Electric Strings Monthly
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Editorial:
Andy
Design&Production:
Andy
Administration:
Andy
Finance:
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Advertising:
This is it
Marketing:
Please tell someone
Correspondence:
20 Brewers Wharf, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24
1ET, U.K.
Telephone:
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If you would like to contribute to this newsletter with details about new products, new music or just news, then please send me an email.
Although this newsletter is light-hearted in it's style
please note that the content is copyrighted and remains the property of Andy Holliman,
Achieve Instruments. No part of the contents may be reproduced, in print or electronically
(except for your own personal use) or stored in an information retrieval system or
workshop or bathroom without the prior permission of the author.
In Previous Ask Andys:
#1-Do I need a
Preamp?
#2-What wood is best?
#3-LR Baggs Para DI Box
#4-Strings fitting & Octave
#5-Bow Bugs
#6-Anti Virus Software
#7-All about Midi and Zeta
#8-Amplifiers
#9-Effect
Pedals
#10-Earths and Hums
#11-OctaveStrings
#12-Silent Violins
#13-Not a lot
#14-UK/USA costs
#15-Viruses
Welcome to newsletter number 17. I hope you
like it. If you do, please tell others, if you don't, please tell me.
It is my endeavour to be
completely fair in the things that I write or tell you from these pages. If you feel that
I have voiced anything that is inaccurate or unfair, please let me know. Lots of things to
tell you so let's get on with it...
If
you would like me to publish details about any of your equipment or products then please
send me some information.
It is not often that I am able to report of a new violin pickup maker. But, just like
busses when you are waiting for one to come along three arrive all together!
Headway Electronics here in the U.K. have announced three new violin
pickups. Headway are known for their guitar and mandolin pickup and associated
electronics. The new pickup details (from the Headway brochure)
are as follows:
The Band is based on a flat flexible tube which straps around the violin and velcros itself. The tube contains a 1/4 inch jack socket. This pickup can be fitted and removed to any acoustic violin.
You can see full details of this pickups installation at: http://www.headwayelectronics.com/band_instruct.html
Headway intend to produce a version of the band suitable for all orchestral stringed instruments. The price for the violin Band is £129.95
The VL3 is an integral Violin Bridge pickup system with a Belt Mount Pre-Amp. The bridge comes with self adjusting feet so that all that needs to be done is to shape the top to the correct height. Obviously the bridge can be further refined in it's shaping as required by a luthier. It comes with a 3 band EQ and volume, 3 stage low frequency filter attempts to remove bowing noise and residual hum. The multi stage pre-amp is harmonically enhanced to add richness and sparkle.
The VL1 (available soon) has fully screened multi-pickup elements fitted within the entire length of the lower, thicker part of a standard Aubert bridge blank. It has a pre-amp located within the jack socket using very small components on a dualsided circuit. It is powered by a small coin battery. Further details will be available when the product ships.
Headway's web site is at: http://www.headwayelectronics.com/ full product details of the above pickups will be apearing soon.
You may have noticed that last month I updated my web site but didn't issue a Newsletter. I have added a Frequently Asked Questions link to the Contents list. This will take you to a page where you can see get immediate access to my Ask Andy pages on all the various Newsletters, rather than searching for them randomly. I hope it is useful to you.
I have also added a new Forum called The Music Dealers Network. This is new and currently does not have many discussion threads but keep checking or participate and make it what you want. In addition to their forum if you click on their logo at the bottom of my Contents list you will go to their main site which holds a lot of information including a database of makers, an auction area and pages for teachers and students trying to find teachers.
I had an interesting email from Michael Edringer who runs www.StringAmp.dk in Denmark. Michael holds the view that standard piezo transducers are not as good as his StringAmp (tm) system for violins. This view was challenged by a Double Bass maker. So Michael made a few piezo pickups to prove his point. However the comparison did not go well! The customer prefered his new piezo pickups!! So Michael is now selling two different types of piezo transducers for Double Bass players.
1. Single or dual differential for fitting under the bridge feet, without changing the bridge and
2. Single or dual differential for fitting in the hole by the bridge wing.
Michael is still selling and developing his StringAmp (tm) system and now has a new web site address at: www.StringAmp.com
His web site has some very interesting information about how pickups work and the various alternatives that have been tried. Here is an extract about his StringAmp(tm) system:
The StringAmp™ way.
