Electric Strings: A Detailed Guide to Electric Violin Construction
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I have written a new book entitled, 'Electric Strings: A Detailed Guide to Electric Violin Construction'. This book is an in depth, step by step guide from the design process through to the construction of the final finished instrument accompanied by a comprehensive set of photographs of every stage in the making process. The instrument that I will be making and documenting is my Griffin electric violin. It has 256 pages and some 150 photographs and diagrams. At the bottom of this page you will see the actual table of contents for the book, listing all the sections that I have written about.
The book is supplied on a CD in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. This means that you can read and or print it from your computer.
The following items are on the CD:
The Book/CD costs £32 which includes
postage and packing.
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20 Brewers Wharf,
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Nottinghamshire,
NG24 1ET,
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| U.K. | 24 |
| U.S.A. | 20 |
| Australia | 4 |
| Holland | 3 |
| Belgium | 1 |
| Germany | 1 |
| Spain | 1 |
| Sweden | 1 |
| France | 1 |
| South Africa | 1 |
Comments and Pictures received:
I've been through your CD Book
thoroughly, and give it an A+ (Excellent). I have to consume tech manuals at work with all
the different systems I work on, and can see your background in computers is paying off.
Information has a logical flow, and can be broken down in blocks, all that remains is how
much detail you want or need to go into.
I think you'll reach a broad spectrum of interested people with the CD.
I think you've placed the proper amount of pictures to related text and the picture
quality is just right. Plus all the related resource links, and your entire web site.
From Mark in the USA
This superb looking instrument was made by Gunnar Sjodin, in Sweden, having followed the instructions in my book that he bought.
This Instrument was made by Scott Duncan:
"Thank you again for all the help and support.
The book was an enormous help, without it I
wouldn't have had a chance. It was wonderfully put together and easy to follow.
My
This is the actual table of contents for the book.
SECTION |
TITLE |
1 |
INTRODUCTION |
2 |
THE DESIGN |
2.1 |
Key Measurements |
2.2 |
Design Introduction |
2.3 |
Design The Head |
2.3.1 |
Pegs |
2.3.2 |
Mandolin Machine Heads |
2.3.3 |
Miniature Guitar Machine Heads |
2.3.4 |
Reverse Tuning Machine Heads |
2.4 |
Design The Body Shape |
2.4.1 |
Design The Body Template |
2.4.2 |
Design Rules |
2.4.3 |
Design Ideas |
2.5 |
Make A Working Template |
2.5.1 |
Half Template |
2.5.2 |
Finish The Template |
2.6 |
Order The Wood |
2.6.2 |
Order Violin Parts |
2.6.3 |
Order The Pickup |
2.6.4 |
Order The Small Parts |
2.7 |
The Griffin |
3 |
THE BODY |
3.1 |
Flatten The Body |
3.2 |
Pin The Outline |
3.3 |
Draw The Outline |
3.4 |
Cut Out The Outline |
3.5 |
Cut Out The Holes |
3.6 |
Prepare The Outline |
3.7 |
Shape The Cut-Outs |
3.8 |
Mark Out The Centre Hole |
3.9 |
Drill The Centre Hole |
3.10 |
Finish the centre hole |
3.11 |
Hollow The Back |
3.11.1 |
Mark Out The Hollowing |
3.11.2 |
Drill Out The Hollows |
3.11.3 |
Finish The Hollows |
3.12 |
Make The Back Plate |
3.12.1 |
Mark Out The Back Plate |
3.12.2 |
Mark the Retaining Holes |
3.12.3 |
Fit The Back Plate |
3.12.4 |
Mark And Cut The Inner Holes |
3.12.5 |
Finish The Back Plate |
3.12.6 |
Back Plate Top Curve |
3.13 |
Create The Edge Work |
3.14 |
Finish the Body |
3.15 |
Make The Bridge Plinth |
4 |
THE NECK |
4.1 |
The Neck Template |
4.2 |
The Width Of The Neck |
4.3 |
Prepare The Neck Block |
4.4 |
Peg Hole Positions |
4.5 |
Cut Out The Neck Profile |
4.6 |
Shape The Profile Of The Neck |
4.7 |
Mark Up The 'Scroll' |
4.8 |
Mark Up The 'Fishtail' |
4.9 |
The 'Fishtail' |
4.9.1 |
Draw On The Fishtail |
4.10 |
Mark Out The Peg Box |
4.10.1 |
Peg Box Template |
4.11 |
Initial Peg Holes |
4.12 |
