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Concert Octave Violin

Turning the Concert into an Octave Violin

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Uzi

Georgia

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April 16, 2014 - 9:07 pm

Member Since: January 19, 2014

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Now that I have the Soloist, the idea occurred to me, that it might be possible to put octave strings on the Concert for a different sound -- I'd have to rename it the Convert of course. What would be involved, are the strings thicker, requiring changes to the nut and bridge? Is the string tension on octave strings about the same? Would it sound good? Thoughts?

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Oliver

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April 16, 2014 - 10:18 pm

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On my octave adventure I simply had to lower the "G" string on both bridge and nut. They were really riding on top in both cases. Of course, I would have had to rework all the string grooves if I intended a permanent change. I did not consider the nut mod to be reversible but I was using a sacrificial violin.

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

Fiddlerman

Fort Lauderdale

April 17, 2014 - 7:16 am

Member Since: September 26, 2010

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I've never tried such a modification but you need to be careful when lowering the nut for this conversion. Lower thicker strings such as the octave strings vibrate much wider and slower which runs the risk for hitting the fingerboard. This is easy enough to solve by scooping the fingerboard until it doesn't touch anymore but if you later try to go back to a normal violin you'll have that greater distance to deal with.
Having said this, we sell nuts and fingerboards. :-)