Chin Cello????

Subject: Chin Cello????
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 02:10 PM

Hardi and I saw and heard a fiddle recently-- regular fiddle-- strung up an octave low with special strings. WOW!!! Sounded wonderful as second fiddle behind another very bright fiddle playing lead.

Any info on the strings? It was said they were some special set designed for that purpose.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 02:46 PM

I did some looking and found out that most octave violins are electric, but there are acoustic ones out there. Super Sensitive sells a set of strings, see here, but I couldn't tell if they were for electric or acoustic. (Creep Alert--I hate electric fiddles!)

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 02:51 PM

Thanks. Ever hear or play one?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 02:53 PM

Nope, but I'll bet it's neat!

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 03:01 PM

Susan,

I believe that tuning an octave low is fairly common in the electric violin world. Probably because electrics are less fragile and can take the stress of heavier strings more easily than acoustics. I would think some of the electric violin makers' websites such as Violectra and Zeta would be good places to look for string info.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 03:02 PM

Well, obviously Sorcha and I cross-posted.

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 03:05 PM

Yes, but this was acoustic. I'm kind of wondering about string tension and stress on the fiddle, too. And would you use a heavier bow?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 03:41 PM

Strings designed for electric violin should work on acoustic just fine. (If there were to be a compatibility problem it would be the other way around, and then only if the electric violin had a magnetic pickup instead of a piezo. A magnetic pickup can't detect gut strings.) I would try to find more info on the tension issue, though, before trying it on a nice fiddle. But, if there's an old beater lying around the house, just go for it. It'd probably be kinda fun to watch it explode anyway.

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 04:14 PM

Might sound better doing it with a viola, and safer as well.

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 04:17 PM

I thought that about the viola, too. I have one, don't know that I want to switch tuning on it though.

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 04:18 PM

No, fiddle-- so the fingering is exactly the same-- fingerboard the same length, and so on.

~S~

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: NicoleC
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 04:24 PM

Maybe this is an experiment best suited for one of those $69 eBay finds...? If they can stand up to the stress, a better fiddle should be able to, I would think.

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: treewind
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 04:31 PM

There are people around making both acoustic and electric fiddles with
- five strings (low C so it's like a viola and a violin)
- six strings (even lower, bottom F!)
- octave fiddles (an octave lower than normal)
... and probably other combinations, for all I know.

I think viola strings work well, but the experience of the fiddler in my band (who plays a Violectra 5 string) is that the bottom string feels a bit soggy if you are used to a normal violin. The six string one must be a bit of a joke, similarly the bottom end of an octave fiddle.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 04:32 PM

Super Sensitive octave strings are specially made to sound an octave lower on a normal violin: the tension isn't significantly greater than with normal strings. They are not cheap! The sound doesn't necessarily project very well, though, and you're best off with a larger-bodied instrument for the added resonance. A friend of mine has a Maggini copy strung an octave low, and it works fine. Relatively quiet, but gives you a pretty good jaw massage. Of course, you can buy purpose-built instruments; Tim Phillips makes nice ones, but you'd be better off experimenting first; they too are of course not cheap.

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 04:34 PM

I find this thread obnoxious and distasteful. We no longer use catgut and the idea of using those poor little chincellos, even if they are bred for the fur, is revolting. Find something else to talk about.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 04:40 PM

Saw that coming. Figured it'd've been sooner; I think the old man's slowing down.

Thing is, we do have a second beater-fiddle, and I would like to try this, but the cost is a little intimidating so I am hoping for lots of user feedback to encourage me to give it a whirl. Since I don't play at all. But it would be just about my style to start on this before trying regular stringing.

The beater has a patched hole in the back (don't ask), so the volume is already low. Add pickup AND the octave strings?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: michaelr
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 08:06 PM

Well Susan, here's some encouragement:

Janette Duncan, estimable Scottish Fiddler and member of Alasdair Frasier's San Francisco-based ensemble, as well as former member of my band Greenhouse, has been using octave strings on her second fiddle for several years now, with no adverse effect on the instrument.

The sound - especially when amplified - is awesome! Try it, you'll like it.
There is a source for the strings here in Santa Rosa, CA. PM me if you'd like me to find out the info.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 08:48 PM

chin chimeny chin chinemy chin chin cello?

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 08:52 PM

chin chinemee chin chin cello! a la dick van dyke

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 19 Oct 02 - 06:28 AM

Sorch, I read a book once. It was called An Equal Music, by Vikram Seth, and in between all the bonking and international string quartet junketing, the hero messes about with his violin/viola tunings. A thundering good read, and a reet grand tearjerker. You may, of course, have readit, but if not, it's worth the paperback price.

Subject: RE: Chin Cello????
From: smallpiper
Date: 19 Oct 02 - 02:27 PM

NIk Nak plays a Bridge 5 string electric job and its just amazing - complete with set of effects peddels and its awsome!!!!!!