Welcome to Violin Math for Luthiers

Welcome to Violin Math for Luthiers, a resource dedicated to an innovative new approach for crafting a violin based on the weights of its individual parts.

You may be here because you have read my article in The Strad (October 2024) and are looking for more information. Or, you may be here because you are a luthier interested in combining traditional craftsmanship with mathematical precision. Either way, you are in the right place.

Weight-Based Method for Crafting Violin Parts

Traditionally, we violin makers have relied on techniques like tap tones and plate tuning to shape the sound of our instruments. Although these methods have been used for ages and are considered the standard in modern violin making, contemporary luthiers have yet to produce a violin that would match the exceptional instruments crafted by the great masters centuries ago.

Ever wondered why, and whether it’s time to explore other paths?

On this website, I introduce a new method for building violins based on the relative weight of their parts, offering a fresh approach to pursuing exceptional sound quality.

About the Method

I admit that the idea of constructing an instrument by focusing foremost on the weights of its parts may seem unconventional at first. However, when we consider the fundamentals of physics, specifically that an object's vibration frequency or pitch is intrinsically linked to its mass (the mass-frequency relationship), this weight-focused approach becomes both logical and sensible.

This is an intriguing perspective that, for me, resonates with my engineering mindset. It exposes new elements that contribute to a violin's sound, and I believe it may even shed light on the long-standing mystery behind the exceptional tonal qualities of violins crafted by the old masters. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if one day it turns out that the master luthiers of the past themselves placed significant importance on the weight of the parts of their instruments.

About Me

I am Veikko Jaatinen, a Finnish engineer and a graduate of the Stockholm Technical Institute. Over the decades, I have built more than 30 violins, combining my technical background with a passion for violin acoustics and craftsmanship. My work is influenced by the research of the German physicist E. Chladni (1756–1827) and the French physicist Felix Savart (1791–1841) among others.

The method presented on this web site is founded on years of careful study, observation, and mathematical reasoning, bridging together the worlds of music, physics, and mathematics.

I invite you to look into the weight-based approach to violin building with an open mind. Being open-minded is essential – only by embracing new ideas and challenging traditional practices, we can advance our true understanding of the violin.

Whether you're a seasoned luthier or just starting out, I hope this method inspires you to experiment and discover new possibilities in your craft. I encourage you to explore it fully—everything you need is available on this website. I look forward to hearing about your results and am happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you for visiting, and welcome.