A grafted neck can
be evidence of an old instrument. During the 19th
century, as musical style and context changed, it
became necessary for the violin to evolve. Soloists
who depended on filling public concert halls to earn a
living, required a more powerful voice to stand out
against the full orchestra. This was accomplished by
changing the violin's setup to lengthen the string and
raise the height of the bridge, with a corresponding
lengthening of the bass bar to stand up to the
increased tension placed on the instrument. To
facilitate longer string length, neck grafts were
performed on many instruments. Grafting the neck is
one delicate procedure in the violin restorer's
repertoire. This operation replaces the flamed or
striped maple of the neck under the fingerboard,
including the heel which joins the neck to the body of
the violin. In order to preserve the integrity of the
instrument, the original scroll and peg-box are
removed and rejoined to the new wood chosen for the
neck. The styling and shape of the sculpted scroll are
a unique and personal expression of the maker and this
operation respects his or her intention and artistic
execution. A scarfed joint extends about 1 3/4" along
the inside of each wall and for the full depth of the
peg-box, giving a maximum of gluing surface. This
insures sufficient strength to accommodate the
considerable tension it will endure. Care is taken,
first to match the figure of the original wood with
the replacement piece, and also to revarnish the heel
and under-end of the pegbox. Thus, when the operation
is complete, very little evidence is visible of the
repair. Close examination should reveal the glue line
at the beginning of the peg-box on each side, and
across the end. Of course a replaced
or grafted neck does not in itself verify the age of a
violin. Fakery was and still is a highly developed
art, and the practice of copying or antiquing
instruments extends to every minute detail; the choice
of wood, the replication of varnish and, yes,
including the making of new violins with grafted
scrolls. Many late 19th and the early 20th century
German and French factory instruments were made to
look as though the neck had been grafted, but careful
examination will invariably detect this often clumsy
feature. In conclusion, an expertly crafted neck graft
is indeed a marvelous sight to behold. David
Papazian
papazianviolins@ yahoo.ca
The Grafted Neck
by
David Papazian
last upddate 11/14/99