Guarneri Viola Build
The construction of the rib structure in viola making involves the preparation of blocks in the mold, willow or spruce is the likely selection of material. And the bending of thin strips of wood, maple, to form the outline of the instrument’s body. This process requires precision and skill to achieve the desired curves that will ens up shaping the outline of the top and back plates. Luthiers use heat from a bending iron and moisture to make the wood mailable before carefully bending and gluing it to the mold with a hot glue. The proper bending of ribs is crucial as it establishes the foundational shape of the viola, influencing its structural integrity and proper shape according to the original makers model that someone is trying to interpret. Below is progress pictures of the blocks being shaped and the c-bout ribs being bent and glued.
