Technical data
| Instrument | violin |
| Material | Ebony |
| Condition | Blank, saw-rough |
| Model | 5538 |
| Item number | ZG-5538 |
Features
- Fingerboard blank for violin
In practice
- This is a blank. It is supplied saw-rough and seasoned and has to be planed, arched and fitted by a violin maker.
- Not a do-it-yourself item: the fingerboard curve ultimately follows the bridge curve, and the lengthwise scoop decides whether the string buzzes.
- Signs of quality in ebony are a deep black, even colour without dye or stain and a fine, straight grain.
- Guide value for the violin fingerboard radius: around 41.5 millimetres.
- On species protection: the ebony we use is not subject to CITES requirements. We supply the statement of origin.
Sound and physics
Today the violin fingerboard measures 266 to 270 mm and so covers at least half the string length, keeping the high positions within reach. Its cross radius is around 41.5 mm, and along its length it is given a slight scoop.
As guide figures for a 4/4 fingerboard, the length is 270 mm, the width 23.5 mm at the nut and 42 mm at the bridge end, the mean thickness 9 mm and the edges 5.5 mm; a 1/2 fingerboard measures 238 mm, a 1/4 fingerboard 210 mm. At the bridge end the strings stand, as a guide, 3 mm (E string) to 5 mm (G string) above the wood. The bridge is shaped to match and is not symmetrical: towards the G string its curve drops away less, so that the lower strings with their wider swing vibrate freely above the fingerboard. The fingerboard projection, measured from the top edge of the fingerboard to the top plate, is 21 mm as a guide on a 4/4 violin, with a neck overstand of 5.5 to 6 mm.
The number places the violin fingerboard in our five quality grades: 5534 standard, 5535 good, 5536 fine, 5537 1A and 5538 selected 1A.
Ebony has a density of around 0.85 to 1.17 g/cm³, making it denser than rosewood and boxwood, the two other classic fitting woods, and than the maple of neck and back at around 0.65 g/cm³; its speed of sound is around 4,435 m/s.
The fingerboard is curved across its width because the strings run over the curved bridge and should keep the same distance from the wood along their whole length. It is glued to the neck and projects over the top plate, supporting itself.
Ebony moves with the climate, though noticeably less than the maple of neck and scroll. While drying, an ebony block shrinks by almost 0.3 cm, and the raw material has to acclimatise before it is worked.
Our experience
Our experience: our ebony rests for 6 to 10 years before it is cut. We grade our fingerboard ebony into five quality levels: standard, good, fine, 1A and selected 1A. You recognise the 1A grade by a deep black without shading or inclusions and by a dense, pore-free surface.
We have tested heat-treated substitute woods in the workshop; for knife-cut edges and clean string notches we stay with ebony.
Frequently asked questions
Which number stands for which grade?
5534 is standard, 5535 good, 5536 fine, 5537 1A and 5538 selected 1A.
What cross radius does a violin fingerboard have?
Around 41.5 mm, combined with a slight lengthwise scoop.
How long and how wide is a violin fingerboard?
As a guide, 270 mm long, 23.5 mm wide at the nut and 42 mm at the bridge end, with a mean thickness of 9 mm.
What distinguishes 1A grade ebony?
A deep black without shading or inclusions and a dense, pore-free surface. Above it sits selected 1A, the highest of our five grades.
How long has the ebony been seasoned?
6 to 10 years before it is cut.
Why is a fingerboard curved?
Because it follows the curve of the bridge, so that every string keeps the same distance from the fingerboard along its whole length.
These texts hold decades of experience and a great deal of heart. They are protected by copyright, C.A. Götz jr. GmbH. Please ask us before any use. Thank you for your appreciation.
