I am such a fan of the fact that you are willing to do projects like this in the face of all the snobbery that surrounds string lutherie

I would probably use flatwound guitar strings for this. They have plenty of length and respond quite naturally to a bow - I sometimes use a bow on a guitar, sometimes use a guitar pick on a violin😁😁 I would also play this upright like a cello, much easier to handle.

Very neat. Would it be easier to play upright like a tiny cello?

Surprisingly warm sound, one of these days I want to get round to making an electric cello that won't annoy the neighbours

Dude! I love watching your videos. I have an incredible gushing mix of emotions… The woodworker in me wants to tease you about your woodworking. I want to get impatient with your leaps into half baked ideas. I often roll my eyes at your simple optimism. But the overwhelming feeling is joy. Joy of openness, joy of discovery, joy of fun.

reminds me a bit of a panduri. When I make log basses, I just use dental floss that I weave together for strings. That way I'm not limited to a specific length. Not the best tensile strength though.

I like seeing these projects. I remember seeing a german? violin that was twice as deep come in at a string shop I used to frequent. The body may have been a bit longer. It had a unique sound. It would have been neat in the proper setting, I'm not sure why it was made but I'm sure it was an experiment like yours.

I clicked on this one to find out what kind of strings you were using, as I’ve also searched for “extra long violin strings” to no avail. I’ve ended up using DR Black Beauty’s for a 20” scale length and I’m pretty happy with them.

I'm in art school. This is a better experimental instrument than I've seen produced by professors in the subject. Keep up the good work.

Just an awesome 'instrument' you're presenting. For a little while I've tumbled with some 'Cedar plates', cello strings + bridge, so from here the project might hit another direction, thx for the inspiration :-))

This is very interesting, my father has a violin/fiddle made sometime in the 1800's in england and the body is very wide in comparison to the strad style or even a stainer (sp) style. The sound somewhat reminds me of it.

I like that you have a viola neck sort of just in case... Great video as usual.

super cool... one day I will start the box cello, that I have a box for... and then look at this one. I did just think of taking a large 18' bodhran drum, and adding a cello neck to it. like a BIG banjo cello :) but played like a cello...

You are beyond creative! I built a dulcimer and balalaika in high school but needed my mom’s and some of my brothers’ help. I could have done it myself but lost the building motivation and patience when the kits arrived. It would be fun now if I had the time. Your videos are fantastic. I love how you explain both the building and sound. Thank you!

Yes, sample the pizz sound! Great job!

My first thought was that body would make an interesting cello.

It seems perfect to be played like a viola da gamba.

Love it! I make 18-19 inch violas that I strap on and play sideways with a short bow like a swedish key harp. Maybe you could try such a playing position. Sorry I don't have a YT video.

The tone sounds soulful. I would suggest trying to play it in the lap (like a pardessus de viole) or between the knees or calves, like a bass viola da gamba.

I enjoyed watching the build of this instrument. However, you might want to try making a second build of the same instrument, but with a different twist. You had problems holding it because of the lacking chin-rest plate. To overcome this problem, try your second build with the narrow end holding the viola neck. The other modification you could make would be for your sound post placement. You already have 4 holes for the face cut in. You could modify one hole on the neck end, and the other on the tail piece. Instead of making them into traditional "F-holes," you could make them into stylized base clef shape, only shorter and a bit chunkier. the base-clef shape would allow you to manually insert the sound posts into the instrument in the traditional style. By inserting the sound-posts traditionally, you would be able to place them more appropriately to achieve the correctly balanced sound transference between the face and the back. It would result in a more harmonious sound quality than what you got with this build. I think if done correctly, the modified f-opening would create a cleaner, more balanced overall tonal quality. It sounds OK... but the overall tone sounds a bit muddy because there isn't a clean sound transference between the top plate to the back. And finally, you complained that it's too unwieldy and awkward to hold. You've obviously made and have played the cello before. The size of this instrument could very easily accommodate a cello end-pin and footrest. The size of this instrument makes it more of a cello than a violin or viola. In fact, what you made is more of a hybrid and cross between a viola and cello. I would be VERY interested to see you make a second version of this homemade instrument using the suggested modifications. Even as-is, you could still attach a cello footrest and you could then play it very much the same way you play the cello. Nice video, nice build. Make it better, and thank you very much...

looks like a large knife. If the design was more advanced this would be badass af.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this video David, and the whole idea of building your own instruments. I'm in awe! :)

never understood why orchestral string instruments are still holding on to friction pegs. they seem impractical, and discourage composers from asking string players to do different tunings.

