Violin Forum/Message Board

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

Got another video of the carbon violin here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM1feF2UTTI
sorry about the quality will get better video of it on saturday night comments views would be good its been 6 months work to get this far

Dave Chandler · Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 9:26 pm Post subject: Carbon fiber violin

It might be worth your while to find a local recording studio, you can usually rent by the hour and they'll provide technician to make the recording.
_________________
Dave in the Blue Ridge
Southern Violin Association

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm" Winston Churchill

"I took the road less travelled, and now I don't know where I am." Marco Polo

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

Niall McClean played it at a gig last night got a vid but it was very dark and I think Iwas to close to the speakers but here it is anyway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMl9TNK-mzk

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

Meanwhile I have been talking to these people
http://www.axiscomposites.co.uk/ about its commercialisation hopefully if things go well i,ll be making these soon and everybody can have one, that would be nice, would you folks buy one at under 2000, out of the 8 players that have tried it they all love it and no negative comments, an orchestral player is borrowing it next and taking it to play in London to see how well it blends in fingers crossed it gets a good reception.

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

the carbon violin is In England being accessed by a expert player builder restorer who is going to help me make fine adjustments to get the best possible, as I am an aerospace engineer and not musical his comments will mean more to you people,
"Hi Steve:

I'll assess everything I can think of! and get reactions from anyone who has a play or a listen to it.

The G string with it's Helmholtz resonance (about C# I think) is wonderful for slow playing, but is so strong that it loses individual fast ernotes on the G: the Bach E major Partita low notes become indistinct. This only applies to the G and lower notes (E falt, F) on the D string. I'll have to think about how we might tame the Helmholtz a bit!

The A string is clear, and the E string is even better - maybe the best I've ever played: they play themselves. So easy to play fast runs."

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

Apart from a little change, do not want to alter to much as its really good as is, the moulds are being remade to perfect cosmetic finish, so should be making these in a month or so time. This is what Jonathan added after he has had it for a week.

The violin as it stands is saleable now: it really does what it says on the box - it looks and sounds like a good traditional violin, but in sexy Carbon-Fibre.

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

While the violin was away in England being accessed with an expert who is going to help make a few small changes he took some nice images which I have put up on the website. www.carbonviolin.co.uk

Thomas Southern · Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 10:52 pm Post subject:

Now you're mixing numerous interests of mine into one package. What techniques were used to make the violin? Was this a wet layup or pre-preg? Was it vacuum bagged or autoclaved? Are there any cores in the plates? Are the plates graduated or uniform thickness? I'm assuming that the neck is hollow, what is its cross section U shaped or D shaped?

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

You can see some of the construction here

http://img816.imageshack.us/g/picture032e.jpg/

Wet layup, vacuum bag and cured at 60 degrees, no cores in plates but they are graduated, the violin maker who is doing final fitting and setup asked for a wood insert in the neck so wood glue could be used to fix fingerboard for easy removal if or when required. hope this highlights the process.

Dave Chandler · Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 12:09 am Post subject: carbon fiber fiddle

I still don't get it -- so let me wax philosophical here for a moment and pose some questions you may be able to answer.

Will each be a work of high craftsmanship? Will each be a unique work of art with a unique voice? Will each one become something that will mature and appreciate with age? OR, will you be the Ford of Fiddles? Ford became rich and famous, he put a car in every driveway, a truck on every farm. In a way, this could be a good thing.

To some (me for instance), making a violin is the pursuit of perfection -- not simple repetition, or mass production. If each one isn't unique, AND better than the last, why bother?
_________________
Dave in the Blue Ridge
Southern Violin Association

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm" Winston Churchill

"I took the road less travelled, and now I don't know where I am." Marco Polo

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

I was offered a manufacture option but turned it down, I will make each one by hand I have set a high target as to sound quality and finish but by doing each one there will be slight differences in resin content, lay up and or curing rates which will give each one its own voice. People will either love it or hate it because its different, but the big bonus is as a violin its indestructible (well very strong) and is not effected by hot, cold weather and does not not mind getting wet or very dry. I had no hesitation putting it in a cardboard box and posting it to England (trusting the postal service would handle with care) So it travels well without the worry of damage. Again not for everyone but some people will appreciate these features.