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Retired in retirement.
Life's ups and downs.
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (181 votes) 
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Retired
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July 15, 2022 - 3:15 am
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Hi,

I hadn't realized how difficult it was going to be to learn to play a violin; it seems everything possible is stopping me; now I've gone deaf in my right ear and putting drops in; I'm still practicing playing the violin but now it sounds very strange indeed.

The Meris Enzo is fun to play around with and so easy to connect up and use; I've already done the shopping and home by 7:30 leaving me free to spend time in the studio but now I can get into the studio my ear is annoying me although it's not going to stop me.

Since fitting the pickup to my violin and clamping the socket into place the violin sounds different but still nice; it's quieter and softer.

Kind regards, Colin.

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Gordon Shumway
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July 15, 2022 - 3:54 am
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I hope it's only earwax, Colin.

Andrew

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Hi,

Many thanks Andrew for your concern; my ear has been playing up for a few days; all day yesterday and part of this morning I was deaf again in my right ear but it kept popping then popping back to being deaf; around dinnertime it finally cleared and as I type I'm fine; it's been incredibly annoying but the drops cleared a lot of wax out but I think carrying on using the drops then were the reason the deafness was prolonged; I used too much drops but it was a new experience for me and I flooded my ear so now the tides gone out I'm happy and can get cracking in the studio.

I feel a violin practice coming on.

Kind regards, Colin.

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July 27, 2022 - 7:43 am
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Hi,

Just a quick update. I'm still very busy working on jobs around home but I make a point of practicing playing my violins for at least an hour in the evening every day.

My wonderful wife has been spoiling me again this time treating me to a Yamaha YEV violin which is due to arrive very soon.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/yama.....violin.htm

I spent hours browsing the web and YouTube and think I've chosen a really good electric violin for the money; it's highly rated and I'm looking forward to winter when I can settle down with all my violins; I'm as keen as ever learning to play but often very tired at the end of the day due to heavy exterior jobs I carry out; I'm currently replacing a dangerous steep garden path with steps and this job is nearing completion with just side concrete panels to add also a safety hand rail then fingers crossed I can play my violins without constantly feeling worn out; I'm 75 next month and the Yamaha is an early birthday prezzie.

Concrete-panels_0001_01-1.JPGImage Enlarger

Concrete-panels_0002_01-1.JPGImage Enlarger

Four of the eight concrete side panels I'm making for the new steps; a safety hand rail will complete the job then I'm free of heavy work.

Garden-steps_0004-1.JPGImage Enlarger

I installed this pathway in order to drag the heavy petrol rotavator up the garden but I've now got a lighter rotavator and made a second garden hut up the garden.July-2022_0001.JPGImage Enlarger

News steps just installed needing finishing off. There's always work to be done around the bungalow and gardens.

Kind regards, Colin.

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Mouse
July 27, 2022 - 7:59 am
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Nice work.

You are going to have a lot of fun with your violin. 

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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August 1, 2022 - 10:10 am
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Hi,

Many thanks @Mouse  The new Yamaha violin arrived about an hour ago and I've set the bridge and strings but now need to tune it once I get into the studio. This violin is a beauty and a work of art; I'm looking forward to years of enjoyment playing it; as a novice I found setting it up very easy but on YouTube I've watched videos stating the bridge as supplied with these could be too high but I'll see how I get on with it.

I've been working flat out in order to get on top of all the jobs around home and gardens; once these are sorted then perhaps I can settle down to some serious violin practices; I enjoyed two sessions yesterday and I'll be in the studio again this evening; I'm keen to try the new violin and listen to what it sounds like in real life in my studio.

Being a homeowner is demanding of time; I was up at 6:00 this morning and after visiting two supermarkets strimmed both the top and middle wildflower meadows then I moved heavy machines to clear access to my Union Graduate wood turning lathe which is being collected tomorrow afternoon; I'm saddened to part with this lathe but now aged 74 it's time I settled down a bit to embrace violins as an hobby; I'm tired out from a lifetimes hard work.

1st-Aug-2022_0001.JPGImage Enlarger1st-Aug-2022_0003.JPGImage Enlarger

1st-Aug-2022_0004.JPGImage Enlarger

Rare very hot sun destroyed the meadow this year; last year it was heavy rain driven by high wind which destroyed it.

Kind regards, Colin.

