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11/04/09
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this is advertised as a "semi-acoustic," which, for the life of me, i've never heard before. but just like guitars, violins can have their own unique sound. if this goes big, there will be people that love it and people that hate it. but it'll take the violin in a new direction. #music
11/02/09
11/02/09
The lack of tuning pegs to resonate and possibly create wolf tones, the smooth curves to reduce standing waves, the integrated bridge to make the string vibration translate directly to the body....
Everything. #music
11/02/09
It's a dead giveaway that this was more about form than function when we hear that that "Hopfgartner took her inspiration from modern yachts, as well as "feminine curves and sundry corset outlines of the Baroque, Rococo, and Biedermeier ages".
If Stradivarius made the greatest violin sounds ever, how are you going to try to sell me on the idea that you take out the F-holes, remove all openings in the body, and you'll get a great violin sound... or a great sound at all?
It's "semi-acoustic", which I guess means that the vibration will be A-to-D'd into something else (then probably filtered and amplified) so that makes me think the shape might not even matter. Might as well be a Violin Hero body... and the amp will put out Strad sounds... #music
11/02/09
Physics.
Look into it.
You're going off of conjecture and interpreting marketing language as gospel. I'm going off of educated guess. AKA theory.
The reason we haven't made fantastic carbon fiber violins is-
Oh, wait, we have.
People don't use them because of tradition and fashion.
Not too many jazz or rockabilly players use solid body guitars, but they'll stuff their hollow bodies with foam until they sound worse than a solid body would, just to reduce feedback and maintain the fashion/tradition.
Physics matter. Compare the body of a Violin family instrument to that of a Viola DaGamba.
The curved back, thicker top, more solid construction, lack of (gut) frets, soundposts... It's all designed to project more, and there's physics to explain why if one played a violin and viol with the same force the violin would be louder and project further more clearly.
The fact of the matter is the body would be at it's most efficient if it were shaped like a big M&M. It would sound different, certainly, but it would completely lack wolf tones, and be quite clear and powerful.
Neither of us _knows_ what the design process was, but I suggest to everyone, ignore marketing buzzwords. #music
11/02/09
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@HeroOfTomorrow: Seriously, dude.
It's actually _easier_ to reach the higher registers on this. #music
11/02/09
So I stand corrected.
PS. Let me then change my opening statement to this: "Damn, that looks like something Duran Duran would use in a music video. Does it have pink LED's and spout bubbles from a nozzle?" #music
11/02/09
Guitars are actually really poor at translating string vibration into sound without alot of colouration. Look at the position of the bridge on the soundboard. It's usually very far from the middle, which would be optimal. The differing string thicknesses and tensions leads to many compromises, and the overall tension caused by the number of them forces builders to focus nearly as much on strength as sound.
It's kinda sad that there's so much resistance to changes in guitar design. Often bands that ostensibly want to break with tradition use 'vintage' or faux-'vintage' styled instruments*coughmarsvoltacough*.
Very few musicians are willing to move forward. #music
11/02/09
11/02/09
How do you tune the strings? I don't think violin players will stand for the V-shaped back of the neck, it looks rather uncomfortable. #music
11/02/09
I also don't see how one is supposed to tune this thing. Obviously no tuning pegs or machine heads, and the head is too sleek for any of that. I supposed you could be relying totally on the fine tuners, but as someone who knows how to tune a violin, that seems rather unfortunate...
It is a really cool design, and I could be wrong, but it makes me think of all those electronic concepts we see that have no actual bearing on a potentially producible product, just some designer that when wild with aesthetics. #music
11/02/09
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11/02/09
Google it if you're more interested in the various studies on Strats. Mainly they boil down to blind testing though. Strats are more about their character than their sound. You hide away the character and your perception of the sound changes. #music
11/01/09
Gavari's been playing Melty Blood? #music
11/01/09
flea, the bassist of the red hot chili peppers, at some points in time, has used basses with carbon fiber necks, and yo yo ma used a carbon fiber cello (i think) at obama's innauguration, to give you an idea of its use in music. this violin won't be replacing wooden violins any time soon, but it will provide an interesting contrast to them when both are used together in an orchestra.
sterility is a matter of opinion. i think this violin is going to resonate in cool ways when it's played, although people in to more traditional sounding string instruments are going to find nothing but agony with it. #music
11/01/09
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11/01/09
I am the owner of a 110 year old, German-made violin. The sound difference between this and literally any other violin I've picked up is quite dramatic. The only one that I've ever liked better was my teacher's instrument, which was top notch and (obviously) quite expensive. #music
11/02/09
A lot of that you can chalk up to perception though. Because you know your violin is nice, expensive and old you may subconsciously believe that it sounds better.
Ever tried doing some blind tests where you don't know which violin is being played and trying to pick yours out? It may surprise you. #music