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Topic: Inside-out Graphite Violins |
David Mason
From: Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2006 2:11 am
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Well, it's about time: I have been wondering when people would get tired of paying three million dollars for a fiddle made out of bits of trees and start stamping them out like Barbie Dolls.
Plastic Violins
Needless to say, the traditionalists are all alarmed. |
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David Doggett
From: Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 28 Nov 2006 8:54 am
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A complimentary article in the latest issue of Guitar Player on Leo Fender indicates that the coming revolution in violin and acoustic guitar construction is not such a new thing. In a way, we’ve already been through something like that with the invention and evolution of magnetic pickups, amps and solid-body guitars. What happened is that music changed drastically with the new instruments. Yet, some people stayed with the old acoustic instruments and acoustic style classical, folk, bluegrass, etc. In classical music there is already a whole movement of people playing period music with period instruments. If some people adapt to the new sounds of graphite violins and guitars and maybe even invent new styles of music to fit them, there will be others who stick with the old wood instruments. Even MSA was cajoled into replacing the Millennium’s carbon fiber body with an old style wood body for the Legend model.
I figure at some point they will work out how to give any tone one wants to an acoustic instrument by design rather than trial and error. They will be able to duplicate vintage sounds or create new sounds. It will just give a broader palette of sounds for musicians.
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Ron Randall
From: Dallas, Texas, USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2006 12:49 pm
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It is part of the future. There is so much variation in wood, methods of mfg.
FYI... Carbon Fiber, aka graphite, is not "plastic". |
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Ben Slaughter
From: Madera, California
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Posted 28 Nov 2006 3:45 pm
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Um, can you say Ovation? |
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Andy Greatrix
From: Edmonton Alberta
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Posted 28 Nov 2006 5:05 pm
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If you break down wood, it's just a bunch of fibers stuck together. |
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Rick Collins
From: Claremont , CA USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2006 5:20 pm
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Maybe one day all musical instruments will be make of clear acrylic. |
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John Rosett
From: Missoula, MT
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Mike Perlowin
From: Los Angeles CA
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Posted 28 Nov 2006 8:19 pm
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Ther eis a comnpany named Luis and Clark that makes carbon fiber violins and cellos that are rapidly becoming popular among classical string players. I know 2 such players who have them, and both are quite happy with them.
http://www.luisandclark.com/violin.php
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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site
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Earnest Bovine
From: Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2006 8:57 pm
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Yes, Yo-Yo Ma was pictured with a bright blue Luis And Clark cello in the International Musician magazine last month. |
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Dave Boothroyd
From: Staffordshire Moorlands
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Posted 29 Nov 2006 12:04 pm
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Carbon fibre, or graphite in a class of composites called FRP- fibre reinforced plastic.
The plastic in this case is normally a type of epoxy resin, which is definitely plastic- i.e. mouldable until it sets.
Cheers
Dave |
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David Doggett
From: Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 29 Nov 2006 1:10 pm
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The carbon fiber and resin composite reminds me of fiber glass. My carbon fiber MSA Millennium is amazingly stable to temperature. Once a new set of strings settles in, you almost never have to tune it. |
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Bill Terry
From: Bastrop, TX
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Posted 29 Nov 2006 2:17 pm
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Plastic, wood, whatever.. the elements of tone are really in the hands anyway right? |
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Andy Greatrix
From: Edmonton Alberta
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Posted 29 Nov 2006 3:28 pm
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I wonder if they will consider building a contrabass. |
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