Fitting the violin neck.

Set the neck today. I think this is one of the toughest jobs in fiddle-making. You have to get the angles right in three-dimensions, with no flat surfaces to measure from. A sharp gouge, taking a little wood at a time. And, I set the angle just a little high, I hope, to account for some dropping with string tension.



Also set the saddle in place, the little piece of ebony at the other end, which supports the tail-loop that holds the tailpiece (which holds the one end of the strings).

I'll let it set in the clamp overnight, then work on finishing the button -- the extension of the back under the heel -- as well as the final neck profile.