Laurent Bernadac – a violinist and engineer – has introduced the 3Dvarius – a new electric violin design, based on a model of a real Stradivarius violin and created by 3D printing technology.
The body of the 3Dvarius is printed as a single piece, departing from traditional musical instrument production and giving it a very unique property: according to the designer, this allows for optimal sound-wave flow throughout the instrument, offering the violinist excellent sound control.
Here’s a demo of the 3Dvarius in performance, along with a Stradivarius:
Production of the 3Dvarius is being funded via a Kickstarter campaign. The 3Dvarius is available to project backers for €6,299.
The 3Dvarius sounds quite good, and probably offers some sonic options that would be difficult to achieve with an acoustic instrument. One obvious difference from the real violin was that the tone was simpler– it seemed to have the same spectrum, but with less complexity. Less obvious, perhaps, but the acoustic instrument would ring more on the releases making it sound more resonant and forming something of a natural reverb from the other strings and the body.
I think this kind of instrument is a very worthwhile pursuit and allows people who have already invested time and effort to play violin to explore new sounds.
Maybe not EXACTLY the first. There was also this technology demo from 2011: http://www.wired.co.uk/article/3d-printed-stradivarius-violin-eos
Say what? This sounds like a fine instrument in the videos (though obviously different from a real Stradivarius even in my crappy iPad speakers), but what does it mean to say that a violin that does not have a traditional resonating body is “modeled on a real Stradivarius”? A violin’s sound is determined by the shape and material of the resonating body. This violin is shaped nothing like a Strad. And how does being manufactured in a single piece contribute to “optimal sound wave flow through the instrument”? A lead pipe is manufactured in one piece. “Sound wave flow” seems very “optimal” (whatever that means) in lots of traditional instruments assembled out of many parts. Finally, I personally handled and heard played a very fine sounding 3D printed violin in San Francisco early last year, so this is likely not the first.
Lots of bullshit alarms going off here. It is a very nice sounding instrument, so I don’t know why they have to say all this nonsense.
Just another electric violin, nothing new except that it was 3d printed. How are you meant to use those tuners when it’s under your chin?
Took the words right out of my – uhh – fingers.
He does play it well though.
+1
Neother the first 3d printed violin. Nor is it anything like a Stradivarius.
I think 3D printing is cool, but there are some ‘printable objects’ that are not a good idea given the materials. I saw that someone built a stratocaster out of compressed, laminated cardboard. It’s an impressive feat considering the stress string tension put on the neck join and body. Unfortunately it sounded like total ass. Same with the 3D printed guitars I’ve seen. If there is any tone at all, it’s mostly a function of the electronics. Maybe this violin would be good for the shower. 😉
It probably has a Raspberry PI Zero onboard triggering Kontakt samples of a Strad 😉
I have the bs alarms going off too. He’s playing it through a Marshall guitar amp, but the tone does not sound like it’s through a guitar amp. The Strad is distant mic’d with a condenser and the amp is close mic’d with a 57 (and would also be picking up in the Strad mic). As a sound tech, what I’m seeing doesn’t match what I’m hearing.