Violin Forum/Message Board

DonLeister · Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 8:37 am Post subject:

You heard right. Good morning ( Smile

Janito · Member Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 114 Location: USA

Ken Pollard · Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 9:20 am Post subject:

Thanks, Craig. The building did go fairly smoothly. Just less than a month from drawing the plans to stringing it up. I intentionally tried not to worry about what I was doing and just make the darn thing.

Plenty of rough spots in the result by the way. Also a few things I’ve wanted to try on a full-size violin but haven’t yet. For example, I didn’t varnish inside the peg box or the f-holes, just left the wood raw. But it plays, and I’ll have the chance to see whether such a thing is worthwhile or not.

I had a couple of full-sized plates I had given up on, so used those for this pochette. Still have half a top left that will work for another.

As to thickness of plates, I decided to make the top about 2 or 2-1/2 mm, plus or minus. There really wasn’t a lot of room to do much of anything fancy. I think the back was a little thicker, in most spots. I didn’t weigh anything, though I measured the tap tones as somewhere between R-flat and R-sharp, depending on whether I was using my left ear or my right.

Arching, just the usual long arch that I use on full-size fiddles, then round it transversely out to the edges. That turned out to be problematic, as those rounded to the edge plates are hard to clamp -- something I knew from working on those darn Rubat(sp?) fiddles that come along every once in a while, but hadn’t thought much about in new making. Now I know.

No purfling or corners, which is a real time saver!

And I can say I didn’t even really varnish the darn thing. Used some of Joe Robson’s ground treatment, a bare touch of color, and amber shellac. It being not a real violin allows for some freedom. My wife and I are off for a trip here soon, so I wanted it in playing order quick.

Don, I’m sorry we won’t get to play tunes together this June in Claremont, before and after beer. Maybe next year, time and finances willing.

DonLeister · Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 8:32 pm Post subject:

Ken I would love to be there again this year. Yup, maybe next year.
Hope you have a great trip!

Ken Pollard · Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 9:10 pm Post subject:

Today I flew from Boise to Orlando, Florida. Family vacation ( though not to Disney Whirled). Took the pochette in a half sized case, the 1/4 size being just a little too snug. Didn't even warrant comment through the TSA lines. Fit very nicely in the overhead compartments.

Don, I thought you'd be at Claremont and I wouldn't. But sounds like you won't be there, either. Maybe next year.

Someday maybe you can make Weiser, or better, I can come to Clifftop.

DonLeister · Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 8:35 am Post subject:

Ken, you are right, I won't make it to Claremont this year. I'm having trouble convincing the family that this would be the right kind of vacation for all of us. It is such a blast! (for myself)

Weiser sounds fun, I would love to go.

SooT · Member Joined: 18 May 2009 Posts: 74 Location: Devon, UK

Ken Pollard · Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:40 pm Post subject:

I've started a second pochette, same design, but with a few modifications.

It's not finished.

We have the shop set up at the National Old-time Fiddlers Contest in Weiser, Idaho, and I have a little 'science fair' display of the pochettes.

The second pochette, still in pieces next to the case, has an intergral center bar and will have no soundpost. Don't know what difference it will make. I'm really interested to see what happens. Should have it together in a couple weeks after I'm back at my usual bench.

The completed pochette has been played by several fiddlers, some quite good, and it generates all sorts of smiles and such. But no sales. So far.

I look at it as a good experiment, understanding what generates sound, and I really enjoyed it as a travel fiddle, even learning a couple of new tunes.

But I think the general buying public is still looking for a violin sound out of something that is not a violin. In my book, they're missing the point. But, maybe it's just me who's out of step.

In any event, they're fun and easy to mess around with.

Ken Pollard · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 11:53 am Post subject:

Got the finish on the second pochette, and will let it cure for a while before stringing it up. A few photos for comparison. Main differences outside are that the back of the second pochette, rather than being spare tonewood I had lying about, is from a piece of 'figured' maple I bought at the local Woodcraft store.

Normal sized violin neck and fingerboard at top for size comparison.

Simple Bullseye shellac finish, though I have a very thin wipe of Ivory black on the second one. I like the looks better, and will practice that technique more.

I also altered the scroll/pegbox a little.

SooT · Member Joined: 18 May 2009 Posts: 74 Location: Devon, UK

I like the colour better on the new one, and the scroll/neck is way better esthetically, doesn't look as clunky as the first one. Wish we were close so Sally could play it. Way to go Ken. Smile

Ken Pollard · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 11:09 am Post subject:

Thanks, Sue.

Sally probably wouldn't like it, being a musician and all. Smile

It sounds ok, but it's not a violin, just something to diddle around on. The main thing is it's small, easy to pack around, and sorta works like a violin. I do plan to get some sort of video w/audio made one of these days. I am waiting now to string up the second one, to hear the difference. The first has a bassbar and soundpost, while the second has an integral centerbar and no soundpost. Dunno what to expect.

SooT · Member Joined: 18 May 2009 Posts: 74 Location: Devon, UK

Ken the great experimenter. Would love to hear both being played and compared. Watching you progress with baited breath, well, Kira and Pebbles are. Laughing

Ken Pollard · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 12:34 pm Post subject:

My daughter took a photo of me playing the first pochette last weekend. We were up in the Stanley Basin, between the White Cloud Mountains and the Sawtooths. I think it shows a nice size comparison and how the darn thing is held.

And here was the view of the Sawtooths the following morning; another shot by my daughter.

It was nice getting out of the hot valley into the mountains.

ctviolin · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 1:25 pm Post subject:

Absolutely gorgeous country.

You lucky dog.

(Now, that is a cup of kool-aid sitting next to you, correct?) Looks like fun, playing that pochette. Of course, you're playing etudes and classical scales only, right?

Looks like life is good. Tents make me start to slobber and drool in anticipation of "roughing it" for a while!...

ct
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