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August 5, 2022 - 6:07 am
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Hi,

At last caught up and time to spend in the studio; yesterday I enjoyed two practice sessions but with a difference. My wonderful wife has treated me to a lovely brand new Yamaha YEV-104NT electric violin.

Setting this YEV up was easy with the bridge and strings to sort out; I used my electronic tuner for tuning but wonder if this is correct although it got it up and running. Connecting it directly to my Laney LX20R amp it sounds very strange indeed totally unlike what it sounds like on YouTube videos; it sounds dull and flat. Connecting it to my powered monitors was a challenge because I couldn't hear it then I added my Beringer interface and after lots of playing around with cables and connections it now plays through the monitors; I then ran out of time.

Watching lots of YouTube videos I see the YEV being played through Yamaha THR amplifiers; this morning through eBay I've bought a Yamaha THR 10 amplifier so I'm keen to hear what it sounds like through this amp once it arrives; I also need to play around with the tuning; the strings are the supplied strings. I don't expect it to sound like my German acoustic vilolin but I do want it to sound as I hear it on YouTube.

The Laney amp is quiet when switched on but as soon as I plug just a cable into the guitar socket it puts out hum which annoys and the hum remains during playing; perhaps the new amp will be much better; its all so new to me I'm still on a steep learning curve. The new Meris Enzo is fun to play around with. So much new kit to play with all at once but this is retirement and after a lifetime of hard work I'm determined now to have a bit of time to call my own. Winter will soon be upon us and I'm now set up in the studio so with all outside maintenance carried out on the bungalow and in the gardens winter this year I'm looking forward to; I don't even care about energy price rises I'm going to be snug and warm in my well lit and heated studio cutting me off from the world's problems letting me enjoy a bit of peace for a change.

I'm as keen as ever to play Lara's Theme making slow but positive progress. thumbs-up

Kind regards, Colin.

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August 5, 2022 - 8:18 am
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If it sounds dull your bridge may not be placed correctly, as for the hum, I know it sounds obvious but is your cable ok, or pushed straight into the amp and the fiddle, if its not fully in it will buzz. Some amps do buzz though, which is oneof the reasons I use the roland cube and the alligator which I have, the cube is an excellent little amp.

Is there some kind of treble control, which is turned down? I am not familiar with leccy fiddles.

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Gordon Shumway
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August 5, 2022 - 8:38 am
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Err, the THR5 is 10W and the THR10 is 5W? Makes sense, not!

Andrew

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August 5, 2022 - 12:02 pm
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Hi,

Many thanks @stringy I'll double check the cable connectors but the cables are all brand new and I'm sure I push them as far as they will go into the sockets.It's highly likely the bridge could be at fault; I've located it vertically directly above the hole and think it's the correct way round but everything needs at least double checking; excellent suggestions though and easily checked; if I get stuck I have a local luthier to sort such problems out and tune it for about £30 which might be money well spent.

On a very cheap used "Rainbow" violin I bought with only two strings I bought a set of Hidersine strings at £20 and fitted these; I attached the electronic tuner and from slack strings increased tension until they were in tune but this also sounded pretty dead so out of interest I tightened the strings a bit more and watched as each note appeared until the correct note was reached and suddenly it sounded much brighter but I'm loathe to mess around with this much more expensive violin. It's brand new so I expect it to sound different until it settles in and is fully adjusted; I confess it could well be down to my ignorance and I'll play around with it more; I keep running out of studio time but this weekend so far I'm free.

I'm used to vintage valve radio's humming but I used to cure this by prodding around with a 0.1UF capacitor.

There's a row of controls on the amp and the back of the violin has a volume control so more to play around with.

I've not heard of the Roland cube previously so I'll be nosy and browse the web; I'm sure the Yamaha amp will be perfect because these are very highly rated on the web and YouTube.

Thanks @Gordon Shumway for your interesting reply; here are the details of the Yamaha amp I bought this morning stating it's 20W? This could relate to power input though.

Yamaha-amp..JPGImage Enlarger

I hope you can read it.

Once the amp arrives I can fully inspect it but as you say if the two amps you mention are backways around regarding output it doesn't make sense at all.

I'll update shortly because there's so much going on at once in the studio setting it up as a novice.

Thanks again.

Kind regards, Colin.

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Gordon Shumway
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August 5, 2022 - 12:21 pm
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Retired said
 here are the details of the Yamaha amp I bought this morning stating it's 20W?