Can you sample the plucking? Goddamn it sounds so, so good♥️

As for how to play this thing. I imagine your best bet would be held vertically between the legs. Like the cousins of the violin family, the viols. Which among their differences, are played as i mentioned regardless of their size. Speaking of, I wonder if you played ant of the viols. They're like the weird forgotten cousins of the violin family. With frets, more strings, and what ive heard is a warmer sound.

I've been doing this sort of thing for over 60 years and still do. Love it and what you do too.

I would craft an offset neck rest on the lower side for the body.

Maybe the reason it sounds weird or bad when you play it like a violin and not when you hold it more like a guitar is that the very long strings below the bridge is causing weird resonance effects making it sound slightly detuned; and when you hold it like a guitar to pluck it you also naturally mute the strings below the bridge with your arm. You could probably fix it by adding some felt to mute the strings below the bridge.

I have an old violin I bought very cheaply from a fiend to help him over a hump. Bought sound post and a tool to fit it. 10yrs later I still have them all...One day I'll succeed ! Darned tricky !

Surprised by the warm, deep sound of this.

Maybe build another one, cutting the bottom 3rd or half of the box away. Might have to get a spare piece of wood somewhere to seal the now larger end of the box. Then, you could use viola or violin strings, depending on how much box you cut away. Great ideas, you making these instruments. Intriguing. Lots of possibilities for newish sounds.

Sounds very much like a Penguin Cafe Orchestra tune.

The instrument sounds great, especially the pizzicato! Before you look and get disappointed though thunderbolt cables top out around 10ft before you have to use an optical thunderbolt cable which can be hundreds of dollars :(

This is interesting. I have a mountain dulcimer kit I wanted to extend and make a bowed dulcimer.

When it says it the video that David might use a viola neck instead of a violin neck, I automatically went, "oh no, these might be hard to find and will take a while to ship". And then he says he just has one casually lying around! 😁

Sounds like you are getting ready to "Sitting on the dock of the bay".

You should try holding it like a cello da spalla (look it up it’s cool) and may want to move the bridge to be the scale length of a cello, (4/4 may be too big so try 1/2 or 3/4 size cello length

Great stuff it seems for me more like a Drakula style violin :) You could stylise the shape more like coffin :)

This was so much fun to watch. I can't help but wonder... Have you 1. Tried playing it like a cello, since it's too long to play as a violin? 2. Considered getting another kit and cutting it down, so it's more in line with the actual size of a violin?

If has cello strings... maybe it is a tiny cello? Maybe viola de gamba strings, nickelharpa strings (are long) could have done the job. But nice work bro!

Play it like cello David. Thats how I play my violins

Interesting experiment

Звук отличный! И наверное, размер корпуса здесь имеет значение. Однако если бы я сделал такую штуку для своей жены, она бы сразу сказала - отпили половину, и так будет нормально! 😊🎻

David, your videos are fantastic. Thank you.

it's my understanding that the placement of the bridge affects the intonation, so placing the bridge in the same place as a viola would affectively make it a quirky viola? I'd be interested to hear a different intonation and I would also be curious if you could make bridges for the individual strings, similar to how a Koto is set-up

very nice indeed I have learned a lot here

what you have created is an instrument called the Lira. My father played such an instrument when he was alive. that instrument is a couple of thousand years old

It may be interesting to add a cello end pin and play it sitting?? Also… you’re amazing 🤘🏻

Huh, I also have custom click sounds in Ableton! I'm using the Logic ones, Abletons default are way too harsh. This Longolin sounds great btw! But I imagine it's not an easy process to extract the good sounds out of it.

looks like you've almost got enough string to double the scale length...which is what i thought you were going to do initially. i think that's where there might be some interesting tones to be found....a baritone violin or viola, maybe? cos what you've made is really just a weird viola. playing it in the upright position might be easier as well. david "i do these weird experiments so you don't have to" hillowitz!

this is hella cool, i wonder if it would be easier to play resting on ur thigh like an igil or something

I wonder if the reason for the pizzicato sounding better than the bowing has to do with the fact that the dulcimer is supposed to be laid down on a surface (which you kind of do when you play pizzicato holding the instrument against your chest) rather than suspended (like when you bow). In fact, string instruments like violis that are played not in contact with the player's body have a rounded wooden body, differently than guitars for example, that are flat and sound better when the player has it in contact with their chest. Does that make sense?