The StringAmp™ - by wire or not, works by inducing a minute electrical current into the strings- by the movement of the string in a specially shaped and calibrated magnetic field.
It is a basic linear velocity transducer, and very refined, too.
There is no added weight to the instruments“moving parts.
Every string is separately adjustable for an even volume, and follows the frequency characteristics of each string. Of those who play it, most have tried *everything* else in years of endless searching for the right sound, to great expense and exasperation.
To them StringAmp™ is Heaven. Of course, the StringAmp™ doesn“t stop them from experimenting. Only , after playing around, they stay with StringAmp™.
A violinmaker in Norway, Urs Wenk-Wolff, really hated electric violins, period!, until he tried a StringAmp™ violin. He is now a StringAmp™ representative.
Pro“s: StringAmp™ is the only pickup system that will produce a truly high quality sound, and lasting value.
You can use a nice acoustic violin and have both options in one, enhancing the electric sound without acoustic compromises.
It is a mature product refined through 25 years.
Future Improvements in technology are compatible with previously installed instruments.
We have customers with systems installed over 20 years ago coming in for a checkup, going out with a new preamp, taking advantage of the latest advances in preamp technology.
The instrument maintenance required is mainly a change of strings = a fresh new set of pickup elements.
Con“s: StringAmp™ is not a cheap solution. Real quality is never really cheap. Proper installation is a must.
It won“t work with all strings.
Additionally, Michael has setup some handmade acoustic violins with the StringAmp system for customers to try out. So if you are interested do visit his website and then give him a call.
New Zeta Prices for the U.K.:
I have published a new Zeta price list for all of Zeta's
violins, violas, cellos and basses here in the U.K. Nearly all of the prices are
DOWN (around £300 cheaper) and in line with the US retail pricing. You can find
the list if you click on Zeta Instruments in my sidebar or click here to go direct:
http://users.netmatters.co.uk/holliman/Fah090.html
Previous
Articles:
Pickups:
http://www.stringsmagazine.com/issues/strings83/Longmkt.shtml
Ithaca:
http://ithacastring.com/articles.html
Violin
Making:
http://guitarplans.co.uk/
and:
http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~kehinger/ee107/violin.html
Soft
Cases:
http://www.soundwear.com/ and http://www.dimbath.de/
Octave Strings:
http://www.supersensitive.com
Web
Site Changes
New
Pictures
New
Links
The
Electric Violin Book
The
Electric violin book is now being sold in Euros and costs 81Euros. You will have to check
the current conversion rates for Euros to Dollars/Pounds etc. There are several web sites
for converting Euros to local currencies. The easiest lookup table I have found is at: http://www.x-rates.com/d/EUR/table.html
When you have decided that money is no object and you just have to have this book, please place your order at: http://users.netmatters.co.uk/holliman/Fah100.html#Book
New
Music
I
will use this section to inform you of new music that I have been introduced to that
features electric violin. So if you have something to contribute to this column, please
let me know the details.
Mary Lou Newmark ( http://www.greenangelmusic.com/
) and
Stuart Wyatt (http://www.solostring.com/)
Alex Papadiamantis (http//www.geocities.com/almant2)
Forums
You
now have access to:
Zeta's Online Users Forum - For existing Zeta users.
Stuart Wyatt's Solostrings - For electric fiddle players
Kyle Aaron's Fiddle Forum - For both electric and acoustic players
Mark O'Connor's Forum - For all sorts
of fiddling styles
Ask
Andy
Go on, ask me something! Or check out my FAQ list.
Best
wishes
Andy
H
Any suggestions for future discussions, Click to Email me
Bye
for now,
Andy
Holliman
Achieve Instruments:
Chief Designer, Paint Sprayer, Varnish
Consultant, Marketing Manager, Receptionist, Secretary, Web Designer, Tea Boy and
Newsletter Editor.
Links from around the World
The Electric Violin Book
The Only book on Electric Bowed Stringed Instruments in the World
Music Dealers Auctions
