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Fgayford
Junior Member
Joined: 21 Apr 2013
Posts: 13
Location: cambridge
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 Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 8:55 am Post subject: |
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| ctviolin wrote: | | R Mac wrote: |
Almost none of us will ever play a "first rate" instrument, and most will never own a "second rate" one. The vast majority of players are satisfied with (or at least resigned to playing) third or fourth rate fiddles.
To recognize perfection is important. To strive toward it and occasionally approach it is a beautiful thing. But, it would be a mistake to let perfection be the enemy of "pretty damn good".
Mac |
Well, I must agree here with the gist of what you're saying.
Still, even wooden violins of the past were made by individuals using whatever techniques that they used, and which EXACT techniques may simply no longer exist as such, or, perhaps were simply lost or hidden somewhere along the way. (?)
True - not true? Partly true? Ahh, who really cares, in the final analysis, what does it matter? What difference does it make? Then was then, and now is now.
And we're alive now. (if we're lucky - that is)
For realities sake - in this post - I'll rule out "magic" as an operative factor, as, even though the EXACT methodology used then, may well be gone, for whatever reason(s), apparently not to reappear any time soon...
... violins (made today) of whatever wood, by whoever, where ever, seem perhaps to be lacking in much or some of the "grace" and/or intrinsic GRAND tonal value, often attributed to those long gone makers and their techniques/instruments.
Which only makes me consider that the modern immersion into materials - ones that did not even exist as an idea not long ago, may well lead to violins with another (yet - equally acceptable) tone.
I believe that the idea is a valid idea, even if the product has not been introduced yet. As valid perhaps, as the idea that three hundred years ago a technology was standardized for violin construction - that we cannot really (or easily) duplicate today.
Who knows? We'll see. |
Does anyone know why the inside of a violin is never varnished or finished with the same coating as the out side? Would a shiny inside affect the sound in a bad way? It would seem to me to help protect the wood from moisture swelling if it were coated.
Thanks
Fred |
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kjb
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Joined: 06 Feb 2013
Posts: 385
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| Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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well not much of an answer and a good question, it does make sense, and I think that I recall some people have noted that glue sizing or ground has been used on the inside.
but I have not heard that anyone is doing that now? |
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L P Reedy
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Joined: 02 Apr 2009
Posts: 276
Location: Brevard, NC
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| Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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| I've done that, with a variety of coatings, for years. A fellow who had studied guitar-making with a German who also made fiddles told me that the maker had trouble with cracks forming in his violin tops during shipment to the US until he started coating the insides. I usually use a coat of thin shellac these days and haven't seen a downside. Maybe it doesn't help but doesn't seem to hurt. I've also done a few without inside coating and haven't had problems with them either, except my first one. |
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Fgayford
Junior Member
Joined: 21 Apr 2013
Posts: 13
Location: cambridge
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| Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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| kjb wrote: | well not much of an answer and a good question, it does make sense, and I think that I recall some people have noted that glue sizing or ground has been used on the inside.
but I have not heard that anyone is doing that now? |
I did find 2 people on you tube that licked the inside of very old open violins. (yes licked)
One said it was bitter the other salty. It was suggested that it was probably arsenic or some other bug killer. It was suggested they no longer lick.
Fred |
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Fgayford
Junior Member
Joined: 21 Apr 2013
Posts: 13
Location: cambridge
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| Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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| R Mac wrote: | I am sure that Michael is right, and that duplicating the acoustic nuances of the very finest violins will not be possible in graphite.
On the other hand, if graphite can be used to make a dependable, reproducible "second rate" violin that is impervious to humidity changes, this is still a laudable and excellent goal.
Almost none of us will ever play a "first rate" instrument, and most will never own a "second rate" one. The vast majority of players are satisfied with (or at least resigned to playing) third or fourth rate fiddles.
To recognize perfection is important. To strive toward it and occasionally approach it is a beautiful thing. But, it would be a mistake to let perfection be the enemy of "pretty damn good".
I look forward to seeing the folks who are working with graphite push it as far as they can. I hope to be pleasantly surprised.
Mac |
Hello everyone
I don't know where most of you guys are situated but there will be an opportunity for you to try out my first two carbon fiber violins.
June 28th & 29th will be the Open Fiddle & Stepdance Championships at the Tavistock & District Recreation Centre.
Look up Riedstra's Violin Shop at the event. They will have 2 of my Carbon Violin prototypes there open for anyone to give them a test drive.
These are in no way a finished work at this point and they each have a very different sound to them. Please leave your honest evaluations and opinions of the two instruments which would be a most appreciated feedback.
As I continue to develop the sound the physical look of the instruments will remain the same. It is a copy of a 1701 Strad. thus the name I have chosen for them is the CarbonStrad 1701
Hope many of you will get the chance to try them out.
Thanks
Fred |
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ctviolin
Super Member
Joined: 07 May 2009
Posts: 961
Location: Roswell
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| Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 7:56 am Post subject: |
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| Fgayford wrote: |
Hope many of you will get the chance to try them out.
Thanks
Fred |
Too bad I no longer travel - I'd love to pull a bow across these violins.
ct
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Canuck
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Joined: 15 Oct 2012
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:48 am Post subject: Carbon fibre violins |
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| My opportunity to try a carbon fibre violin came last night. I visited my favorite violin shop (100 kilometers from home) last evening after our group played at a concert. This shop carries a large inventory of new, used, vintage, and antique violins. I missed an opportunity to try a 1725 Italian one because I was enraptured by a violin of local manufacture which I simply could not put down! (Ever had that happen to you?) I asked about carbon fibre violins, and the proprietor indicated he had never carried them, and had no plans to even consider them! So still I wonder. I didn't buy the $ 4,500.00 violin I fell in love with. Right now, it is a race between two of us that tried that violin to come up with a deposit! |
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ctviolin
Super Member
Joined: 07 May 2009
Posts: 961
Location: Roswell
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 11:40 am Post subject: Re: Carbon fibre violins |
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| Canuck wrote: |
,,,because I was enraptured by a violin of local manufacture which I simply could not put down! (Ever had that happen to you?)
I didn't buy the $ 4,500.00 violin I fell in love with. Right now, it is a race between two of us that tried that violin to come up with a deposit!
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For a maker/seller I think it's a bit of a different dynamic - goal-wise.
I try many, many, different violins for various reasons - to fix them - to let people know what I think of them - to evaluate an approximate value, etc. And occasionally to buy for resale.
Whenever I run across a violin with a tone that I fall in love with - I don't want to buy it for myself (or even acquire it for myself) but - I see if it is available at a reasonable price, so that I can acquire it, and eventually sell it to a customer that I know will notice the tonal quality and HAVE to have it for themselves.
It's an interesting point about the violin business - from a "dealers" perspective.
I must assume that this is where the "profit margin" can really kick in somewhat for a dealer.
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