Violin sound.

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Hi,

I've just played the Yamaha at the settings on the picture you kindly posted @Slouching Raymond It sounds really harsh; possibly because on the video it's being played on guitar and I don't have the blueSky but well worth a try. Thanks again.

You are bang on @rob aylestone I've just tried a different rosin and put plenty on the bow strings; the Yamaha is playing OK again; thanks again for the suggestion.

Violin_559.webp

I've just been playing with these settings @Slouching Raymond not too bad but with a somewhat boomy background; I need a lot more practice.

Violin_560.webp

Here's the rosin I've just uesed; sorry about picture quality; I think I've got the shakes and it's like living in a black hole with the rain and dense cloud cover; this rosin is Hypoallerginic bought because I suffer lots of skin rashes; I've tried a number of rosins but I think I need to go back to using this one.

I've enjoyed the short practice but as I say it's so dark even with the wall lights on; my old pit lamp would be useful.

Kind regards, Col.
 
Colin, I've got a B9 pedal. It can make some reasonably good organ sounds. The problem is trying to mimic a keyboard player's style. Playing guitar, I find that chords worked best if I was plucking several strings at once, vs the normal strumming motion. I also have to be careful to avoid bends, as a normal organ doesn't change pitches like you can on a guitar when you pull strings. Likewise, the normal vibrato that one would get with a guitar or violin sounds really strange. Single note melodies work pretty well

I also bought a Lester K pedal, which is a Leslie speaker simulator. Put together, I could make some semi decent organ sounds.

In the end, it was fun, but not something that I have ever used either live or on a recording. Maybe I need to throw mine back on my pedal board and freak out the other guys next time we get together, eh?
 
BTW, I just looked on Ebay UK, and there are a couple of B9 pedals in the £130 range. One was in Enfield, another in London.
 
Hi,

Thanks for your help @TalismanRich You mean this;

Electro Harmonix B9 Pedal.webp


It's now sold to me. :-) £143.87 with postage. I didn't bother with offers just paid the price. I might be buying more pedals as I begin to get used to using them. It's time I was thinking about resuming playing in the studio; I played my violin briefly this afternoon but the front room lighting needs some napalm to brighten it up. In the studio I have ceiling strip LED's; 16 x 13A sockets; central heating and a wall mounted fan heater; it's a cosy studio in the rear of the bungalow and I can lock the world out; I like my own company not wanting so called friends just out for what they can get. Now I'm on my own I don't want attention from gold diggers; the bungalow is empty without my lovely Bron but she'll always be here with me in spirit and her loyal deep love; Bron is the one and modern dating by what I see on YouTube videos terrifies me. Solitude and peace is all I want.

At the moment I've got excellent gear way beyond my capabilities but I'll grow into it with lots of practice.

Thanks again @TalismanRich I'd looked through eBay but missed this one; I've grabbed it whilst still available. Yes knock the dust off yours.

Kind regards, Col.
 
On cleaning the bow, I've never cleaned my cello bow.
I don't really know what I'm doing, but I just rub the rosin on it before playing.
You can see my cello in my hand in the little picture.
It is about time I got it out again for a little play.

There was a tune posted on this site, with an organ pedal.
It was very realistic with a guitar played through it.
I'd never heard of it, so I looked it up.
It will be in one of the little notebooks I jot things down in.

My Line6 Flextone III amp has a leslie emulator effect, and I can get a guitar to sound a bit organy with it.
 
I suspect the build up of rosin is fundamental to the purpose, layer on layer, carefully applied year on year. My own experience is you always need more, never less. The mess on the bridge area of every bowed instrument a testament to the 50% of players who leave it on. The other 50% are absolutely sure their alcohol and toothbrush regime is better. I think my viewpoint is like guitar strings. leave them alone till they break, then buy new ones. Same as my car tyres. One day they fail the test, then put new ones on. All those places selling part-worn tyres make me smile? People swap them before there is no tread left? Snaps, breaks, holes, stretches, rust - they're good reasons. I jest. To a point.
 
