Soundpost Patch on Unlabelled Northern European Violin, circa 1830

This violin came to us with a crack in the front over the soundpost, which had been previously repaired and cleated. The top of the soundpost was directly on the crack and whilst everything appeared stable we felt there was still weakness in the front. We did some initial set up work and the instrument sounded terrific (!) and was catching the attention of customers however we felt we could not sell the instrument with such a known weakness so we decided to remove the front and properly patch the soundpost area.

We started the repair by making a wooden counterform to support the front whilst we fitted the soundpost patch. 

Completed repair

Measuring the arching on the front in order to make a wooden counter form to support the front during the repair

Tidying up the front and ribs

Tidying up the front and ribs

Marking out the wooden counter form using measurements taken from the front arching

Marking out the wooden counter form using measurements taken from the front arching

Marking out the wooden counter form using measurements taken from the front arching

Marking out the wooden counter form using measurements taken from the front arching

Carving counter form to fit the front of the instrument using a chalk fine fitting method.

Carving counter form to fit the front of the instrument using a chalk fine fitting method.

Chalk fitting the counter form to the front

Cleats from a previous repair of the crack. Picture details damage to the front of the violin from the soundpost being pushed in too tightly

Cleats from a previous repair of the crack. Picture details damage to the front of the violin from the soundpost being pushed in too tightly

Carving out the patch on the front of the violin. The wooden counter form is supporting the front whilst we work on it, preventing damage to the arching.

Light through the prepared patch bed!

Starting work on fitting the new patch

The patch and patch bed part way through fitting

The patch bed part way through fitting

Light through the varnish shows the thickness of the middle of the patch bed...!

Sometimes you just need an out of the box clamping solution...

Sometimes you just need an out of the box clamping solution...

The patch glued in place waiting for shaping

The patch glued in place waiting for shaping

The patch glued in place waiting for shaping

The finished patch!

The finished patch!