Amadee Dieudonne Violin Neck Graft
- fractured pegbox with multiple breaks.
This is a neck graft done on a circa 1920s Amadee Dieudonne violin from a player in Tulsa that had an accident. Several pieces were made of the damaged scroll and cheeks of the peg box.
Not an unusual repair for antique instruments, neck grafts are the correct way to repair a damaged neck, or a neck with the wrong measurements. The goal is to keep the original scroll (considered the maker's signature) with the violin.
This is a delicate repair requiring a consideration for many things during the process. Below is a list of the few key elements to a professional neck graft.
Graft Fit
To ensure a long life for the repair the fit between the new wood and old must be seamless, and as unobtrusive as possible.
Recreating a neck using fresh maple and a very tight fit is a very labor-intensive job (often the fitting for a graft constitutes the majority of the time and cost).
Fingerboard Angle
The angle of the fingerboard determines where your bow hand will be to comfortably bow across all the strings.
Neck Projection
Proper proportions of the neck angle create the tension needed to make your instrument sound to its fullest potential.
The new neck is then fit into the neck mortise and glued. The final step is to touch-up the new neck joint and grafts to make it as invisible as possible.
Appearance
For fine instruments made by master makers such as
Dieudonne, the repair
must be done with the utmost care and consideration for the original makers
concept and workmanship. As little original wood should be removed as
possible, and the graft should be invisible once the varnish and touch-up are finished.
