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Violin to CBG conversion

Posted by David L. on July 7, 2010 at 6:23am in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

Hi,

 

Due to my ebay addiction I have won a few 3/4 violins (or as elsewhere on the net calls them VSOs - basically so bad they look like a Violin Shaped Objects but don't play like a violin)  This is good as I have an aversion to see any good instrument being butchered - these on the other hand make me feel like Dr Frankenstein waiting for a shipment of body parts to arrive through the post.

 

I am not a violin player (my wife questions if I am even a guitar player but anyway....) I have decided for experiment one to convert one to a 3 or 4 string CBG or VBG (violin box guitar) - the scale length being a 3/4 is only around 12 inches or so and I want to strum it using guitar stings DGBE so I am thinking new neck with a longer scale and a lower guitar type bridge.

 

I found this old thread http://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/violoin-neck-removal?com...

and note Roosterman made a diddly bow.  Has anybody managed to make a 3 or 4 string VBG and if so any tips or pit falls I need to avoid?  Also the bodies appear pretty but fragile - does this mean I need to use a neck through body design rather than a bolt on neck?

 

Final question - does anybody know the string tension a normal 3/4 size violin can take so I can convert this to guitar string tension to see if it will cope with 3 or 4 guitar strings? (I have tried a google search but have not yet found an answer).

 

Thank you,

David

 

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Replies

  • Keni Lee Burgess January 16, 2012 at 8:38am

    Built by Jay from www.tinyguitars.tk

    • GARAGE HERMIT > Keni Lee Burgess January 16, 2012 at 11:11am

      like the rory cover,,

  • the anonymous pick January 16, 2012 at 5:09am

    http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/swamp-witch-guitars-teaser?xg_s...  hehe  .

  • The Phrygian Kid January 16, 2012 at 12:59am
    I've fretted one once, flatted the fingerboard a little fretted it and made a new bridge essentially made into a mando
  • David L. January 15, 2012 at 3:45pm

    Great looking build.

    http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/viotar-1/next?context=user

     

    How did you go about slimming the neck please? - Was it a refret job or a grind away with a belt sander????

    • GARAGE HERMIT > David L. January 15, 2012 at 5:20pm

      slimmed the neck down with an angle grinder then file it, 

  • Roosterman July 9, 2010 at 9:40am
    Yep, Tiny did one - in fact, it was on Ebay last week. As I recall he went the route of shaping the neck to exactly fit the contours of the violin soundboard, which I seem to recall took him a looonnnggg time! It looked to be a superb instrument though.

    If it were me, I would go the straightforward thru neck route. Prise the top (or back) off, throw in the neck and youre sorted.

    Good luck :o)
    • GARAGE HERMIT > Roosterman January 15, 2012 at 2:44pm

      i made one a while ago, see my pic's,

  • David L. July 8, 2010 at 11:10am
    Hi Jim and Skeesix,
    Thank you for the replies.
  • Skeesix July 7, 2010 at 6:43pm
    I would make the new neck fit into the neck pocket/dovetail in a similar fashion as the old neck.

    I did a quick google search on string tensions. It looks like violins are around 50 lbs of string tension total, while guitars are 16-40lbs per string depending on whether the string gauge is light or heavy.

    So I think your intuition is correct. I would stick with light gauge or nylon strings.
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