COB3 Posted February 22, 2011 Report Posted February 22, 2011 Very cool Chet, are you taking them to the VMAAI? Thanks for the photos. As I have mentioned here before, Bigleaf and Sitka are my favorite woods. I'm keen on buying what is available locally or what is grown domestically.. No, sorry, I won't be able to come. Pretty strapped for time and money anymore. Chet
Craig Tucker Posted February 22, 2011 Author Report Posted February 22, 2011 Since I have two projects nearly in the can, I cracked open another one (top repair), and found this inside. The entire rib garland is made of one long ribbon of maple, rounded corners like a cornerless violin. The "linings" are part of the rib profile, a ] shape cross section, routed into the rib stock. The whole thing is constructed like a cornerless violin with matching grain maple corners applied (was impossible to tell until the top was off). The upper and lower bocks are also applied on the exterior of the ribs with matching maple -- very strange -- smart and stupid at the same time. This was made by GIEB of Chicago. It seems more like furniture than a violin. Iburkard, Thanks for posting this very odd oddball. This is amazing. Is this your violin or a clients? It really is "smart and stupid at the same time", but more incredible (to me) is the fact that the basics have been completely ignored by someone who still went out of their way to put something (manufactured, I would guess?) together with this degree of precision. I take it in all respects it looks like a completely "normal" violin from the outside? How well done is the pattern, the ff's, and the scroll? Any chance of seeing the label?
Craig Tucker Posted February 22, 2011 Author Report Posted February 22, 2011 No, sorry, I won't be able to come. Pretty strapped for time and money anymore. Chet Oops, I put "the show" and the name Elon Howe together, and took a shot in the dark that you were going... I won't be making it either. It's too bad, those guys know how to have fun, for a bunch of OCD's.
Craig Tucker Posted February 22, 2011 Author Report Posted February 22, 2011 This is on my bench, well it was but is now finished. Hey you asked Craig...I have a student cello there too but you don't want to see that. In the guitar business we "relic" to make it look old not "antique" (both used as a verb). Wow, nice work. "Relic" huh? Oddly, this is what I call myself when talking to the grandkids... "relic" has so much more dignity than "antique". Though in this case, it isn't used as a verb exactly - it's more of a disclaimer... That headstock is very convincing.
COB3 Posted February 22, 2011 Report Posted February 22, 2011 Oops, I put "the show" and the name Elon Howe together, and took a shot in the dark that you were going... I won't be making it either. It's too bad, those guys know how to have fun, for a bunch of OCD's. Sorry-- I should have been more specific. There is a musical instrument maker's show locally, at Marylhurst University, April 30th and May 1st (Sat/Sun) this year, and I hope to participate. It looks as though I will have three violas and three violins to show. I had hoped for more, but a lot has been going on this year. Chet
Craig Tucker Posted February 22, 2011 Author Report Posted February 22, 2011 As I said in post #1, I am usually more interested in seeing what people are doing and not always just in hearing what they are thinking. I couldn't have wished for a greater response, so, thanks to everyone who bothered to reply up to this point - there are many amazing examples here of people who are driven in a way I understand completely, though, they are not always driven in exactly the same direction that I am, it is all for the better. Wm Johnson - I have a fretless electric bass project in the works (made from a old cello neck) - (it is mostly in "stall" mode,) and a solid body electric violin (a lot further along, but also in "stall" mode as is the F5 mandolin, started about ten years ago) that still needs a pick-up and electronics... Very cool guitars, Wm. It is a great privilege for me, to be able to engage with so many talented artisans.
lvlagneto Posted February 22, 2011 Report Posted February 22, 2011 Here you go CT... the label is a brass logo, was glued to the interior. The varnish is basically gone, like powder. It should be a nice fiddle when all is said and done.
Wm. Johnston Posted February 22, 2011 Report Posted February 22, 2011 Wm Johnson - I have a fretless electric bass project in the works (made from a old cello neck) - (it is mostly in "stall" mode,) and a solid body electric violin (a lot further along, but also in "stall" mode as is the F5 mandolin, started about ten years ago) that still needs a pick-up and electronics... A fully electric violin (or a viola) is currently on my to do list. I'm a good enough guitar player but at some point I need to get good enough at violin. The only problem is that I don't think my upstairs neighbors want to listen to me as I learn. I picked up a nice little battery powered amp at Guitar Center a couple weeks ago, it's actually pretty good for the price and size just weak on the low notes on a guitar. For a violin it should work really well.
