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9/27/2000 (1) “This is the form around which the rib assembly will be built. The corner and upper and lower blocks are glued in and in the first shot, the C-bout blocks have been carved to the shape of the outline. The two middle ribs lying in the foreground are bent and waiting be glued in, as shown in the second image, also showing the clamps.”
(3)” The third image is of the C-bouts glued in and the upper and lower bout corners shaped and the three ribs lying in front. The super long one is a miracle and nice to have a one-piece lower rib. Not saying it never happens but it’s pretty rare. It makes assembly by myself easier.”
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9/28/2000 (4)”The next image is the upper bout ribs bent and clamped into place, with the long lower rib partially bent without the return curves which make up the corner.
(5) “The next image is all ribs bent and successfully clamped into place. yay!”
(6) “This foto is of the cello rib assembly all glued-up, clamped and ready, after it’s dry, to offer an outline from which Eric’s cello will be derived.”
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9/29/2000 – “This is the glued up rib assembly w/o the linings. So it’s not completely finished, per se, but the outside is and thus you see how the cello outline will look. A 3mm edge margin on the top and back will give the shapes a bit more heft and flesh out the shape better than just the ribs but this is also a quite revealing perspective of an element of the outline.”
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10/5/2000 (9) “Freshly cut and thicknessed stock for linings. An oft used traditional material is willow and this is local, indigenous willow. It’s characteristics are adequate strength with light weight. Additionally, willow is very compliant and lies inside the ribs to support them, smooth out the curves a bit, and increase the glue surface that top and back need to attach to the rib assembly, without assuming any particular stresses or other unwanted influences on the outline.”
(10 & 11) “show the upper corner block as cut to receive a lining. The C-bout linings are let into the block since they lie on the outside of the curve. The upper and lower linings are fit snugly against the blocks, their position on the inside of the curve allowing them to wedge between their termination points.”
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(12) Preparing the lining stock for bending. (13) Linings are bent, fit and all ready to glue in.
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(14 & 15) “show the linings bent, fit, and glued inside the ribs. The same thing happens to each side of the rib assembly. When they are dry and trimmed to minimal taper, the rib assembly is finished and ready to yield the final outline, as the it is next traced onto the back and top.”
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(16 & 17) are views of the corner blocks showing the installed linings.