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Hard and fast rules: tonewood selection

9 May 2025

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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