Personal model viola in aspen

Back: Aspen
Top: Italian Spruce
Neck: Maple

Antiqued oil varnish

Body length: 410 (16 1/8″)
Bouts: 200, 131, 240
String length: 375
Stop: 222

This was built on my ARC III pattern. I was looking for a thicker sound and I modified the f-holes so as to shorten and widen the platform between them. A consequence of shortening the f-holes twas that I had to move the ffs up the body in order not to lengthen the string too much. I made the arching more sculpted with a broader recurve in the C-bouts. The finished instrument does have a broader tone but still with a good core and focus. I cant say for sure that the modified ffs alone are responsible for this, as ever there are too many variables to isolate a single one as causal. For instance, the top was made from some left-over cello wood and has a very broad grain pattern which I like the look of and no doubt contributes to tone.