Posted by stan bryars on August 22, 2009 at 4:24pm
I just got a cheap ugly green violin that I want to turn into a great ugly green guitar
Any suggestions on removing the neck without damage to the neck or body
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I'm really enjoying this conversation. I just got this off e-bay for $25 with postage. Thought the case was worth it to carry a ukulele in. Not sure what I was going to do with the violin. Now I'm getting the idea! Thanks.
If by soundpost you mean a small dowel, then mine fell out and I couldn't really figure out where it went
So I'm glad to hear that it isn't necessary
By taking the top off I found that I can simply file around a truss that runs lengthwise instead of cutting half the stick away to go around it
Hopefully I can use a short stick somewhere else
My son has claimed the guitar when it's finished (I had hoped to sell it)
I finally have a project he would be happy to own and show his "musician" friends, which of course will hopefully bring in customers
These violins sell for less than $50 with no shipping charges on e-bay so it would not be to very expensive to build another later, not green
Good sruff - glad it came off in one piece!
I put the bridge where it is purely based on ease of fitting and playing. I put mine where the body flattens off a bit so I didnt have to match the body curve. Its also well out of the way when playing.
As for sound, it resonates nicely... I wasnt really thinking acoustics when I built mine - more for looks, so I took the soundpost out for ease of fitting the neck. If I built another Id probably try to leave it in and put the bridge where it should be (directly over the post) - it should sound good!
I'm starting to think that this may not be one of those quality built $50 violins
Thanks for the suggestion of taking the top off, saved me a lot of work,I have had pickle jars that were harder to open
All it took was scribing a little at the glue and separating with finger pressure and then running my trusty Ginzu knock off kitchen knife around the edge
Less than five minutes work and I found all kinds of things that would have made my idea not work or at least take forever to get right
Now in less than 30 minutes the neck is fitted, and the jack is installed
All that is left is tail piece , bridge and finger board considerations and whether I want to scale this thing down to fit in the case or if I will save the case for another idea I have, A mini self contained busker set up
I was thinking about retro fitting the original bridge and setting it back a few inches to right about where the F holes start, similar to my old Harmony
I notice that you both have your bridges in different places
Hi mate - glad you got the neck off ok! I would have suggested being brave - if its an old one the glue aint very strong and they just snap off. I built a diddly bow from an old violin - It started out as a guitar but being only a 3/4 size it was a bit small! Anyway, I would suggest taking the top (or bottom) off the violin completely to allow for good access - if you're using a through neck my bet is the soundpost will be exactly in the way of where you want you neck! The tops and backs are just glued along the seam so a sharp chisel and delicate pressure should pop it off... Cant wait to see it man! :o)
Replies
A Cresent right?
I wanted to scale my guitar to fit in the case and add a amp and speaker
I may just gut the case and use it to ship a guitar out if I ever get that far
I'm really enjoying this conversation. I just got this off e-bay for $25 with postage. Thought the case was worth it to carry a ukulele in. Not sure what I was going to do with the violin. Now I'm getting the idea! Thanks.So I'm glad to hear that it isn't necessary
By taking the top off I found that I can simply file around a truss that runs lengthwise instead of cutting half the stick away to go around it
Hopefully I can use a short stick somewhere else
My son has claimed the guitar when it's finished (I had hoped to sell it)
I finally have a project he would be happy to own and show his "musician" friends, which of course will hopefully bring in customers
These violins sell for less than $50 with no shipping charges on e-bay so it would not be to very expensive to build another later, not green
I put the bridge where it is purely based on ease of fitting and playing. I put mine where the body flattens off a bit so I didnt have to match the body curve. Its also well out of the way when playing.
As for sound, it resonates nicely... I wasnt really thinking acoustics when I built mine - more for looks, so I took the soundpost out for ease of fitting the neck. If I built another Id probably try to leave it in and put the bridge where it should be (directly over the post) - it should sound good!
Thanks for the suggestion of taking the top off, saved me a lot of work,I have had pickle jars that were harder to open
All it took was scribing a little at the glue and separating with finger pressure and then running my trusty Ginzu knock off kitchen knife around the edge
Less than five minutes work and I found all kinds of things that would have made my idea not work or at least take forever to get right
Now in less than 30 minutes the neck is fitted, and the jack is installed
All that is left is tail piece , bridge and finger board considerations and whether I want to scale this thing down to fit in the case or if I will save the case for another idea I have, A mini self contained busker set up
I was thinking about retro fitting the original bridge and setting it back a few inches to right about where the F holes start, similar to my old Harmony
I notice that you both have your bridges in different places
Hi mate - glad you got the neck off ok! I would have suggested being brave - if its an old one the glue aint very strong and they just snap off. I built a diddly bow from an old violin - It started out as a guitar but being only a 3/4 size it was a bit small! Anyway, I would suggest taking the top (or bottom) off the violin completely to allow for good access - if you're using a through neck my bet is the soundpost will be exactly in the way of where you want you neck! The tops and backs are just glued along the seam so a sharp chisel and delicate pressure should pop it off... Cant wait to see it man! :o)there is no way I can see that the body will support the neck with string tension, I already have a micro split that I am going to have to repair
This is going to have to be a stick through build, but the back screw can double as a strap retainer I guess
the body is intact but part of the neck that is glued to the body snapped off
Both pieces are still completely usable and I think I will be able to fish a piezo and jack in it from the neck hole
The only thing left to decide is if I want to use a poplar stick and paint it green or oak and stain it pretty
Maybe I'll compromise and paint all but the finger board green and stain that a nice light oak
This green is so ugly it's pretty
maybe I'll do some sort of St Paddy theme in honor of my Irish grandmother