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Hard and fast rules: tonewood selection

2025-04-03T10:19:00

ESPI SETUP

What should luthiers look for when selecting spruce for their next violin top? Jiri Povolny examines the variables and discovers some useful guidelines to take out the guesswork

I have been engaged in the study of violin acoustics since 1985, working across multiple disciplines: as an acoustician analysing violin sound, as a structural engineer investigating the properties of tonewoods, and as a luthier crafting my own instruments. Over the years I have come to appreciate the complex and multifaceted nature of violin acoustics…

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