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Making Stringed Instruments
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gStretch

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August 30, 2011 - 8:04 pm
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Does anyone here make, or have you tried to make a stringed instrument?  I've been researching this because I wanted to make a violin like instrument from balsa wood. 

-g

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pky
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August 31, 2011 - 1:48 am
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check out the six foot violin under violin or breakroom

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Huey142
Melaka,Malaysia

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August 31, 2011 - 3:13 am
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I've never tried and don't plan to try. But here's a video that shows how violins are made. Its fascinating. *-*

 

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
August 31, 2011 - 3:37 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

gStretch said:

Does anyone here make, or have you tried to make a stringed instrument?  I've been researching this because I wanted to make a violin like instrument from balsa wood. 

-g

CatMcCall has made one. Here is the link to that topic.

Balsa wood would most likely be too weak to endure the pressure of the strings tuned as they are on todays fiddles. You may get it to work if you made a solid fiddle. If you want to make a fiddle and are not set on using balsa wood, there are kits to be bought making the job much easier. 

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
August 31, 2011 - 3:41 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
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LOL, Sorry, I was apparently wrong. Just read your other post with a link to the guy playing the balsa wood fiddle.

For those of you who haven't seen it. /forum/breakroom/balsa-violins/#p4622

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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gStretch

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August 31, 2011 - 9:16 pm
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haha yeah thats what i'm thinking (that it would break under string tension) but that guy made it work. 

if i ever make it i'll post some pictures.

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Sofia Leo
Springfield, Oregon

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September 1, 2011 - 12:30 am
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gStretch said:

haha yeah thats what i'm thinking (that it would break under string tension) but that guy made it work. 

if i ever make it i'll post some pictures.

Actually, I believe balsa is quite strong under tension (or is it compression?)

 

Check out this guy on YouTube - he has been making fiddles out of alternative materials for awhile now. I first saw his projects on the FiddleForum.

Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 1, 2011 - 2:13 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
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There must be extra support under the belly. I have heard that there is 50 pounds of pressure under the bridge.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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myguitarnow
Laguna Beach

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September 1, 2011 - 2:47 am
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Graphite is used for support. I got to try (or had to) try a couple guitars made with balsa. It's just not worth the time to me for an instrument that will not last. Just my opinion… 

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David Burns
Winfield, Missouri

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September 1, 2011 - 6:31 am
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The tv show "How It's Made" is one of my favorites. I cannot do anything else when it is on. I think I even zone out and begin to drool. It is hypnotizing to me. I am held in a spell watching it. The sound track and the narration just nukes my brain. I don't care if I am watching how crayons are made, I cannot look away. My kids think it is a riot. 

 

Dave

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 1, 2011 - 12:00 pm
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I've never seen it. Got to check it out. Thanks for the tip David.smile

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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SaraO
Michigan

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September 1, 2011 - 1:54 pm
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Yep. How it's made is fascinating. I just watched one where they made an electric violin.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 1, 2011 - 5:23 pm
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Tried to watch one episode online from Sweden now. Unfortunately it didn't work. Not available for this area. LOL, You have to live in America. devil-violin

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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gStretch

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September 1, 2011 - 7:54 pm
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are you on youtube or some other video player?

-g

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 2, 2011 - 6:51 am
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gStretch said:

are you on youtube or some other video player?

-g

Are you refering to someone in particular or the show "How It's Made"?

If you are referring to me, I always upload my tutorials on YouTube and post the links here.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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David Burns
Winfield, Missouri

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September 2, 2011 - 10:41 am
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Fiddlerman said:

Tried to watch one episode online from Sweden now. Unfortunately it didn't work. Not available for this area. LOL, You have to live in America. devil-violin

I think the show is made in Cananda and it seems to be geared towards kids, but they have my number! I feel I am the target audience!

Dave

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pky
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September 2, 2011 - 4:46 pm
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I think the video "how a violin is made" that was posted by Huey is one of the "How it is made" and Huey lives in Malaysia. I went on Youtube and did a search on how a violin is made, then there were a bunch other things popped up.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 2, 2011 - 6:22 pm
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Well YouTube is not a problem by I tried to see it on the main web site.

http://science.discovery.com/t.....-its-made/

I'll surely be able to watch it in a week when I get back to the states.note

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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gStretch

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September 2, 2011 - 7:27 pm
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i mean are you trying to watch it on youtube or another player. sometimes you cant watch some videos in some countries on youtube.

-g

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 3, 2011 - 2:59 am
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I tried to watch it directly from the above posted site, (check post #18 here).

I am sure that it is because of licensing. NP, I'll be heading back to the states at the end of this week. Plus if I had plenty of free time I could check it out via YouTube.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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