Varnish on the neck
Since I bought my violin (new) 3 years ago, I have worn the varnish of the neck and I like it like that. I had the same experience with my previous violin when it had to be revarnished: I didn't like it. It seems that the varnish make the neck a little bit more stickier if your hand is slightly sweaty. I think being in contact with the wood make the neck more absorbent. The contact is also nicer I can't describe it. I like feeling the wood. Does any one feel the same?
Replies (5)
No violin, old or modern should have a "varnished" neck. Even when revarnished, the neck should be left as natural, unvarnished maple.we are talking playability.
It is polished though.
I can’t pretend knowing everything about the violin but I have never heard of French polish on the neck. When I had my previous violin revarnished (the top rib really needed it) it was done in the workshop of Etienne Vatelot in Paris. I doubt it could have not been done in the proper way. Was it French polish on the neck? I can’t say but they felt that the neck needed some attention, some “varnish” as well.
It is the same with my new violin. A well-known British maker has done this violin. It is what you would call a fine violin. Again I doubt it was not done in the proper way. True: the “varnish” on the neck was not completely clear but much lighter than the rest of the violin. Was it varnish? Was it done with a different hardness of varnish, something different? I don’t know, talking about it now I have never asked myself why all the necks are in a different colour. I thought it was only to get some antiqued finished.
Well, that is why I am asking for some information on this Forum.
The normal way to treat the neck is with a light stain and a coat of drying oil and/or a light French polish (which is basically clear shellac), where-as the rest of the instrument will be finished with several coats of coloured varnish.
The retouch to the top rib done in Vatelot’s workshop will most likely be a shellac based varnish that has been coloured to match the missing original varnish from this area, and the work they did on the neck will have been done slightly differently but most probably finished with a very light French polish.
I’m quite sure any work done in Vatelot’s workshop will have been done in a perfectly correct and traditional way.
This discussion has been archived and is no longer accepting responses.
Violinist.com is made possible by...
Dimitri Musafia, Master Maker of Violin and Viola Cases
Johnson String Instrument/Carriage House Violins
Subscribe
Laurie's Books
Discover the best of Violinist.com in these collections of editor Laurie Niles' exclusive interviews.
Violinist.com Interviews Volume 1, with introduction by Hilary Hahn
Violinist.com Interviews Volume 2, with introduction by Rachel Barton Pine
March 30, 2006 at 10:40 PM · Actually, a properly finished neck should be "french" polished instead of varnished. When done properly, the french polish is smooth but not sticky. Its appearance is clear and uncolored.
Was the varnish a clear coat?