Sebby's Folly

**Sebastiaan56** · 10th January 2011, 07:01 AM

Interesting that there was an electric Violin post this morning as Ive started an acoustic Violin. This is rapidly becoming one of those "you dont know what you are getting in to" builds as the instrument has had centuries of development and is very refined. Also, violin world is riddled with mores and tradition. The approach seems to be either to copy a well known instrument exactly (eg Stradivarius - Viotti) or use one as inspiration. Well I have a lot to learn so Im not using master grade imported timbers and am taking the latter approach. I suppose its probably a bit arrogant to even call it a Violin as its not going to be made of Bosnian Maple and Swiss Spruce but what the heck. I think Tassie Oak will make a good neck and Im planning on using QLD Walnut for the body. The belly will be Spruce orphans from Canada.

Here is a test neck / scroll. Half done and Im already planning the next one. Apart from stylistic errors the piece of Beech Im using keeps expelling small pieces in critical places. I built a rig to carve on and am refining the scrapers needed to give a good finish. I also built a mold. Cremonese makers used inside molds. Ive not tried an inside mold but it has advantages.

**walcen** · 10th January 2011, 11:11 AM

Hey Seb, that's a really nice chair.

Oh and the neck jig is good too.

**AussieOzBorn** · 14th January 2011, 11:45 PM

Owwww, Laa dee dah, Seb.
You'll be making a friggin piano next,,, and you know where that got Motzart?
Writing and playing opera for a living, thats where!
Dude, do us all the justice of painting it BRIGHT, SPARKLY RED,,,, maybe with flashing lights too, just to show your defiance to opera and traditionalists

on the quiet side, its looking great man!
DONT tell anyone I said that

**Sebastiaan56** · 15th January 2011, 08:37 AM

ROFLMAO..... Dont sweat Im not getting a beret and an accent... yet.

I reckon this build is going to be like Martin's Lute build. A lot of progressive posts over a long time. Of course I can hardly play Violin but that isnt going to stop me.... I'll spare you all of the mistakes in the last week but Im onto neck #3 now. For the record Blackwood isnt suitable. As for Violins in music I'll offer this,

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXkkcr7ABjo"]YouTube - Jean Luc Ponty with Zappa: Greggary Peccary Suite, 1973[/ame]

**Greg Ward** · 15th January 2011, 08:50 AM

Perhaps rosewood? (Worked for Scott's chairs?)
Perhaps some N silver ash?
Perhaps red bean?
Look forward to the photos.
Greg

**AussieOzBorn** · 16th January 2011, 12:44 AM

Yet another example of just how mental Frank Zappa was.
I am sooooooo greatful for the continuation of time and the ever expanding distance away from the 60's and 70's.
He may have been a genius writer and musician, but the music (to me) makes bugger all sense beyond clever jazz mix up's and quick licks, that almost no one gives a stuff about now.
I mean, ive never heard of a Frank Zappa door bell chime, have you?
You know your famous when they make a door bell that chimes your songs, right?
Joy to the world.
Jail House Rock.
Mamma Mia.
And my personal favorite
Ding Dong.
Not sure who wrote the last one, though.
Possibly Phil Collins,,,,,, hes not big on variations

And he is older than dirt.

**old_picker** · 20th January 2011, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by AussieOzBorn

Yet another example of just how mental Frank Zappa was.
I am sooooooo greatful for the continuation of time and the ever expanding distance away from the 60's and 70's.
He may have been a genius writer and musician, but the music (to me) makes bugger all sense beyond clever jazz mix up's and quick licks, that almost no one gives a stuff about now.
I mean, ive never heard of a Frank Zappa door bell chime, have you?
You know your famous when they make a door bell that chimes your songs, right?
Joy to the world.
Jail House Rock.
Mamma Mia.
And my personal favorite
Ding Dong.
Not sure who wrote the last one, though.
Possibly Phil Collins,,,,,, hes not big on variations

And he is older than dirt.

no-one ever said frank was sane - i differ on your attitude to the rapdly expanding gulf of time from the 60's and 70's though - i many have fond memories of sitting around with mates in altered sates of consciousness listen to franks various musical smorgasbords - often quite funny if you listen to the whole story - his music wasn't about songs, more like a musical excursion

meanwhile lerts get back OT

**AussieOzBorn** · 20th January 2011, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by old_picker

no-one ever said frank was sane - i differ on your attitude to the rapdly expanding gulf of time from the 60's and 70's though - i many have fond memories of sitting around with mates in altered sates of consciousness listen to franks various musical smorgasbords - often quite funny if you listen to the whole story - his music wasn't about songs, more like a musical excursion

meanwhile lerts get back OT

Well, to be honest, the 60's & 70's was obviously a mile stone in music history for a whole lot of reasons. Without it we wouldnt have:
Pink Floyd. <<< REAL "experimental" TALENT
Allan Parsons Project.
David Bowie.
John Lennon.
Jimi Hendrix.
Led Zeppelin.
Jannis Joplin.
ELO.
and
Barry Manalow,,,,,,

I still think about 90 % of the "experimental" music was a waste of recording time & electricity. Barry of course took the term "experiment" litterally to his own face,,, botox.
I guess he either missed out on the drugs then and wanted to catch up or took too many from the get go. How many would have thought Keith Richard would turn out to have so much stamina? See kiddies, cocaine actually IS a preservative.
I might have liked Zappas stuff a little more if he'd done at least one (normal) song!
Maybe he did, but I cant remember one.
I foolishly bought a 2 CD set of his, trying to find sense in his stuff, "Gone Dead Horsie" I think it was called,,, total garbage!
Could have been worse, I could have bought a Barry Manalow CD by mistake.

**woodturner777** · 21st January 2011, 11:45 AM

I am curious Sebastiaan to your comment below as to why you say Blackwood is not suitable for the neck, as I know lots of people that use Blackwood for necks.
So what problems are you having.?
Cheers, Bob

Im onto neck #3 now. For the record Blackwood isnt suitable. As for Violins in music I'll offer this,

**IWieldTheSpade** · 21st January 2011, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by AussieOzBorn

I might have liked Zappas stuff a little more if he'd done at least one (normal) song!
Maybe he did, but I cant remember one.
I foolishly bought a 2 CD set of his, trying to find sense in his stuff, "Gone Dead Horsie" I think it was called,,, total garbage!

I really think that I shouldn't make comment on this, for the sake of the thread...

Back on topic, I built an electric viola a while back. I know that's reasonably different in design, especially with the solid body i put on it, but anywho, I used Qld Rock Maple for the neck and it worked a dream. The way I made it was a bit chunky (I'm a bassist at heart, so I like a bit more to hold onto), but I reckon if it were for a violin it would go quite nicely as well.

**AussieOzBorn** · 22nd January 2011, 07:30 PM

[QUOTE=IWieldTheSpade;1266011] I used Qld Rock Maple for the neck and it worked a dream. QUOTE]

Owww yeah, rock maple would be great for a violin, i imagine

Ive made several really good electric necks from it, so im guessing it would be a good violin option too. Nice tight grain,,, lots of "ping" and very often has plenty of purdee flame in the grain too.
How about Teak?

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Dah, dah, dah,,,,,dahhhhhhhhhh

necks

Am I trippin man, or are you playin a sitar?

Sebby's Folly

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