Violin Forum/Message Board

Thomas Southern · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:02 pm Post subject: Viola setup as a violin?

Can a Viola be setup as a violin? I am having trouble playing a full size violin my finger seem to be too big. I currently own a 15.5" Viola and would like to set it up as a violin. Would it be possible with satisfactory results or a waste of time and money?

Thank You,

Thomas

Jack H. · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 2:42 am Post subject:

I have never tried it, but I think there would be a problem with the length of the strings, being too short that is.
Might look for a 360 mm violin or have a nut made that moves the strings spacing to a wider position...

Barry Dudley · Member Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 64 Location: Monroe, GA

Why don't you just try it with a cheap set of string first to see if they will be long enough? Maybe even some take offs to give it a try.
It is certainly not going to hurt anything to get it a try.

FiddleDoug · Member Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 227 Location: Hilton, NY

Actually, you only have to add the violin "E". Take off your viola "A" and try to replace it with the "E". If it works, you would just have to take the viola "C" off, and move the G, D, and A, over one notch. If everything works OK, I suppose that a very tiny adjustment in string heights at the nut and bridge might be in order to optomize the set-up.
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Doug Wall

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M.Lange · Member Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 81 Location: Germany

It might be a good idea to use a low tension "E" string, because the tension of violin strings is calculated for the normal violin string length.
If you increase the string length, you have to tune the string to a higher tension.