Fiddles and cellos as raw materials

Does anyone have an opinion on taking a fiddle (or this old clunker of a 3/4 cello I have) and making it into a dulcimer CBG etc.? The results would seem to be resonant creatures (I think) but what would you cut, what must you leave in the structure of the fiddle? Is scale length an issue? Any thoughts are of interest. Thanks, PRH

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • I'm wondering what happened with this cello?

    my first advise would be to attempt salvage of it, and play it, but if it is determined to be beyond repair, it should make a nice start for some sort of home-built fiddle!

    Best

    rc

  • 305757105?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024Whiskey Box bowed dulci
  • Nice video!
    This guy seems to have replaced the carved top with a flat one making the fit easier (neck/fretboard to top). The rough materials I have still have the top and body integrity so I'm looking at the fit between top curve and fretboard to mate up.
    It's all in my mind for now since I want to finish pursuing the license plate guitars I've started.
    On the dulcimer front the interesting youtubes I found as a result of the link you provided are;
    Box Dulcimer Demo
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CGG681qceY&feature=related
    Foldable GuQin
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZJQNYLdFuY&feature=related
    Pocket Dulcimer
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mucef-TrRQ&feature=related
    and for the modern maniacs out there,
    iPhone Dulcimer (an oxymoron if I ever heard one)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5Gra5mS61w&feature=related

    Thanks to all for the input, camera is charging, pix of my second CBG to follow.
    PRH

    Wray said:
    PRH, No way if that cello is in any kind of shape would I use it for a build. Now having got that out of my system, here's a link to one of our members dulcifiddle. His name is Randy Adams,check him out for info.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2MTN6cunVc&feature=related
    P.S. I got a brand new fiddle to trade for your cello if you still wanna try it!
  • PRH, No way if that cello is in any kind of shape would I use it for a build. Now having got that out of my system, here's a link to one of our members dulcifiddle. His name is Randy Adams,check him out for info.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2MTN6cunVc&feature=related
    P.S. I got a brand new fiddle to trade for your cello if you still wanna try it!
  • Are you just going to take off the neck and use the body as a soundbox? Then it goes just like any other CBG build, except you can't open it up during construction. Choose your own VSL.
  • we're all kinda new to this fiddle thing. i think u need to keep the integrity of the body intact, the rest is an experiment
    good luck
  • Send me that clunker cello! Put some frets on in and you've got an upright bass!
This reply was deleted.