Hi,

Since I first noticed on YouTube a video showing a violin being played that sounded like an organ I'm hooked @Slouching Raymond and want to do the same. I'm well on my way; the POG2 is excellent and still requires a lot of experimentation before I fully understand how to use it; the Merris ENZO too is fascinating but in a different way; I'm looking forward to receiving the Electro Harmonix B9; I'm sure this will give me endless fun. I now need to regroup and stop throwing money at it until I fully understand what I already have; a fool and their money? Your cello needs your TLC @Slouching Raymond it'll love you back if you start playing it again although I believe you lean towards your guitar.

I've possibly been too light applying the rosin @rob aylestone because on a YouTube video it was stated it wasn't good to have a cloud of rosin. Every time I've played the violin I've cleaned it together with its strings using a micro fiber cloth trying to avoid a big rosin build up. I'm very keen ideed when it comes to looking after my kit; tools are cleaned and put away after each project; I also know how to use an oil can which few use on their tools or machinery; it was beaten into me as an apprentice; mining engineers in those days weren't affected by PC but it taught me respect both for the engineers and my tools.

Anyone needs to be desperate to buy part worn tyres; at best I think they'd be OK just on the spare wheel. Living here on the valley side decent tyres are needed if I want to return home in snow or ice; two years after buying the new Skoda Yeti we had "Tyresonthedrive" visit to remove the OEM tyres and fit Michelin all season tyres. I'm also keen regarding checking tyre condition and tyre pressure; for 50 years I've used the pencil type tyre pressure checker but now use a digital pressure checker bought cheaply through eBay. Before marrying many years ago I used to go to the coast with my chums in a very old austin car; it had a set of tyres showing the canvas but never got a puncture; those days are long gone when now if we sneeze whilst in control of a car there's risk of being fined. I've just had my eyes tested too to be on the right side of the law; I'm informed I'll probably need surgery for cataracts at my next eye test in two years; it's over 30 years ago I was first told I had cataracts forming? I can still see to count my change.

The new violin strings I ordered are now with me but I'll hang back before fitting them; I'll wait until the old strings give up but at least I now have a full set plus an extra D string for when they are needed.

I've used free "Audacity" for editing my playing; it's ages ago I did any recording so is Audacity still OK or are there better free ones?

Kind regards, Col.
 
I've used free "Audacity" for editing my playing; it's ages ago I did any recording so is Audacity still OK or are there better free ones?
There's Reaper, but all the DAWs each have a learning curve to get over.
I plumped for Cubase (cheap but not free), which is now the devil I know to some extent.
If Audacity is working for you, stick with it until it annoys you.
 
Hi,

Thanks @Slouching Raymond I'm sure you're right; I've not used Audacity for ages but will start using it again when I move the gear back into the studio.

I've just enjoyed a short violin practice playing with the POG2 to the amp then through phones; it sounds amazing and I've only just started. I'm enjoying playing for my own pleasure making slow but interesting progress; I'm not in a hurry and without pressure to learn; I go at my own pace. I have considered lessons as I have on a guitar but I'm happy at home doing my own thing; eventually I hope to add a video onto YouTube. I'm looking forward to receiving the B9. I'll play more this afternoon because rain is forecast so I won't do anything in the garden. My violin is proving an excellent companion.

Kind regards, Col.
 
Rosin on a bow is like chalk on a pool/snooker cue.
You need it when you need it, when you don't have enough the instrument tells you, and when you do have enough it leaves a mess.

If you gently strum the bow with your thumb and it doesn't sent up a plume of dust, that's probably a good sign to apply some more rosin,
although it's pretty common to just apply with a few rubs before every practice or performance session.
 
Hi,

Thanks for adding the information @Steenamaroo I'm a lot wiser now and learning all the time. YouTube videos often conflict in their advice; it's now obvious in my ignorance I wasn't applying enough rosin; a cloud of rosin is a lot better than no rosin.

I'm playing my vioin again without changing the strings although I've got a full set of new steel strings in readiness for when the strings eventually need changing.

The adjusting screw on my hybrid bow is stiff; at first it screws OK until it starts to become really stiff; can these screws be lubricated without causing damage? I'm a mechanical engineer so am used to all kinds of lubricants.

I've just found this;



Kind regards, Col.
 
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You're talking about the precision tuners?

You're a mechanical engineer so I'm probably telling you what you know,
but it's most likely either friction or the tuning mechanisms are bottoming out.

