Newbie Trying to Make a Choice
I think as a life-long guitar and ukulele player, the aesthetic appeal of an F style is hard to ignore. (A new look when I open the case.....like when I gasp every time I open my 5 year old Telecaster case!). I understand about the "bang for the buck" too. It occurred to me, what if they changed the shape of a violin and made it sort of rounded without the scroll, but it played played the same? it's hard to imagine anyone rushing out to buy one. I suppose eventually someone would, and down the road, the "bang for the buck" would factor in too!
Anyway, I'm excited to join your club and your cafe!
Re: Newbie Trying to Make a Choice
Violinists are far more conservative about aesthetics than mandolinists—you would lose your shirt.
A rounded body wouldn't work. The C-bouts of a violin, the ones that curve inward, are necessary so you can reach the strings with the bow. Without them, you would be hitting the edges all the time. You occasionally see a violin without the points, but it's rare. There have been a few designs other than scrolls used; lion's heads or people's heads mainly. They probably take more time and skill to carve than a scroll does. I have been told the scroll (or an alternative) is necessary for balance, but I don't know if that is true.
A few makers are bending the parameters. David Rivinius's violas are designed for ergonomic reasons. I love the way they look, but not everyone does. Anne Cole plays with tradition, and her instruments are lovely. All in all, though, there is far more variation in mandolin design.
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Re: Newbie Trying to Make a Choice
My main fiddles are completely pointless. :)
Most people, including fiddlers don't even notice that they are odd. I do like they way they sound for fiddling. They were all designed and made in 1915 and patented.
Re: Newbie Trying to Make a Choice
Well Jim, I ain't never those before! Very cool.:mandosmiley:
Re: Newbie Trying to Make a Choice
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Louise NM
Violinists are far more conservative about aesthetics than mandolinists—you would lose your shirt.
A rounded body wouldn't work. The C-bouts of a violin, the ones that curve inward, are necessary so you can reach the strings with the bow. Without them, you would be hitting the edges all the time. You occasionally see a violin without the points, but it's rare. There have been a few designs other than scrolls used; lion's heads or people's heads mainly. They probably take more time and skill to carve than a scroll does. I have been told the scroll (or an alternative) is necessary for balance, but I don't know if that is true.
A few makers are bending the parameters. David Rivinius's violas are designed for ergonomic reasons. I love the way they look, but not everyone does. Anne Cole plays with tradition, and her instruments are lovely. All in all, though, there is far more variation in mandolin design.
Thank you for this!!!
Re: Newbie Trying to Make a Choice
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jim Garber
My main fiddles are completely pointless. :)
Most people, including fiddlers don't even notice that they are odd. I do like they way they sound for fiddling. They were all designed and made in 1915 and patented.
WOW. Very cool and interesting. Thanks!
Re: Newbie Trying to Make a Choice
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jim Garber
My main fiddles are completely pointless. :)
Most people, including fiddlers don't even notice that they are odd. I do like they way they sound for fiddling. They were all designed and made in 1915 and patented.
Wow Jim, I sure like these. I am usually drawn to instruments that are a little out of the ordinary anyway, and these three are gorgeous. The dark one looks especially attractive to me. How difficult was it to come up with three of these rare gems? Thanks for showing us them!
Re: Newbie Trying to Make a Choice
Joshua Bell played a corner less Stradivarius violin early in his career.
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Re: Newbie Trying to Make a Choice
Here is one I made awhile back.....
Sounds great, I still have it.
Re: Newbie Trying to Make a Choice
You haven’t mentioned your budget, but if you are just starting out I would encourage you to go for playability and tone and you definitely can stretch it more on an A or flattop to get you going. And if you buy used and get a decent deal you can often get most of your money out when you trade up to something or towards the scroll. I promise if it doesn’t sound good, feel good, or play good when you open the case and see a scroll it probably won’t excite you too much regardless of what it looks like.
Re: Newbie Trying to Make a Choice
Sorry, did not mean to hijack the thread! Just buy an Eastman 315 and enjoy the start of the journey.
Re: Newbie Trying to Make a Choice
Quote:
Originally Posted by
paulcw16
It occurred to me, what if they changed the shape of a violin and made it sort of rounded without the scroll, but it played played the same? it's hard to imagine anyone rushing out to buy one...
You mean like this?
https://luisandclark.com/product/violin/
Looks (quite) like a violin, plays like one - but it's not fragile, you can play it in the rain or 95 degrees full sun, and you could probably stand on it. I have one - it just works (once the luthier sorted sound post and strings out), and it sounds great. They make cellos too, and they're good too. Someone willl probably make a similar mandolin soon (I hope...).
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Re: Newbie Trying to Make a Choice
Or perhaps a fiddle like this?Attachment 192163
Re: Newbie Trying to Make a Choice
Have a look round this site - Tim Phillips Violins in UK, he makes every non standard fiddle shape you can think of (and some mandolins):
https://www.timsviolins.co.uk/instruments/salvador/