy building. Much of the final work will be done in the comfort of your own home workshop.

Five, three hour “hands-on” evening classes will be taught under my supervision and the sixth class will be devoted to the playing of all completed instruments by a professional musician for tonal critique. A craftsmanship evaluation will also done at this time.

This is an aggressive program that will give the craftsman a better understanding of the violin making process. The end result will be, a beautiful hand-varnished work of art, that sounds and looks great!  Worthy of the builder’s signature.

Here are some of the programs classroom highlights.
1. You receive a violin outfit with most of the hard work “pre-finished”.
2. You will learn how to make hide glue necessary for assembly.
3. You will be taught the proper assembly techniques.
4. Techniques for gluing and placing purfling.
5. Bass bar carving, fitting and top plate tuning techniques.
6. Proper neck angle, placement and gluing techniques.
7. Varnishing demonstrations and finishing techniques.
8. Sound post and bridge cutting techniques.
9. Final set-up and sound post adjustments.

Sign up now for our next 6 week violin making course beginning April 6, 2010. Instructor: Scott W. Hershey, Master Maker. Deadline for registration is March 15, 2o10.   This course has limited enrollment so, reserve your spot Today!

Price: $800.00 plus tax.

To register for this session or questions call:717-697.6341 or email: shershey@hersheyviolins.com

 

scott-viewing-violin

Hershey Violins

11 West Main Street
Mechanicsburg, Pa 17055
717.697.6341

Shop Hours:

Tue. thru Fri: 11am – 5pm
Saturday: 10am – 3pm
Other hours by appointment
call: 717. 697. 6341