You can rule out the latter by detuning with the fine tuners most of the way, then retuning using the pegs.
That ensures you've got plenty of inward travel left in the fine tuners.

If that wasn't it then I'd probably detune (ideally remove strings) and check the thumbscrew threads + hinges for free movement.
Most likely they just need a good clean due to build up of rosin dust over time.

My only concern with a wet lubricant would be that it might gather and hold that dust.
I suppose graphite might work? Thinking out loud...

That you say they start easy then get harder makes me think it's the first suggestion - Just hitting the end of travel.
 
Hi,

Many thanks for your informative reply @Steenamaroo I've possibly not explained correctly but it's not the violin tuners I have problems with; these are perfect and I understand fully how to use them.

The screw I find tight is the bow screw at the very end of the bow seen below;

1761124453418.webp


I do expected increased resistance as the screw is tightened but the resistance seems excessive and virtually locks once the hair is tensioned; releasing the screw needs a lot of effort and I'm strong. I'm wary of lubricating in case it changes the bows characteristics. I have many kinds of lubricant including graphite grease and of course graphite from a pencil with I use whilst replacing strings. I'm over careful but better than being sorry and I'm not scared of asking dumb questions; if I need to know something I ask. Thanks again; much appreciated.

Kind regards, Col.
 
Oh, I'm sorry. Re-reading your post, I see you did say 'bow'.
Do you feel the bow isn't tight enough when the screw becomes too hard to turn?

I've never undone one of those but I have a bow here - Might have to investigate!
 
Hi,

No need to apologize at all @Steenamaroo I was pleased to receive your well intentioned advice and information. The bow hair tightens OK it's just that I feel the adjusting screw should be easier to turn; I've no problem at all in removing the screw in fact I could run a tap & die down if I bought these with the correct thread; cutting threads as you'll know is second nature to a mechanical engineer.

I wondered what other violin players did if they too found the adjusting screw tight. I've got time now so I'll remove the screw and add candlewax to the threads. I'm just being picky.

Quick update; I've just removed the adjusting screw and applied candle wax with little improvement then I've wiped the threads and applied light oil; slight improvement at least it's easier to release. I've now had the opportunity to really inspect this adjusting screw and found the screwed section isn't axially aligned with the adjusting knob; this could well be causing the tightness and I can resolve it; I can chuck the screw in the lathe and use a DTI (dial test indicator) to gently bring both into axial alignment. I was hoping for a quick fix but it never works this way for me; it's possible I can also buy a new adjusting screw; I don't know but I can find out.

Violin bow screw_571.webp

Candle wax added.

1761136995897.webp


Two for £6.09 post free From Amazon; saves messing around in the workshop. I'm still learning all the time. On eBay they appear to be from China only although these might also come from China.



Kind regards, Col.
 
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Hi,

Nothing is going right at all this year. My wonderful wife passing away has turned my life upside down; at times I haven't a clue what I'm doing.

A thought popped into my head; why not simply swap bow adjusting screws over from my other bow I seldom use; brilliant idea.

Bow hair._574.webp

Here's what I found. in my misery and grief I must have forgotten to release bow tension; now there are lots of broken hairs. Solve one problem adopt a bigger problen. I need to learn how to re-hair a bow; I've got hot hide glue etc and mongolian horse tail hair bought from a reputable source.

Quote from the web;
Look for yellow colored hair. It more likely mare hair with better grip. Explanation. When the stallion urinates the tail hair is unaffected. When a mare relieves itself the tail is splashed and stained (have I got my physiology right?). Theory goes that the urine also 'corrodes"(?) and makes the hair rougher in texture - hence better grip with the rosin on the strings. Believable?

I'd better make a mug of tea before the roof falls in.

Kind regards, Col.
 
Haven't had a proper read yet, but I'll just say I slacken my cello bow every time I put it in its case.
 
Hi,

Thanks @Slouching Raymond I too usually take care to slacken the bow hair but as I stated I'm all over the place due to Bron passing away; this bow with the broken hair belongs to my Hidersine violin which I seldm play so it's in the case for long periods and this I think is why the hairs broke accidently leaving the bow in tension; there's also been extremes of heat regarding the weather which won't have helped.

Kind regards, Col.
 
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