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Can I make it lighter?
Do we need all this wood?
Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 (0 votes) 
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Ray Wells
Ottawa Canada
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January 31, 2013 - 7:09 pm
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While waiting for my CVA-500 to arrive I have been practicing using my silent electric violin strung as a viola ... I hope the picture come through on the post.

http://www.ceciliomusic.com/ca......90x90.jpg

My question is what do folks think of my thoughts about lightening this instrument by using a Forstener bit, maybe 7/8 of an inch and making holes in the side material, properly measured and spaced to keep the balance from side to side, but seriously reducing the mass of the wood?

Ray

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Ferret
Byron Bay, Australia
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January 31, 2013 - 10:36 pm
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Hi Ray

As a woodworker of some years I'd say that you would have to remove too much wood to make a significant weight difference. It could also compromise the strength of the body. There is a lot of pressure going on when the strings are tensioned.

 

Personally, I'd wait for the viola to arrive.

Bite off more than you can chew..... Then chew like MAD

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Ray Wells
Ottawa Canada
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February 1, 2013 - 12:14 am
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Hi Ferret

Wasn't planning an immediate modification but perhaps your caution is well advised. I might just use my son's tools and shop and build a new frame for the electronics in this fiddle. Get a neck from StewMac $20 and build the rest with much less wood and an eye to decorative woodgrain.

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Ferret
Byron Bay, Australia
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February 1, 2013 - 12:19 am
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Sounds like an idea :)  

Why not browse around the web and see what other people are doing. I've seen some nice looking 'minimalist' instruments made that must be rather light

 

Bite off more than you can chew..... Then chew like MAD

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Ferret
Byron Bay, Australia
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February 1, 2013 - 5:22 am
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I've been looking at an electric 'Fender' violin in my local music shop that has been there for quite some time. It's being 'discounted' and I'm soooooo tempted jimi-hendrix

Bite off more than you can chew..... Then chew like MAD

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VinceKnight
Middlefield, OH
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February 1, 2013 - 2:57 pm
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This is the second time you've mentioned it Ferret I think you might have already decided to buy it :D

 

-Dennis

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Violaman
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February 2, 2013 - 3:55 am
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The plug n play is made of plastic. I haven't weighed it but it's here at our shop now for a review. Maybe it is lighter.

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