Five-string violin/viola

February 22, 2008 at 06:13 PM · Brittany Haas uses one.

February 22, 2008 at 07:50 PM · The 5 string violin can come in handy for your style of music I'm sure. There is a wonderful concerto written by Woldemar for the instrument...which he called the violin alto. It's an early 19th century piece that I bring up only to express that the idea of the 5 string violin is nothing new.

On another note, there is a maker of electric violins not so far from my home that makes a 7 string instrument that would probably be fun for you. http://www.jordanmusic.com

February 22, 2008 at 10:52 PM · Interesting is there anywhere I could listen to that concerto?

Also the five-string I ordered is an acoustic instrument, I am not especially into electrics:-)

February 22, 2008 at 10:54 PM · Is there such an instrument labeled a 5 string violin or is same considered a viola ?

I don't really know.

Someone please help me in this regard.

February 22, 2008 at 11:03 PM · Is a 5 string violin the same size as a 4 string ?

I'm confused.

February 22, 2008 at 11:55 PM · I've seen lots of them for sale. Never heard ons played. Check the infamous Ebay, I think there's one up now.

February 23, 2008 at 12:19 AM · There are 5-string fiddles that have the same scale length as a normal violin, and 5-string violas with bigger bodies, longer scales, and darker tone.

Scale length on the violas is limited to about 14 inches because it's hard to get longer E strings. The challenge is to get a good balance between C and E strings.

I've played a lot of what's on the market and I'm developing my own designs based on a proven short-scale soloist viola, and will make both violin size and viola size instruments.

I'm thinking the instruments will be good enough that teachers who teach violin and viola, as well as orchestra teachers, will find it more convenient to carry around than two separate instruments, and I'm also aiming for the top end of the fiddle market.

Time will tell if I meet my goals. There are some very good makers out there, so it's quite a challenge.

Henrik, do you mind telling which instrument you bought, and what factors influenced your decision? I love to know why people choose one instrument over all the others that are available.

February 23, 2008 at 01:27 AM · Stephen Dudash is about the hottest 5 string player (calls it a viola) that I have heard.

Nashville studio player, and much more.

THIS LINK HAS SOME SOUND CLIPS

February 23, 2008 at 02:23 AM · I ordered a 5-string "violin" from International last October. It was backordered and I finally recieved it in January.

It is a very nice instrument (especially for $319) andd their shipping charge was remarkably low. It's a nice sounding violin and a decent enough sounding viola. It's tone was good to start and is even better now after-----

I had to lower the bridge and tape/curver it some to be able to play all the strings closer to the fingerboard. They definitely included a viola bridge and I have finally replaced it with a violin bridge (there is room for all 5 strings) aftger two chops at the original bridge. I set the strings up at standard violin heights above the fingerboard. I stayed with the Helicore strings it came with except that I exchanged the E for a Kaplan Solutions.

I replaceed the pegs with Knilling Planetary Pegs. I was able to get the 5th (bass-side) peg from Chuck Herin at Pegheds (great guy).

After installing the geared pegs, I replaced the integral-tuner tailpiece with a wooden f-string tailpiece (from an 3-bay seller) that weighs only half as much.

It seems to be little problem for me to play this as a violin even though the fingering and bowing must be adjusted for smaller string spacing. Playing it as a viola seems more difficult for me because the A string is no longer at the far right.

I bought this because I was having lots of trouble with my left thumb and manuvering around a real viola had become impossible. Howsever a cortisone shot two weeks ago seems to have solved that problem that has been growing for a year.

I like the 5-string and am glad I have it.

February 23, 2008 at 11:58 AM · Joe Fischer:

The five string violin/viola is becoming more and more popular among contemporary fiddlers.

Some of them are "conversions" of ordinary 4 string violins.

Some of them are designed to be the same size as 4 string violins but with modifications on arching, fingerboard width, rib height etc. so that the c-string feels as a natural extension of the instrument.

Some are hybrid models with a slightly larger body not

violin not viola.

Some are viola models with added c-string

February 23, 2008 at 11:13 PM · I think Jonathan Cooper makes a five-string violina(what I'm gonna call it), but not heard or played one. So yeah.

~Blake

February 24, 2008 at 12:06 AM · This is my question:

Does anyone make a 5 string that is the exact size of a violin ? with added 'c' string ?

If so,have any of you tried this type of instrument ?

February 24, 2008 at 01:45 AM · I got a Dahlia 5-string violin last fall as a second instrument, and like it very much. Like Andrew, I had it fitted with Knilling pegs, which I also like.

I didn't make any sort of announcement about my new instrument when I first played it with our group, and the only comment I got was "You're sounding real good today." (It does project better than my 1880 instrument, and has good sound.) other than that, no one noticed I was playing a different instrument until one of the trumpet plays looked over during a break, did a double take, and said, "Hey, you've got five pegs on your violin. How come?" My teacher's verdict was that "This has real good sound, and it sounds like a violin."

The C string has good volume and sound in first position, but fades rapidly as you move to higher positions, which is to be expected from the physics of the instrument. I've heard that the electric 5-strings don't have that limitation, but I'm not interested in electrics. At least, not at present.

Why did I get the Dahlia? I really don't have a good answer. I saw the adverts in Strings when they appeared, what, two years ago? and was intrigued. Didn't know to that point that such existed. That led to asking why violins have only four strings, learned that 5-strings are not a new idea, but most don't work well for various reasons. Reviews of the Dahlia were good, though, so eventually I bought one and I'm happy with the decision. The C string doesn't get a lot of use when I play with the ensemble, but we don't have a consistent violist so where it fits the C string does add depth.

The mention of Knilling or Pegheads always seem to lead to a fair amount of controversy. I'm pretty much of a traditionalist, but I really don't like the fiddly little fine tuners on the tailpiece, even if there's only the one. I also confess to being a bit of a gadget geek, as long as the gadget in question is nicely done and, for lack of a better word, elegant. As far as I'm concerned, fine tuners on the tailpiece are not elegant. The Knilling tuners do fit that requirement for me. I have not had to touch the Dahlia's tailpiece fine tuners once - they're simply not needed. If I can find a 5-string tailpiece without fine tuners, and that looks decent, the one the Dahlia came with will go. I now plan on having my other violin fitted with the geared pegs, and ditching the fine tuners there, as well.

The string spacing on the Dahlia is the same as a regular violin, and if there was any initial transition period in playing one instrument or the other, it wasn't very long.

February 24, 2008 at 01:17 PM · I make a 14.5 inch bodied violin 5 string that is very well received. I have also made a standard length 14 violin 5 string for a professional customer. This violin was made for a specific reason and sound that the customer requested. The 14.5" design in my opinion is a better approach. I have been able to get very consistent results.

To make the "C" string work the air volume has to be increased.

There are 2 approaches, violin with a "C" string or a viola with an "E" string. Jonathan Cooper has chosen the viola route and his instruments sound very good.

Other notable players using 5 string violins are Darol Anger, Tania Elizabeth, David Blackmon and Casey Driessen to name a few. Check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wmisbm07d0

February 24, 2008 at 04:04 PM · >>Does anyone make a 5 string that is the exact size of a violin ? with added 'c' string ?

If so,have any of you tried this type of instrument ?<<

Yes, there are a lot of regular 4 string violins converted to 5 string. Johnny Gimble plays one, and the old Barcus-Berry 5 string sitting in my office waiting to be repaired is the same. Generally, you need a bigger body to give the C string any power.

You can keep the same scale length as a violin and increase the body volume in a number of ways, and you get a lot better sound, IMO.