From the President and the Editor
The lead article in this issue, Martin Schleske's "Eigenmodes of Vibration in the Working Process
of a Violin," is the first of two papers on the subject; the next will appear in the November issue.
We expect these papers to be controversial but eventually to be of great benefit to practical makers.
Schleske's papers are well worth the serious study it will take to get a good grasp of their contents.
Several revolutionary techniques and tuning concepts are presented here for the first time. They are
- a practical measurement system to describe the amplitude and nodal line patterns of violin
corpus modes
- the concept of using frequencies and nodal line patterns of the corpus modes of violins known
to be excellent as acoustical targets for constructing new violins
- a conceptual framework for modifying plate thicknesses of a corpus to move nodal lines to
desired frequencies and patterns
- the first demonstration of the successful realization in practice of a violin that actually achieves
its acoustical targets of corpus vibrating mode configurations
- a demostration of the importance of wood stiffness properties and wood grain alignment for
achieving specified mode shapes and frequencies
There is much to learn from the experiment reported here.
Domenicali's paper presents detailed design specifications for a "Universal Grinding Jig for
Violinmakers." We are very pleased that Peter made this available to the Journal because we know
from experience how useful the completed jig is. Sharp tools and thorough knowledge of traditional
construction techniques and objectives are both essential if a maker is to effectively use the
acoustical principles set out in the Journal's research articles. We hope that more makers will
offer to share the tools, jigs, methods, and construction objectives they have found useful for
producing acoustically and aesthetically superior instruments.
A. Thomas King
Edward Wall
Table of Contents
2 - Eigenmodes of Vibration in the Working Process of a Violin by Martin Schleske
9 - The Aging of Tonewood and Its Effects on Candling, Working Properties, and Acoustics
by John Randerson
13 - Ambiguity in A1 - B1 Delta Criterion for Violin Tone and Quality by George Bissinger
17 - The Lower Violin Tailpiece Resonances by Bruce Stough
26 - Just Noticeable Differences in Timbre of the Flute by John W. Coletman
Violinmaker's Forum
34 - Universal Grinding Jig for Violinmakers by Peter Domenicali
38 - Piezo-Film Sensors for Luthiers by Mark French
Letters to the Editor
41 - Response to William Fulton by Duane Voskuil
43 - Comments on "A Brief Summary of A.H. Benade's Wind Instrument Adjustment
Principle" by Cornelius J. Nederveen
News and Correspondence
44 -
Recent Publications
46 -
Meetings
47 -
Mathematician's Corner
50 -Solution to "Stretching a String" by Edward Wall
Book Reviews
51 - Acoustics of Wood bye Voichita Bucur, Reviewer - M. Bariska
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