Technical data
| Instrument | viola |
| Material | Ebony |
| Condition | Blank, saw-rough |
| Model | 5534 |
| Item number | ZG-V5534 |
Features
- Fingerboard blank for viola
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.
- On species protection: the ebony we use is not subject to CITES requirements. We supply the statement of origin.
Sound and physics
The viola fingerboard, too, takes on the curve of the bridge so that every string keeps the same distance from the wood along its whole length. Because violas are built by body length rather than in fractional sizes, the dimensions grow with the instrument: at 42 cm body length the fingerboard measures 310 mm as a guide, at 38 cm 280 mm; the width lies between 24 and 24.5 mm at the nut and 43 to 48 mm at the bridge end, the mean thickness between 9.1 and 9.7 mm. At the bridge end the strings stand, as a guide, 4 mm (A string) to 5.5 mm (C string) above the wood. The vibrating string length runs from around 352 to 387 mm, and with the Thomastik viola sets we stock the four strings pull with around 20.7 to 28.3 kg in total.
The number places the viola fingerboard in our five quality grades: V5534 standard, V5535 good, V5536 fine, V5537 1A and V5538 selected.
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 on a viola fingerboard?
V5534 is standard, V5535 good, V5536 fine, V5537 1A and V5538 the selected grade.
How long is a viola fingerboard?
Depending on body length, around 280 to 310 mm, with a width of 24 to 24.5 mm at the nut and 43 to 48 mm at the bridge end.
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.