Hi everyone. I've long been looking for a fiddle durable enough to take hiking and into the rough stuff of real travel, while being portable and light as well. Since a carbon fiber instrument is about $5,000 out of my price range, I was looking at cheap kit fiddles, until I found this:

http://www.wiplstix.com/ws/what_is_wiplstix.html

 

It seems like exactly what I've been looking for- light, durable, and full scale-length- but it's also pricey.

 

So my question is: can a DIY version be made?

 

It's a simple instrument. The body and neck are made of one piece of wood. The tuning pegs are simple zither pins. The fingerboard, nut, bridge and tailpiece are premade and the same as a normal violin's. The sound holes are crescent-moon shaped (like a rebec) not the complicated f-holes of a standard instrument. And best of all, the whole thing fits in a durable, watertight case made of cheap PVC pipe.

 

It seems destined to be copied in the cigar box movement- I'd like to try it but I need some help. I have the proper tools but I have not attempted to carve something like this before. I need advice on wood selection, how to copy the relevant dimensions of a normal fiddle, making the body/neck, making the soundboard, how to carve out a good soundbox, and how to glue the fingerboard/nut on correctly.


Any advice would be greatly appreciated- Thanks

 

 

Views: 2829

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

 

Yes, a DIY version is absolutely possible ;-)

Turk, did you do a builder's blog about this one?

 

I've been looking at this one for a long time, and was planning to start on something similar this fall.  I have the wood and everything.

 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.223584237655639.73761.1000...

Wow, that's an amazing build Turkish! Looks professionally done. I would love to see a blog/etc about it as well.

Standard measurements:    http://www.karlroyviolinbook.com/pdfs/Append682-3.pdf

I assume and recommend you buy the fingerboard and the bridge as these two items determine the playability of the pochette. You may have to carve a new bridge that is lower in height but it's good to have an original to work from to copy the correct radius. I have never built a pochette but have built an few electrics. I'm not a fan of zither tuners but each to their own.

Don

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
Thumbnail

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

"i See Your ready to Blow away the GRAND STADIUM ! tree strings more of DAR DELIGHT !! Shine Girl !…"
2 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you for the kind comments Doug! Glad you liked the Picture !"
2 hours ago
BrianQ. commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
6 hours ago
BrianQ. liked Dar Stellabotta's video
6 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Project Punch!

" Thank ya again Keith!"
8 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Punch Project!

" Thank Ya Keith!"
8 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on AGP #'s photo
Thumbnail

AGP #527 - ''Led-Zep 2''

"This build really strung you along Alan! Reminded me of all my fishing line experiments; a lot of…"
10 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Diggin’ the slow blues. I like that last pic Andries! Look at all those cool guitars. Yeah!!!"
10 hours ago
Dar Stellabotta posted a video

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

This video is the unboxing and the demonstration of a beautiful, six stringer built by Louie Lamanna. Join Louie and I June 15 at the second annual Pittsburg...
11 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter to you too Andries! The passion is definitely in full swing. Turns out I’m…"
12 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter Doug ! the Passion is in full swing !"
12 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Ricky D's photo
12 hours ago

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->