Violin Forum/Message Board

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

Hello everyone my name is Stephen, I am in the process of making a Carbon fibre violin. I am an Aerospace engineer and know all about carbon fibre but as I know little about violins I am being helped in this area by Peter Boardman http://www.peterboardmanviolinmaker.co.uk/
The making of the molds and construction of the violin will be easy for me but it will take a few prototypes to get the tonal values to Peters satifaction, once complete I hope to sell these, as I work full time and this is a part time project I will only make a few to start and then make to order. I have the top plate finished and will have the bottom plate, sides and neck (in one piece) complete next week. I will upload images of the top plate and the rest when complete. If you are interested in this project email and let me know.
mactel@mactel.idps.co.uk

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

one pic here will post more later

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

you can read all the details and more pics here
http://www.fiddleforum.com/fiddleforum/index.php?PHPSESSID=13f42701bf2db0cf8a310dbfb747ac68&topic=32434.0

Dave Chandler · Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 1:41 pm Post subject: Carbon fiber violin

Why use carbon fiber? Why not just molded plastic? Not sure I get it, but I'm REALLY curious to hear if it has any tone AT ALL.

Seriously, What's the philosophy behind your effort? Why choose carbon fiber?
_________________
Dave in the Blue Ridge
Southern Violin Association

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm" Winston Churchill

"I took the road less travelled, and now I don't know where I am." Marco Polo

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

main reason impervious to weather, heat and humidity and is just about indestructible in the event of accidents.

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

Got a phone call for Peter, its ready and he says its very playable, sounds promising (excuse the pun) gonna go a video it being played hope to have a clip on youtube soon.

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

Got a video of it being played when I picked it up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIwahwmkh-c

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

I have uploaded all the pica here
http://img816.imageshack.us/g/picture032e.jpg/

Dave Chandler · Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 12:37 pm Post subject: Carbon fiber Violin

I must say, it has a rather attractive appearance, love the stripe effect and the deep black, very very attractive. I watched the recording, looked like a tremendous lot of effort by the violinist to produce sound. The recording doesn't really provide much information as to the quality of the sound, sounds rather rough and colorless, but again that could be the recording. Would love to hear this thing play something tender and sweet, and with a bit higher quality recording. I'll be watching for more on this.

What kind of strings would you use on this?

I have to admit being biased toward traditional wood, one of a kind, hand-crafted. I bought a German-made carbon fiber bow for about $350, and its equal in feel and sound to a $10 pernambuco bow that I bought on ebay. Over the couple years I've owned the fiber bow, I find myself playing with the wood bow, not sure why, just has become my preference for no really apparent reason.
_________________
Dave in the Blue Ridge
Southern Violin Association

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm" Winston Churchill

"I took the road less travelled, and now I don't know where I am." Marco Polo

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

I do appreciate comments positive or negative it may well need some adjustments on next model but as its says on you tube the mic was tiny on a handycam then its compressed for internet and played on pc speakers bear this in mind, I will try and get better recording gear and possibily an mp3 download that could be played on a hi fi system.

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

Trying to get more local players (that dont mind being recorded, there not keen to go on youtube) to get there opinion on the sound and let others hear more of it in different styles, anybody on the forum from Northern Ireland I,ll bring it to you and you can try it in private or on camera, email me, what do you guys think, rubbish great just ok let me know its only the prototype and might need a bit more work before I start making them.

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

My friend is doing a website so I can upload all the pics and information about the prototype the build so far and any progression.
http://www.carbonviolin.co.uk/

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

I asked Peter what strings he used on final setup, they are evah pirazzi by pirastro

smacmax · Junior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

Naill McClean http://www.niallmcclean.com/ a well known Irish violin player had a go on the carbon violin and thought it was amazing, so good that hes gonna play it this weekend at a local gig in Peir 36 in Donaghadee. I got a little vid of him tonight playing and will upload tomoorow. I will video some of the playing on saturday night, its first outing in public.