Hello all, I am Eric, in USA. I am writing to ask for advice on your favorite vendors for quality items like finger boards, purflings etc.

Eric K · 2025-02-28T18:07:47.761Z

Happy w lumber I’ve received from Carpathian Tonewoods in Romania. A few more years to season wood, study and collect tools, etc before work begins. I believe I have enough for 7 units, I hope for atleast 3 successful “violin shaped objects” and one I hope will be playable. I don’t play, but my niece does. 🤣 Just for fun I’ve also procured 2 “one piece” maple backs. Birdseye and figured. They’re so neat I just couldn’t pass them up.

in Violin Making FREE Community

Just for fun I’ve also procured 2 “one piece” maple backs. Birdseye and figured. They’re so neat I just couldn’t pass them up.

4 comments

Comments (4)

Ann

Mar 05

Hi Eric! I’ve bought wood and fingerboard blanks from International Violin in Baltimore. I’m a beginner, so I really can’t speak to the quality, but the people are nice and the prices seem reasonable. I do not think they have anything as gorgeous as those one piece backs you posted photos of!! When I went they had plenty of 4-8 years aged wood in case you want to start making sooner!

Eric K

Replying to

Thanks so much Ann! This is exactly the sort of resource I’ve been hunting for.

I’ve looked at your project posts and you’re doing wonderful work.

I’ve got a piece of Indian Rose wood I picked up at Austin hardwoods while visiting my daughter in Denver a couple years ago. Thinking I may want to look at using part of it for a finger board when the day comes.

Though, the grain probably isn’t as straight as it should be to suit some. Im sure it would be fine for me.

Corvus Kwok

Mar 01

Wow Eric, you have some nice stock, abd I can also see you are working hard on the violin!

This is a reliable source for a fingerboard, but a bit costy:

Ebony fingerboard blanks 1st Quality | Tonewood shop

You can also go to Amazon or ebay for this.

There are cheap ones on Amazon, mostly from China, can be a good choice for trying out.

If you are going onto ebay, look for some really black wood, the less brown the better.

Eric K

Mar 06

Replying to

Thank you Corvus,

I was hoping there might be a member here in the USA that might make a trusted vendor recommendation, more local to me.

I have ordered one fingerboard from Rauch Tonewoods, a supplier here in USA.

Along with wood purflings (1.2mm, maple/pear/maple) After some research I came to the conclusion, many Luthiers prefer working with real wood purflings over the fiber.

I did see the 1.3mm, fiber purflings you have linked in your Amazon supplies list.

I decided to check out these from Rauch, as they may better suit my beginners skill level. 🤔

Edited