Philip (Lipo) Cole
violin maker
The spruce for the sounding top of the violin comes from Northern Italy. The maple from the Balkans, and generally from high elevations. The cell structure and figure of the wood have a big influence on the instrument's strength and overall beauty.
Wood is stored in such a way to allow airflow around each piece, as it seasons.
The quality and application of the glues and varnish are also just as important to the character and aging of the instrument. The violin maker forms a kind of relationship with the materials, through hand work (not machine) and this care is directly transmitted to the musician. A violinist might say a violin is "responsive". The notes pour out just as they were intended to.
