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Violin measurements please :O)

Posted by GARY KNIGHT on January 2, 2016 at 3:03pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

Hi CBG-ers,

I want to have a go at making an electric Banjo Fiddle using an old Tambourine for the body and various violin parts that a Fiddle teacher friend gave me. I'm going to use a steel ring that I have on the inside of the Tambourine and a tightening frame to make the skin tuneable with a Piezo pickup under the bridge.

Can anyone tell me please, the exact measurement from Nut to bridge on a standard full sized fiddle please?

Thanks Guys n Gals

Gary

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Replies

  • Jim Morris January 2, 2016 at 4:22pm

    Most 4/4 (full size) fiddles are on a 13" (325 to 330 mm) scale. I've made them slightly longer and slightly shorter. Fiddle strings usually have a lot of extra string to wind around the peg so anything in that ball park should work.

    • GARY KNIGHT > Jim Morris January 2, 2016 at 4:35pm

      Brilliant, Thanks.

      I've just ordered a violin bridge off ebay to adapt for mounting onto the drum skin.

      I was going to make one, but hey, at 99p with free delivery !!

      Thanks again

      Gary

  • Tom T January 2, 2016 at 3:58pm

    You mean something like this?

    306518578?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024It uses a tambourine body with an oak dowel for the neck. I grafted the head-stock from an old violin.

    Mine uses a 25" scale length, so from bridge to nut is, of course, 25". You could use any reasonable scale length you like. If by "Full Sized violin" you mean a 4/4, then the bridge to nut is 325mm (about 12.8"). That's  pretty short scale.

    Here is a link of scale lengths for violas, cellos and upright bass Scale Lengths

    Mine is set up as a slider (fret-less) and I did install a single piezo pickup under the bridge inside the tambourine.

    Tuned to DAD with fairly light strings, it sound very nice.

    Give it a go........

    • GARY KNIGHT > Tom T January 2, 2016 at 4:32pm

      Excellent, Thankyou :O)

      Have you done a youtube vid of it in action?

      I'd love to hear it.

      Cheers

      Gary

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