🎶Looong looong violin! 🎶

I'm imagining this as like a contra altogether viel held between the knees like a tiny cello.

Bonkers ! But fascinating and it sounds quite wonderful. A sort of cello sound. Talking of sound posts,, these are so difficult to fit. Wouild it really destroy the properties ofa classical Italian style violin or viola by makinga small hole near the end tail pin so that a simple tool could be used to position the post?

You could play it Indian style: prop it up on the floor if you're sitting or on the table if you're standing and play it vertically (quasi cello-style).

You made a dulcimer with a viola neck and played a deranged version of Gounod's Ave Maria on it : Bravo! :)

You could bow it like a Nyckelharpa, might make playing easier. I don't know, I don't play any instrument with a bow.

I feel like playing this upright might make it easier to mess with

I wonder if you could do something with the tailpiece to attach it closer to the bridge so you could use violin strings.

Love it!

stretching douvle bass strings over a tin bath with thick wooden top ... or stretching long ires over a fence like structure situated in the Grand Cayon and sampling the sound with pairs of diaphragm mics wild dreams love the sound of your instrument, the piccolo sound would be lovely sampled for Decent Samples.

awesome as always!

100% you need to make a sample instrument from the plucks (both sides of the bridge) of that strange mountain dulcimer violin

I feel like it would have been interesting if the bridge was a lot lower down, closer to the tailpiece

Could you make violin/mandolin hybrid so there would be 8 strings

Make a super long tail piece and you can use violin strings.

I highly recommend you try playing it like a Kamancheh, check out Keyhan Kalhor he's considered to be a virtuoso on that instrument.

i think it could be upgraded with warmer, thinner strings, and possibly by flipping the neck position

Your impromptu tune sounds a bit like "Tin Hat", which ain't bad.

interesting . I wonder what would happen if you played it upright?

Have you considered combining this with the reverb tank? I think it could be really interesting.

its almost coffin shaped, which as a goth person, i would totally do. :D

I could listen to the Hilowitz Bolero many, many times. It just needs to be fully written.

Nice video. Just a question: Why have the wide end away and not the reverse. I think the sound might be better and it would be easier to play.

Love your violins! ❤️ Would be nice to see you play this one like a swedish ”nyckelharpa” with a very short bow. 😃 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyckelharpa

Did you consider using piano strings cut to length

hi! could you have used lute strings? :-)

What if you used strings like they do in India? Possibly put F holes in one of your creations instead of just holes? Strings from the Lute or the lrye? Just suggestions.

sacrilegious violin lmao. I love it.

You should try playing it like a cello.

You should play this with a strap, across your body. Like a violoncello da spalla

play it stand up (put a ground post (whatever you call them for classical instruments)) Or hold it between your legs

What if you tried playing it like a cello or viol?

Play that Instrument like a Viola Da Gamba and install Guitar strings on it.

You should check out maestro-Kimon's KZfaq channel - he is a violin maker and just started building a Pochette (very small and skinny violin.)

Very nice, both the instrument and music, gg's 👏. I wonder if elongating the scale by another 50% and adjusting the tuning for that might help the playability? I would imaginge that bowing would be easier if it can be done, perhaps the strings would become too lose? I like it and I would be all over the plucking aspect 😁 Like deployed 👍

Have you consider3d trying to play it like a cello?

Excellent instrument!! I'd put a spike on the bottom and play it like a cello. Somebody a long long time ago decided violins, guitars, and mandolins could only have one basic shape (ok, 2 shapes for mandolin) and anything else was heresy!!!🤔 Be careful or the "Traditional" police will come after you!!

An Idea is maybe playing like a Vielle.

Maybe guitar strings can be used?

if it has cello strings and a cello neck, why not put a long foot on it and try playing it like a cello or standing bass?

Amazing...!!!

Why not try playing it like a Morin Khuur instead of a Violin? Basically, with the bottom of the instrument resting against your thigh and all that.

A friend of mine is playing a viola holding it like a cello. Did you try to play it like a cello holding the body between your legs somehow?

it's like a violin da gamba lol

make it a stand up like a bass

"I Made a Weird, Long Violin" Then used a viola neck instead... Creating a long violin with a viola neck... He made a viola...

Couldn't you just use a longer anchor thread to let you use regular violin strings?

Maybe its easier to play as a Cello