I don't know anything about amplifying them, but I am interested in your experience playing one. Is it the same size as a regular violin, and how does the action compare? What's the tone like?
Where in Wales is Tim Phillips (or, better yet, where in the United States could I get an acoustic model)? Anybody else have thoughts on this subject?
I play a little viola, but for certain keys, an octave fiddle would be highly preferable, I think.
Not sure if you allow commercial URLs here but googling tim phillips violin should put his site at the top of the list. They're normal size so they really do need amplification since the body is "too small" acoustically. Just check your dentistry before you play one, that bottom G will really make you teeth rattle!
Sorry. Tone-wise, very growly for the same acoustic reasons. They don't sound at all like a viola or 'cello. I don't have one, just a few minutes trying them at Tim's stand at festivals.
You should probably think about a condenser mic and a PA set up.
A lot of the other amp methods (pickups, transducers etc.) don't reproduce the sound very well or require modifications to the instrument, bridge etc. or heavy processing.
That is, assuming that you want to reproduce the exact sound. If you just want to play a fiddle and have the sound come out as a cello, you can use an electric fiddle, process it and hear a cello-like sound. But I didn't think that's what you wanted.
Since the sound of an octave fiddle is impared by it's dimensions anyway ('"too small" accoustically') then its gonna sound quite sh*t however you amplify it.
I would hypothesise that the transducer (i.e. mic or pick-up) will not be as important as other components in the amplification system (e.g. pre-amp, speakers, amp, etc.) in terms of maximising the reproduction quality - check your frequency bandwidths since an octave fiddle is (obviously) lower than most commonly amplified bandwidths.
Trace Elliott used to make an accoustic bass cube thing that might be of interest, by the way.
I've got an octave Tim Phillips and am still experimenting with pick ups. For gigs I use a Tim Phillips electro acoustic four string.
On the five string and octave I've been experimenting with a Headway Band and a Fishman.
The Headway Band gave the better signal to the desk but because my Tim Phillips fiddles are unusual shapes, there is a tendency for it to slip a bit. The Fishman isn't really giving the quality of sound I want.
Microvox was the worst pick up I tried.
I'll continue experimenting!!
octave violin
octave violin
I have an octave violin made by Tim Phillips in Wales and I want to amplify it. Has anyone else tried amplifying one of these beasties?
# Posted on August 26th 2004 by bryher
Re: octave violin
I don't know anything about amplifying them, but I am interested in your experience playing one. Is it the same size as a regular violin, and how does the action compare? What's the tone like?
Where in Wales is Tim Phillips (or, better yet, where in the United States could I get an acoustic model)? Anybody else have thoughts on this subject?
I play a little viola, but for certain keys, an octave fiddle would be highly preferable, I think.
Thanks,
Carol
# Posted on August 26th 2004 by carolsviolin
Re: octave violin
Tarrantella may be able to help... (You out there, girl?)
Sara
# Posted on August 26th 2004 by sara g
Re: octave violin
Not sure if you allow commercial URLs here but googling tim phillips violin should put his site at the top of the list. They're normal size so they really do need amplification since the body is "too small" acoustically. Just check your dentistry before you play one, that bottom G will really make you teeth rattle!
# Posted on August 26th 2004 by TomB-R
Re: octave violin
Sorry. Tone-wise, very growly for the same acoustic reasons. They don't sound at all like a viola or 'cello. I don't have one, just a few minutes trying them at Tim's stand at festivals.
# Posted on August 26th 2004 by TomB-R
Re: octave violin
You should probably think about a condenser mic and a PA set up.
A lot of the other amp methods (pickups, transducers etc.) don't reproduce the sound very well or require modifications to the instrument, bridge etc. or heavy processing.
That is, assuming that you want to reproduce the exact sound. If you just want to play a fiddle and have the sound come out as a cello, you can use an electric fiddle, process it and hear a cello-like sound. But I didn't think that's what you wanted.
# Posted on August 27th 2004 by scottcantrell
Re: octave violin
Why not play your regular fiddle through an octaver?
# Posted on August 27th 2004 by ...
Re: octave violin
Can anyone recomend any mics for a fiddle?
# Posted on August 27th 2004 by bryher
Re: octave violin
Is an octave violin really that much better than putting baritone (octave) strings on a normal fiddle?
Octaver? gross. ;)
Mics: The the AT-Pro35x from ZZounds. Simple, works well, easy to set up.
# Posted on August 27th 2004 by Georgi
Re: octave violin
Since the sound of an octave fiddle is impared by it's dimensions anyway ('"too small" accoustically') then its gonna sound quite sh*t however you amplify it.
I would hypothesise that the transducer (i.e. mic or pick-up) will not be as important as other components in the amplification system (e.g. pre-amp, speakers, amp, etc.) in terms of maximising the reproduction quality - check your frequency bandwidths since an octave fiddle is (obviously) lower than most commonly amplified bandwidths.
Trace Elliott used to make an accoustic bass cube thing that might be of interest, by the way.
FMF
# Posted on August 30th 2004 by folkmasterflex
Re: octave violin
I've got an octave Tim Phillips and am still experimenting with pick ups. For gigs I use a Tim Phillips electro acoustic four string.
On the five string and octave I've been experimenting with a Headway Band and a Fishman.
The Headway Band gave the better signal to the desk but because my Tim Phillips fiddles are unusual shapes, there is a tendency for it to slip a bit. The Fishman isn't really giving the quality of sound I want.
Microvox was the worst pick up I tried.
I'll continue experimenting!!
# Posted on August 31st 2004 by Tarrantella