lversola Posted May 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2005 By the way, thanks to everyone for all their input -- I think this a fascinating thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANFIO Posted May 10, 2005 Report Share Posted May 10, 2005 Hi! I've heard that Luchi, from Cremona, the same that invented the Luchi meter for woods, was working in a device to check objectvely what a good voice and a good sound is. I don't know in what point his research is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMORI Posted May 11, 2005 Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 Modern design/color leads me to think production and electronic quality. Don't worry Regis, that's just a programming glitch which can be fixed:-) But seriously, my modern models can sound every bit as good as my more traditional models. Life would be far too dull if I were to just make the "same" violin over and over and over..... Believe it or not, there are (some) people who actually prefer modernity to antiquity. The main idea with these more modern violins, other than having a bit of fun, is to attract younger people (and a few older) to the art of violin playing. If they have no value at the end of the day then so be it. This does not mean that I prefer my modern violins to my traditional ones, just different! I do not believe that experimenting with different woods will result in a long term improvement, it may serve to make the hobby a little less expensive for those of us who have to import wood from 10000 miles away. Improvement* will only be the result of more drastic changes, maybe to the form or with composit materials. * Not only improvements to the sound but also ergonomical improvements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 11, 2005 Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 Muddycreek, Sorry for the very delayed response. I've been away for a few days. Have a look at my website for a few pictures www.uniquefiddles.com Iversola, Thank you for the kind words! Of all the woods I've used (including traditional) I am most impressed with mahogany as far as sound quality for backs and sides. I have a hard time describing sound but the best way I can describe it is very good dimension across the entire range. It's also surprisingly powerful when called upon. The cherry I've used tends to favor the bass tones. It has a "growl" I really like. Not nasal at all. I'll be finishing up one made from figured bubinga in about a month. It's beautiful wood. I hope it will sound as good as it looks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Tucker Posted May 11, 2005 Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 Ive been sitting on a plank of bubinga for about ten years - thinking about making a violin from it. wolfnote, did you make ribs and neck from bubinga also? In the past when I've used alternative woods I have often had to laminate the wood for the neck. On one, using unbelievealy heavy figured birdseye, I laminated a thin strip of ebony down the center of the neck in order to get matching neck wood thick enough to use. I'm all for using non traditional woods and non traditional design. It would be a real shame if no one ever stretched their imagination at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 11, 2005 Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 CT, I make the back and ribs from the alternate species. I use maple for the necks and ebony for the fingerboards. I've done the bird's eye maple neck as well. Worked fine and looked good too. Glad to hear that you're open minded. I knew you had a bit of the renegade blood in you Your bubinga should be dry by now! I'll give you a full report when I'm done. Stand by . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddycreek Posted May 11, 2005 Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 Quote: Muddycreek, Sorry for the very delayed response. I've been away for a few days. Have a look at my website for a few pictures www.uniquefiddles.com Wolfnote, After I posted my request I happened to think about your profile that maybe your website would be there... and it was. Your fiddles are beautiful. I'm not longer afraid to make one out of alternate woods. I'm going to try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMORI Posted May 12, 2005 Report Share Posted May 12, 2005 I am busy with a bird's eye maple violin too. All bird's eye, except the spruce front. It is quite nice to work with, just now and again, one comes across a bird eye just where you dont want it. Like on an the edge of the scroll. The wood was soureced from Rivolta in Italy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMORI Posted May 12, 2005 Report Share Posted May 12, 2005 I've just had a look at your website and I must say I like the "attitude". I have much the same sort of opinions but I wonder how far it will take us? Is this your full time occupation? In this country I'm not likely to sell any violin made from an alternate wood. Are people in your neck of the woods more open minded about violins made from "foreign" woods? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 12, 2005 Report Share Posted May 12, 2005 Thank you Muddycreak. I think you'll enjoy the ride. Amori, I know what you mean about wood "features" being in inconvenient places:) This is not my full time occupation by I'm working towards that goal. Yes, there is a small market for these violins and they do sell. A big obstacle is just getting the word out that such a thing is available. I'd be willing to bet that there are people in your area that would be interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddycreek Posted May 12, 2005 Report Share Posted May 12, 2005 One other question Wolfnote, where do you get you woods? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 12, 2005 Report Share Posted May 12, 2005 I hand pick it from wood shops specializing in exotics. It involves a lot of travel. I've tried Ebay but what you see isn't always what you get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcarufe Posted May 12, 2005 Report Share Posted May 12, 2005 Hi, I teach chemistry but play violins and do some tinkering and repairs. I remember reading up on accoustic transmission response study done with alpine spuce. Extrapolating high ATR is good for high performance violins, would it not be reasonable to experiment with ways of decreasing density while keeping strength and possible be looking for multidirectional flexibility too? Old Cremona makers were alchemists not chemists. They worked with natural stuff and stumbled on ideas. Maybe the secret was something as simple as fungal infected wood reinforced with urine based polymers. Don't laugh I am serious. Find a way to take out some of the uneccesary mass and reinforce the fibers that are left!!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Curtis Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 Quote: I'm only trying to quantify some certain common tonal qualities common to "great" violins (the ones that can be measured, at least) -- and to use these results so that we can objectively compare how certain violins compare acousticaly against some sort of established benchnmark. There are a number of people working on this exact problem. Unfortunately, the problem seems to be rather like objectively comparing fine wines. It's not that difficult to do a chemical analysis of the wine, or to find out certain parameters such as pH, tannin content, etc -- the problem is relating that to what tastes good. It's more complex than it first appears. I think the first step requires that we all agree on what a 'dark' sound is, for instance, or a 'nasal' sound. Then we need to reliably identify those features in a spectrogram. I imagine this would be like saying "a wine with a tannin level between X and Y will taste robust" (n.b.; I don't know wine jargon). But there's still a long way to go before we can really tell the features of a "great" violin. As I said, I know people are working on the problem. Do you ever read the Catgut Acoustical Society journal? They are now merged with the VSA, but back issues are available. Also, Martin Schleske's website has a lot of good information to start with. The Red Violin's testing was pretty primitive compared to some of what's being done now... --Claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okawbow Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 I've always been intrigued about the prospect of using "local" woods for a violin. My first violin was actually made of osage orange and Eastern red cedar. The fittings were made of persimon. Since that instrument, I've made more than a dozen from "accepted" tonewoods. I just started on a violin that will be made from woods I harvested in Southern Illinois. The back, ribs and neck will be slightly figured red maple. The blocks and linings black willow. The top will be Eastern red cedar(juniper), and the fittings and fingerboard will be persimon. I have made 4 other violins using the same pattern and arching, so I can make a comparison in tone quality. I don't expect a solo quality instrument, but I might get a good Southern Illinois hillbilly fiddle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H_Axel Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 How'd that osage orange fiddle turn out? I just finished a box-resonated mini-marimba using OO bars that turned out pretty nice. OO is tough stuff to work--I admire your fortitude in completing an OO violin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okawbow Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Osage orange makes a bright and penetrating tone. It must be used on the quarter, however, or it will crack. It's a little heavy for a violin. It works well for pegs and tailpiece. I also make box/turkey calls from osage. Nothing works better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.