Balsa Violin

[cobraman115]

Well done. it is rare you see people doing things new to violins because they think that the stradivarious are "perfect" and cannot be improved upon. It is nice to see people proving them wrong!

[GAMEREVIEWERMAN]

funny thing is Balsa is classified as a hardwood. google it.

[xbox56100]

what is balsa

[Hikikomori013]

@xbox56100 Balsa is an extremely soft and light wood used in making model airplanes and hobby projects.

[mrsub360]

Wow! I didn't expect a violin made of balsa to sound anything like that good!

[leoncioviolin]

MUY BUENO

[InweTaralom]

Cool! I love the tone!

[guybr3]

Very nice, that's sounds really greats!

[thelaughingguitar]

That's a pretty cool violin; probably won't let you use it in an orchestra, but who the freak cares?

[JuniorSchubert26]

Nice violin...

[triumphadelic]

are these balsa violins for sale? I cant find a website or any info via g**gle

[firestarsquest]

I have a summer project now!!!

[Mr98giuliano]

flat top?

[ninamarie222]

he kinda looks like freddie roach? nice violin

[loooney469]

awesome! it really sounds good!

[47065360]

Sounds Great.

[litomichael]

alone with good playing seems to me you made it also

-have a bigger cavity

-what readon did you take the f holes from it and just cut out the

corners

[BenedictWhite]

OK, that sounds fantastic! That said it looks like you made the violin inside out! Are there any details of how it was made and choice of grain density? Also is the bridge a standard bridge and what strings did you use?

[bingin15]

whoa that's nifty! must be super light!

[pinchetele]

One cannot tell the sound of a violin, through a microphone (unless an expensive and well calibrated mic.)

The shape seems odd, but maybe it plays better with that shape. Actually, really needs change to nylon strings.

[AlchemistxBankai]

holy shit! Thats a lot of violins!

[TheLfwjo]

The wood used in most stadivarius violins are made of known hardwoods, but it was partly softened by the preservatives that was applied into it.

The softer the wood, the lesser noise it can make and produce purer sound.

[Dogaradodia]

Certified Intergalactic! I'll make one myself. Thanks for the idea! :-)

[williestratton]

ah, totally looks like something devised by a kayak designer, i love it

[heybulldog13]

many remote control airplanes are made up of balsa, just in the construction of her, time and patience.. hes got it layered like a sum bitch

[Bertziethegreat]

The fact that it didn't collapse the moment you strung it up is amazing.

[PSTG87]

Is the tuning same as in standard violin? The neck seems longer, I would suppose you could tune it lower than usual violin, right?

[solracselbor]

can i have one of your violins? :)

[TheThirdSock]

What a beautiful tone! I'm surprised!

[MRchocolateAfro]

i want one. i totally freakin want one.

[SlideHound]

does it fly?

[jc91596]

ARE THE F-HOLES IN THE C-BOUTS???????? NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.

[jc91596]

@jc91596 they arent f-holes then lol....c-holes

[221sully]

very beautiful sounds!

[xchylerjfk]

Wow! Sounds brilliant! Bit trebly, but nice :)

[FireRupee]

I mean it sounds great, but still!

[FireRupee]

May be affected by the video quality (or that I know what balsa feels like), but it sounds.. soft. Also, how can the balsa not break?

[robostomo1]

dont hit it with ur nail =P i had to make a lil car out of balsa and it stressed me out cuz even the slightsest scratch like dammaged the wood badly lol

[cArLiScRaZy1]

o wow. I wish mi viola looked lik ht and i could play it lik tht. Very beautiful

[Piccobow]

Thats sounds incredible!

[vioace2]

Clip of violinist Mark Ferris trying Balsa17 of 2008 at Winter Harp.

[rmcdaniel423]

Cool design work. The headstock has an edgy sorta-asian look to it.

[yarrtiscrapulence]

If you don't use a shoulder or chin rest, when you play with vibrato the instrument will move slightly.

[datzfast]

its to light the whole thing is vibrating

[MacCrimble]

The fiddle is most probably made of very hard balsa, weighing in at up to 24lb per ft3. That's heavier than Sitka.

[MrAnimeFreak777]

@datzfast its shaking because of his vibrato which isn't supposed to happen lol

[datzfast]

all violins sound like violins, but they all sound different at least to a maker they do. because of the light wood the harmonics are off some vibrations are canceling others by what some would say destructive interference. if you compared the vibrations to a maple violin

some would be missing and others would be present. this sounds like its made of tin.

[datzfast]

im no expert im just a wood worker who fell in love with the violin i think i have made eight to date and will make 10 more

before i die. i give them to others, i am amazed at what the music teachers say

about the sound mine make, they hear mine over all others. strange. And not in a bad way. i think their ears are just focusing

to hear mine.

[theoriginalmcsquare]

the acoustics are noticeably different from a classical violin but with music, innovation is always welcome. Excellent work

[WeRTheFallen]

the soundhles are very innovative

[ouviolin]

It's got a pretty good sound. Surprisingly good!

[Frozenyak]

? its not the material that makes violins expensive. there are all sorts of violins made of all sorts of wood.

[animemaster96]

It is the effort put into making them that makes them expensive.

[WoodyMcKenzie]

I'm curious as to whether you have tried paulownia wood, another very light wood.

Do you have a website with more info?

Thanks!

Woody

[mellowthebear]

i would very much want one made by you :)

[clubby1234]

beautiful

[Magnumscoffeefreek]

i like the not so scroll heh

[ediblesponge]

that sounds fantastic!

just got to be extra careful not to do what David Garrett did a few months back :s :p

i admire the fact that you've strove to do something which other people didn't dare, or thought impossible, and am in pleasant awe at the fantastic sound it produces!

Not only have you done something amazing, you've done it amazingly!

genius!

[JpDanger]

sounds pretty dang good..just dont dont squash it

haha

[dagger86]

10 shades of sweet.

[nicfargo]

interesting spot to put the "f" holes. I've never seen a violin with them on the c bouts like that. How do you think that would work on a maple / spruce violin?

[echorow]

This instrument is currently on display at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad CA USA--"The Violin in America" February to September 2008. Was played on opening day.

[dedosdigital]

Mr Martin,

Even with the limitations of sound fidelity on

YouTube, it is apparent your violin has remarkable qualities of response . I applaud your creativity and independence of thought in breaking new ground, in the hidebound world of the violin. I predict you will have many imitators !

[Pedrinhosito]

Embora a aparencia não seja das melhores, o som desse violino é bastante suave, e super bem tocado.Parabéns!!!!

[davidchan133]

That's is interesting, I am planing to do the violin design and painting it in Thailand and looking for non-painted violin, can we work it together?

[superdave2112]

Just plain neat!

[spystyle]

Are build plans available for any balsa violins? I would like to make one!

[masaroli]

molto istruttivo e bello

[poman265]

dont hit it hahaha

i would get one

[bib7y0m]

I have seen and heard these designs as they have been developed and refined. Obviously this man is a creative genius.

[m3plus2]

just curious, but do you sell your violins?

[tocamadera]

I am luthier and I find very nice your instrument, particulary the scroll- canoe, and the way you open the box instead the traditional f holes. I would like to see more pictures of your proyects.

Dificult to apreciate the sound via you tube but aparently is nice.