I know, I saw it on Amazon - it's the new model 10II - the old model 10 (5W) seems to be obsolete.

Andrew

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Hi,

Thanks Andrew. I'm sure the THR10 as you say are now the old obsolete model because I couldn't find a new one listed anywhere. I found a number of THR5 for sale on eBay but I fancied the THR10 hence bought one and looking at its spec it's the modern updated one. I'll be pleased when I've got everything set up then I can concentrate on learning to play a violin. This THR I've bought though has a differenrt style cabinet to the new modern ones I see?

Kind regards, Colin.

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August 5, 2022 - 2:39 pm
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Hi,

A quick update after playing with the Yamaha for an hour. The problem proved to be strings not tightened enough; my electronic tuner was showing all strings in tune but they seemed rather slack so I took a deep breath and started to tighten each in turn whilst watching the tuner; the "E" string still doesn't sound sharp enough and I'm a bit timid of breaking it but next session I'll do as I've done with the other strings and keep tightening until E reads again. Putting all this tension on the strings made the violin body creak a bit and as I played the strings dropped out of tune no doubt due to being brand new so will need regular adjusting until they settle in but I'm delighted to have reached this far and I've been practicing "Lara's Theme" on it.

Kind regards, Colin.

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Gordon Shumway
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August 5, 2022 - 3:31 pm
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Were the strings all an octave flat?

Andrew

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Hi,

Thanks for asking Andrew. Still very much a novice I don't understand an octave flat but I'm pretty sure this could be the case because all the strings were flat and after tightening three of them the violin suddenly burst into life; last evening I was timid of tightening the "E" string more not wanting to break it but as I did with the others I'll gently tighten it against the tuner. I've so much to learn and when I initially adjusted the strings watching the tuner getting them exactly in tune as I say they were dead flat and dull; I expected at this stage the strings to be correctly tensioned and in tune but I had to tension them more. I'll update later today.

I keep learning a bit more though each day. thumbs-up

Kind regards, Colin.

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August 6, 2022 - 5:19 am
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Hi,

This new Yamaha YEV is out of this world; a truly wonderful violin to own and play. Troubles are over and it sounds superb even through the Laney guitar amp.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octave

To quote from the link;

"In Western music notation, notes separated by an octave (or multiple octaves) have the same letter name and are of the same pitch class."

You were bang on Andrew; thanks once again I'm learning a lot in short time; I just need pointing in the right direction more than willing to do some homework; I've just been into the studio and tightened the "E" string; WOW what a difference as it now sings with great clarity. I'm over the moon with delight.

What I've learned in setting up this new Yamaha YEV and for other novices who haven't strung a violin from scratch. The bridge and strings are supplied loose with these violins; it's an easy job to align the bridge directly above the hole and engage each string in its correct notches.

I attached my electronic tuner to one of the pegs and switched it on;I removed all the slack from each string ensuring the bridge remained in correct position then starting with the "A" string I watched the tuner as I tightened the string until it was tuned to "A" I then did the same with the other three strings tuning as required. I checked the bridge again and had to reajust the strings a number of times until all strings were in tune.

At this point I thought I'd done a fair job until I tried playing the violin only to be hugely disappointed; it sounded dead flat and dull on all strings leaving me puzzled; connecting it to the amplifier only amplified the flatness hence not wanted to break anything I posted on here for advice and information which I was most grateful to receive.

I knew the problem would be my ignorance in tuning a violin from scratch and not my violin or amplifier. It sounded awful and I wasn't at all happy unsure how to rectify the problem.

I've already mentioned I thought the strings to be rather slack but they showed perfectly in tune which puzzled me the most. Now with hindsight and you Andrew kindly mentioning an octave flat I didn't understand about octaves but I did understand roughly what you meant. For other novices please don't get caught out the way I was caught out thinking because the strings were in tune they were fine; yes Andrew an octave flat so tightening the strings up an octave gave life to the violin and it sure does sing and sounds beautiful and this is only the start; the Laney amp has just basic controls but the Yamaha amp I've bought and await delivery of will really bring a new dimension to this already lovely violin; I'm just so keen to try everything at once and to experiment.

I've not lost track of my ultimate dream to learn to play "Lara's Theme" I've just been playing the section of it I already know on this Yamaha; once I get everything set up in the studio I'm sure I'll then settle down and make rapid progress.

