Front of the fiddle

Viola front

Thanks for the kind words, Paul.

We've been making professional violins, violas, cellos, and basses for quite a while now, but when you make a new design, you never quite know how it's going to perform until the varnish and strings are on.

The instruments are based on a proven "Soloist" viola design that we have been making for a few years. It has a large lower bout and short scale in proportion to the body to give the sound of a larger body, yet make it easier to play in upper positions. Since it sounds great up high, I figured it would carry an E string OK, if we could find a suitable one.

The viola is simply this basic design in a 15 1/2" body, with a 14" scale. Designing a 5-string presents a few playability challenges re: neck size, nut width, neck projection and bridge height, etc., and naturally, we had to re-invent the wheel. Ground was also an issue since it greatly affects tone. We made our best guess as to how to deal with these issues, and made some prototypes to test and get feedback on, so that we could get the production model as close to ideal as we could. Results are good. Everyone raves about the sound so far. We have some setup changes to make, but nobody has complained so far. The viola has a 14" scale, and the neck is divided normally

The fiddle was a little different matter. We reduced the upper bout proportionally, but left the lower bout the same in proportion to length as on the viola. This necessitated some small changes in arching and grads, and again, choice of ground was a factor. The fiddle has a wide waist, which fits well with a bridge 4mm wider than normal. It a normal 330 mm string length, and neck and stop are normal length. It sounds like a much larger instrument. Viola-like on the C and G, violin like on the upper strings. When I go back to my regular (loud) fiddle after playing the 5-string, my regular fiddle sounds really puny. (I may just keep the first production model for my own.)

Comments, suggestions, and questions are welcome.

Michael R

The F-holes will be longer, and 4mm farther apart to allow a wider bridge, for sure. It will allow more bowing room, and might even improve the response.

We are having as many people as we can play these and fill out a questionnaire so we can identify everything that needs to be tweaked to suit potential buyers as closely as possible. After we get all the feedback we can, we'll do a short production run of half a dozen instruments. I figure if you can get the sound right, everything else can be dealt with.

Sorry to be slow to answer, but I'm on the road, currently at Fiddle Hell. The prototypes are currently 25 mm, with 5.0 mm string spacing, but I've had a number of current 5-string players vote for 5.5 mm standard spacing which would call for a width of around 27mm. They don't seem to have a problem with the extra width.

What would you prefer? I'm still gathering data before we make a final decision.

Price hasn't been set yet, but it's most likely going to have to be in the upper range of the current 5-string market. Judging by response so far, the performance seems to warrant it. I've already got people waiting to buy the prototypes.

One good thing - No matter what the demand, we will keep a reserve on hand so that prospective buyers will be able to try from a selection before buying.

If these are successful at the top of the market, we'll probably go overseas to have a couple of less expensive lines made, at least in part.

I am indeed. Thanks for the input.

Well for me it is a little tighter string space coupled with a little wider neck - a compromise one might say - I think my neck is about 26mm..

I love that I can play faster on my five string compared to my four string with normal spacing.

what is the upper end of the five-string marked?

Thanks for the replies, and thanks, Swing.

All but one of the four prototypes are sold, and we have some orders in for production models. Not bad for starters. Guess I ought to do some sort of introductory special, huh? Is that OK to do here? Are there any limits on advertising content? Anybody know?

The instruments will come with Perfection Pegs and a suitable case, since they are sort of odd-sized.

Keep me posted, Dave. I'm interested.

Andy Rogers
5 since '98