Rough Cut The Scroll |
4.13 |
Chamfer The Edges |
4.14 |
The Volute |
4.15 |
The Fluting |
4.16 |
The Peg Box |
4.16.1 |
Mark Out The Box |
4.16.2 |
Cut The Box |
4.17 |
Scroll Check List |
4.18 |
Finish the Body End |
4.19 |
Make The Fingerboard |
4.19.1 |
The Base |
4.19.2 |
Nut End |
4.19.3 |
Create The Dogleg |
4.19.4 |
Cut The Length |
4.19.5 |
Set The Widths |
4.19.6 |
Set The Edge Thickness |
4.19.7 |
The Fingerboard Top |
4.19.8 |
Mark The Neck Block |
4.20 |
Fingerboard dimensions Summary |
4.21 |
Prepare To Glue The Fingerboard |
4.21.1 |
Making Glue |
4.22 |
Glue On The Fingerboard |
4.23 |
Mark Out The Neck Root |
4.24 |
Preliminary Neck Shaping |
4.25 |
Create the Button |
4.26 |
Neck Fitting - The Rules |
4.27 |
Draw the Mortise |
4.28 |
Cut the Mortise |
4.29 |
Gluing In The Neck |
4.30 |
Mark out the Button |
4.31 |
Neck Finishing Templates |
4.32 |
Neck Thickness |
4.33 |
Neck Curve |
4.34 |
Final Checks |
5 |
FITTING UP |
5.1 |
Top Nut |
5.2 |
Fingerboard Finishing |
5.3 |
Peg Fitting |
5.3.1 |
Making Peg Shavers |
5.3.2 |
Shape The Pegs |
5.3.3 |
Cutting The Peg Hole |
5.3.4 |
String Holes And Peg Lengths |
5.4 |
Saddle |
5.5 |
End Pin |
5.6 |
Tailpieces |
5.6.1 |
Finishing Standard Tailpieces |
5.6.2 |
E String Adjusters |
5.7 |
Alloy Tailpieces |
6 |
PICKUPS |
6.1 |
Pickup Choice |
6.2 |
Fitting The Ashworth |
6.2.1 |
Shape The Top |
6.2.2 |
Make the outer String Slots |
6.2.3 |
Cut the Feet |
6.2.4 |
Make all the String Slots |
6.2.5 |
Drill the Hole for the wire |
6.2.6 |
Fit the Jack Socket |
6.3 |
Chin Rest Support |
6.4 |
Reshape the Back Plate |
6.5 |
Countersink the fixing holes |
7 |
SURFACE FINISHING |
7.1 |
Before you Start |
7.1.1 |
Check List |
7.2 |
Preparation |
7.3 |
Stain the Peg Box Walls |
7.4 |
Neck Stain |
7.5 |
Stain the Body and Scroll |
7.6 |
Varnishing |
7.6.1 |
Varnish The Back Plate |
7.6.2 |
Varnish the Body |
7.6.3 |
Polishing |
8 |
FINAL FITTING UP |
8.1 |
Pickup |
8.2 |
Jack Socket |
8.3 |
Wiring |
8.4 |
Back Plate |
8.5 |
Pegs |
8.6 |
Tailpiece |
8.7 |
Strings |
8.8 |
Chin Rest |
8.9 |
Fitting Up Attention To Detail |
8.9.1 |
Pegs |
8.9.2 |
Nut |
8.9.3 |
Finger-Board |
8.9.4 |
Bridge |
8.9.5 |
Sound-Post (Acoustic Only) |
8.9.6 |
End Pin |
8.9.7 |
Tail-Piece |
8.9.8 |
Saddle |
8.9.9 |
Chin Rest |
8.9.10 |
Neck |
8.9.11 |
Finish |
8.10 |
Finished? |
9 |
PLUGGING IN AND PLAYING |
9.1 |
Tactile Checks |
9.2 |
Buzzing Checks |
9.3 |
Connection Checks |
9.4 |
Sound Checks |
9.4.1 |
Unwanted Sound |
9.4.2 |
Volume |
9.4.3 |
Amplifier Choice |
9.4.4 |
Equalisation |
9.4.5 |
A Few Amplifier Suggestions |
9.4.5.1 |
Zeta |
9.4.5.2 |
AER |
9.4.5.3 |
Trace Elliot |
9.5 |
Conclusion |
10 |
SOME OF MY DESIGNS |
11 |
LIST OF ALL MEASUREMENTS |
11.1 |
Arching Height Front |
11.2 |
Body Width lower bouts |
11.3 |
Bridge Total Width |
12 |
COMPLETE TOOLS LIST |
12.1 |
Tools Used |
13 |
SUPPLIERS |
13.1 |
Wood Suppliers |
13.2 |
Tool Suppliers |
13.3 |
Cases |
14 |
MY HISTORY |
15 |
ADDITIONAL NOTES |
15.1 |
Wood For Violin Making |
15.1.1 |
Spruce |
15.1.2 |
Maple |
15.1.3 |
Bass Wood/American Lime |
15.2 |
Conversion of wood |
15.3 |
Buying wood |
15.3.1 |
Spruce |
15.3.2 |
Maple |
15.3.3 |
American LIME |
15.4 |
Violin Amplification |
15.4.1 |
Acoustic Sound |
15.4.2 |
Makeup of Sound |
15.4.3 |
Electric Violin Sound |
15.4.4 |
Pickup Decision Criteria |
15.4.5 |
Nuances of Sound |
15.4.6 |
Permanent / Removable |
15.4.7 |
Passive / Active |
15.4.8 |
Power Output |
15.4.9 |
MIDI |
15.4.10 |
Listening / Feeling |
15.4.11 |
Judgement |
15.5 |
Pickup Types |
15.5.1 |
Electric/Acoustic Bridge Pickup |
15.5.1.1 |
L.R.Baggs |
15.5.1.2 |
Barcus Berry |
15.5.2 |
Electric Solid Body Pickup |
15.5.2.1 |
Ashworth AJ series |
15.5.2.2 |
Barberra |
15.5.3 |
Attachment Pickup for Acoustic |
15.5.3.1 |
Fishman |
15.5.3.2 |
Barcus Berry Clampon |
15.5.3.3 |
Headway |
15.5.3.4 |
C-Ducer |
15.5.4 |
Electromagnetic |
15.5.4.1 |
Bowtronics |
15.5.5 |
Soundpost Replacement |
15.5.5.1 |
Stephan Kurmann |
15.5.6 |
Stick-on Bugs for Acoustic |
15.5.6.1 |
Ashworth |
15.5.6.2 |
King Brown Hand Crafts |
15.5.7 |
Microphone for Acoustic |