As usual I'm rambling on but I'm like an infant taking its first steps into an whole new interesting world. By posting this thread I've learned a great deal more and now I'm confident of setting up and tuning a violin; on YouTube I've seen these Yamaha YEV bridges described as a bit too high and can be adjusted lower; one video showing how to do this carefully using a belt sander; the violin is nicely set up as it already is for me and I don't want to mess around with it; I'm keen to learn to play it but all information and knowledge is useful.

I hope my ramblings are of use to other novices similar to me on a steep learning curve.

Kind regards, Colin.

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Gordon Shumway
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August 6, 2022 - 5:34 am
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Retired said
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octave

To quote from the link;

"In Western music notation, notes separated by an octave (or multiple octaves) have the same letter name and are of the same pitch class." 

Emily, please note - this, not icebergs, is music theory for newbies!kiss

Colin, do you not own a keyboard?

If not, use an online virtual one and look at how many A's there are, and which specific one is the A on a violin. The rest involves using your ears, until tuners tell you frequencies.

I looked at the YEV105 for a while, but its price has now doubled, so at the moment I have bookmarked the NS-WAV instead, but I have a Hidersine which will do me, unless I'm ever invited onto a stage (a friend has played bass at Cropredy), in which case I'll consider upgrading.

Andrew

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Hi,

Thanks Andrew; yes I have a mini Yamaha keyboard which I could use as you describe also I've found a few online violin tuners; all I need is time. This morning I switched everything on in the studio and no sooner was I seated playing my new YEV my ordered timber arrived; I'm working like mad to get all the outside jobs completed before winter hits us but it's hugely frustrating also trying to get violin practice time; wherever I am I should be elsewhere; I'm now installing fence posts with cross rails and handrails having just knocked off for a mug of tea hence a few minutes to pop onto the forum.

Interestingly I've just been browsing Thomann looking at electric violin prices; my Yamaha YEV -104NT cost £699. the NS - WAV in gloss black costs £611 and the one you'd like the YEV - 105NT costs £759 so at the moment the NS-WAV is cheapest but if you really would like the YEV-105 it might be worth stretching a bit because you might regret not going for it; I wanted the 4 string 104NT having watched lots of YouTube videos where a guy on one of the videos owning a violin shop states these 104NT's are his top seller and they are liked a lot on YouTube by owners.

I've played my 104NT very little but I think it's wonderful and I've not yet played around with amp settings etc although once I complete this ciurrent outside project I want to quit all this hard graft and settle down in the studio. I'm fed up of being constantly tired and worn out by hard work; there's been no let up living here over the last 35 years; enough is enough; I've been retired 21 years and am working as hard as ever but with no time off; time in my life now for a change of pace; I'm 75 this month and still climbing trees and mixing concrete at the end of the day when I do have a bit of time I'm too tired to wander into the studio. Winter will soon be upon us then I'll be forced to ease off. Mug of tea now enjoyed so back to grafting in the hot sunshine.

Treat yourself Andrew to the violin you really would like most; once you've got it the cost will fade. Good luck.

Kind regards, Colin.

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Gordon Shumway
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Retired said
  the one you'd like the YEV - 105NT costs £759 so at the moment the NS-WAV is cheapest but if you really would like the YEV-105 it might be worth stretching a bit 

  

Originally the YEV105 was £700 on Amazon. Currently it's £1,400.

Clearly I must look further afield. Brexit has made German companies like Thomann loath to deal with the UK. Their p&p can be prohibitive.

Andrew

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Hi,

https://www.thomann.de/gb/yama.....violin.htm

I don't have an Amazon account Andrew but I do buy from Thomann without absolutely no hassles and the items arrive in a few days; here the 105 is post free at a good price.

I also buy with confidence from Gear4music;

https://www.gear4music.com/Woo.....t-POD/3VR0

Out of stock at gear4music for the package including amp but due back in stock shortly? It's worth browsing both companies before deciding.

Yes it pays to shop around I got caught out badly with my new Meris Enzo synth.

I'm no expert when it comes to buying musical instruments but I do spend time browsing the web for best deals.

Looking on eBay at these violins it's best to buy new because there's little difference in price.

Now I've got my Yamaha violin & Yamaha amp I'm all set up and it's unlikely I'll be looking for another violin or amp.

Good luck.

Kind regards, Colin.

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