Construction IV / Assembly of the body
(Note: Until indicated otherwise the following construction-process will not differ from the construction-process of a four string cello. Please skip this part if you already know about the basic construction of a cello. Because we did not, and assumed that most cellists don’t either, we included those steps in this report.)
After the back was carved to its final shape it was glued-on permanently to the bouts. The top is almost ready to be glued-on to complete the basic body.
(Click on pictures to enlarge.)
Picture 81: Carved back clamped-on for drying.
Picture 82: Glued-on back..
Picture 83: Fitting the bass bar onto the finished top.
Pictures 84 and 85: Removing the form.
Picture 86: Form is removed.
Picture 87: Fixing upper lining.
Picture 88: Top and body.
Picture 89: Assembled body.
Insertion of the purfling
For a definition of ‘purfling’ see Glossary
First a purfling cutter was used to sketch the precise outline of the purfling.
Picture 90: A purfling groove cutter.
Following the sketched line the wood is then being carved-out and the purfling strip is bend to match the outline.
Picture 91: Bending of a purfling stripe.
Picture 92: C-bout purfling put into place.
Picture 93: Completed purfling.
With the purfling being finished the next steps are the construction of neck, tailpiece and bridge.