15.5.7.1 |
Fishman |
15.5.7.2 |
Microvox |
15.6 |
List of Pickup Makers |
15.7 |
Fitting An Acoustic Bridge |
15.7.1 |
Positioning The Bridge |
15.7.2 |
Bridge Fitting Steps |
15.7.3 |
Fitting The Bridge Feet |
15.7.4 |
Bridge Height |
15.7.5 |
Outer String Grooves |
15.7.6 |
Flatten The Back |
15.7.7 |
Thickness The Top |
15.7.8 |
Arch The Front |
15.7.9 |
Finish The Top |
15.7.10 |
Cut The Heart |
15.7.11 |
Trim The Ears |
15.7.12 |
Cut The Feet |
15.7.13 |
Knee And Leg Thickness |
15.7.14 |
Chamfer The Sides |
15.7.15 |
Insert The Wing Cuts |
15.7.16 |
Colour The Bridge |
15.7.17 |
Brand The Bridge |
15.7.18 |
Chalk The Feet |
15.7.19 |
Graphite The Grooves |
15.7.20 |
Vellum The E String |
15.8 |
FITTING AN L.R.BAGGS BRIDGE |
15.8.1 |
Bridge Holder |
15.8.2 |
Alignment |
15.8.3 |
Fit the Feet |
15.8.4 |
Top curve |
15.8.5 |
Arch the front |
15.8.6 |
Cut the Heart and the Ears |
15.8.7 |
Side chamfers |
15.8.8 |
Outer feet curves |
15.8.9 |
Lower Arch |
15.8.10 |
Vellum the E string |
15.8.11 |
Solder the Wire |
15.8.12 |
Carpenter Jack |
15.8.13 |
Pickup Wire |
15.8.14 |
Strings |
16 |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
17 |
BOOK CREATION |
17.1 |
Software |
17.2 |
Photographs |
17.3 |
CD Duplication |
17.4 |
Book Binding |
17.5 |
ISBN Information |
17.6 |
Barcode for ISBN number |
18 |
INDEX |
Frequently Asked Questions about the book
1. Why is the book only available as a CD, why not a printed book?
The book has some 256 pages and most have coloured photographs on them. The cost of printing the book commercially would be very expensive. I did get a quotation and each book would have cost about £160. The postage would also have been higher. However, as it is supplied on a CD in Adobe PDF format, you can print it, section by section if you wish on your own printer. I purchased an HP Deskjet 6122 printer for £134. This can not only print in colour but it can also print double sided. If you are thinking of getting a new printer you might like to consider this option. Alternatively, if you know of a commercial printing company that will take Adobe PDF then you could get your own quotation for having the book printed. It might be a lot cheaper in your country/area. Finally, If your place of work would allow you, you could print the book at work and possibly print it for free!!.
2. Can I use the book to create my own electric violin design?
Yes. The book shows you all the steps required. The actual design is up to you. All of the steps, processes, techniques, measurements, setup, and the details about pickups, wood, equipment etc etc can all be applied to your own design.
3. Could I use the book to make a Viola or a Cello?
Yes. If this is what you want to do, then let me know and I will send you all the viola or cello measurements to replace the violin measurements. The steps, processes, techniques, setup, and the details about pickups, wood, equipment etc etc can all be applied to a viola or a cello.
4. I am a student at school and cannot afford the book, can you help?
Yes. I would suggest that you print off this page and give it to your teacher of Design and Technology or even to your school librarian and ask if they would buy it for your project. The school would then have the CD available for other students to use in this or later years. If they need any further information then ask them to send me an email.
5. What happens when I open a Paypay account?
You asked asked to supply your name and address details and, from a secure server your creadit card details. When you open your PayPal account they will deduct a very small sum, about £1.50. This is immediately refunded as soon as you place an order via PayPal. This fee is to ensure that you are serious about setting up an account.
6. How long will the CD take to arrive?
I check my PayPay account every evening and if there are orders for the book I put the CD and a covering letter into a jiffy bag and post it to you the very next morning. I post it first class and via Air Mail if it is going abroard. Most people have received the CD within 1 week.