Fiddle talk - VIOLIN DISCUSSION FORUM - Playing the violin

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Violin Strings

Why you should move to Mongolia.

Topic Rating: 5 (1 votes)

Guest

Guests

September 29, 2012 - 9:19 am

We have recently see some exotic violin type instruments on this forum but a little research uncovered some interesting facts about a 2-string violin as made/played in Mongolia.

The unique aspect is the availability of horsehair in Mongolia. Both a white and harsher black variety which require frequent brushing for best performance.

Also, the preferred rosin is from cedar wood (?)

Finally, the strings are also made from horsehair.

Note in YouTube clip how fat the string are.

With only 2 strings, string crossing can not be a big problem

Guest

Guests

September 29, 2012 - 2:30 pm

WOW,,, love that bluegrass sound. I'm making one . Dunno if Pierre sells horse hair string's though.

How cool are they ? dancing

Guest

Guests

September 29, 2012 - 4:18 pm

I think the only way to get authentic Mongolian horse hair may be to own the horse drooling

(or plead with Kevin for some good domestic stuff) violin-student

Guest

Guests

September 29, 2012 - 5:37 pm

That's exactly what I was going to say on this post,,, ask Kevin if he has any to spare.

I'm wondering if there is a up and down grain to the hair, if the part closest to the horse's butt goes to the tip end or the frog end.

Sure wish I had a horst, i'd be cuttin a hank off the tail and testing it.

Guest

Guests

September 29, 2012 - 8:24 pm

In the documentary I saw about Mongolia there were certain special horses simply out to pasture for tail hair purposes. The most prized was a pure white horse and there was some supernatural reason for that.

I have always been interested in horse hair ever since Glasser put out a bow with "plastic" hair ...... maybe in the 50's (?) It was horrible.

I bet there is extra special treatment/preparation for the Mongolian hair know only in that part of the world.

Guest

Guests

September 29, 2012 - 11:10 pm