Craig Tucker Posted February 22, 2011 Author Report Posted February 22, 2011 A fully electric violin (or a viola) is currently on my to do list. If only I'd get off my lazy butt, I'd make the electronics...
Don Noon Posted February 22, 2011 Report Posted February 22, 2011 If only I'd get off my lazy butt, I'd make the electronics... It would be much less effort just to re-label it a "practice violin".
Craig Tucker Posted February 22, 2011 Author Report Posted February 22, 2011 Here you go CT... the label is a brass logo, was glued to the interior. The varnish is basically gone, like powder. It should be a nice fiddle when all is said and done. Thanks, this is an interesting find.
Craig Tucker Posted February 22, 2011 Author Report Posted February 22, 2011 It would be much less effort just to re-label it a "practice violin". True... But then, what would I do about my fantasy of being on stage and playing a screaming rock and roll riff on my electric violin? And don't forget about all of the adoring fans and groupies...
Don Noon Posted February 22, 2011 Report Posted February 22, 2011 After 2 weeks of playing in-the-white, and messing around with machines and motors, Snakefiddle II is finally back on the bench for final edgework and detailing prior to varnishing.
MikeC Posted February 22, 2011 Report Posted February 22, 2011 After 2 weeks of playing in-the-white, and messing around with machines and motors, Snakefiddle II is finally back on the bench for final edgework and detailing prior to varnishing. What are the two tabs where the bridge feet go?
Don Noon Posted February 22, 2011 Report Posted February 22, 2011 They are maple footpads to protect the ultra low density spruce from denting. Curtin does this on his lightweights.
scordatura Posted February 22, 2011 Report Posted February 22, 2011 Aha! So you do subscribe to low density spruce Those snake fiddles are outrageous!
Don Noon Posted February 22, 2011 Report Posted February 22, 2011 Aha! So you do subscribe to low density spruce Those snake fiddles are outrageous! Let's just say I'm exploring the limits of the materials, and there is some theoretical benefit. The jury is still out as to whether the real-world result is good or not, but the initial impression is that it might be too much like balsa (i.e. interestingly different, but not quite like a normal violin). And who knows... maybe another piece of low-density spruce might sound different.
scordatura Posted February 23, 2011 Report Posted February 23, 2011 True... But then, what would I do about my fantasy of being on stage and playing a screaming rock and roll riff on my electric violin? And don't forget about all of the adoring fans and groupies... Agreed. I have had a design in my head for a while but can't find the time to build it. I was impressed by a steinberger one off that would be a nice staring point. I am lucky though I have a nice zeta 5 string to satisfy the solid body requirement. Been playing with the McMillen string port for a littke midi fun. It's all about the groupies...lol
Jeffrey Holmes Posted February 23, 2011 Report Posted February 23, 2011 It's all about the groupies...lol So where the heck are they???
Jeffrey Holmes Posted February 23, 2011 Report Posted February 23, 2011 ... but this thread is about the bench, not the groupies, right?
COB3 Posted February 23, 2011 Report Posted February 23, 2011 Finally took some photos of #13-- another attempt at a Milanollo model (Bigleaf and Sitka):
JimMurphy Posted February 23, 2011 Report Posted February 23, 2011 Man, the economy must be doin' poorly if Jeffrey's working on cheap imports. Jim
Marc Genevrier Posted February 23, 2011 Report Posted February 23, 2011 Jeffrey, Please pardon my ignorance, but what is that thing on the tailpiece of the foreground violin on picture #2 (between the D and A strings)? And I'm always impressed to see how cleanly repairers like you make their pillars and shims...
Jeffrey Holmes Posted February 23, 2011 Report Posted February 23, 2011 Jeffrey, Please pardon my ignorance, but what is that thing on the tailpiece of the foreground violin on picture #2 (between the D and A strings)? And I'm always impressed to see how cleanly repairers like you make their pillars and shims... Hi Marc; That is a magnetic dock for a mute... Thanks!
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