The V-8vb Violin Scale Large Body Octave Violin, a large-bodied octave violin with a short violin length playable scale (13") by D. Rickert Musical Instruments is available now at the Don Rickert Musician Shop. This instrument is designed specifically for fiddlers accustomed to the 13" scale of a conventional fiddle.

Introduction

The V-8vb Violin Scale Large Body Octave Violin is a variation of the V-8vb Long Scale Octave Violin, which is specifically tailored to fiddlers accustomed to the 13” playable string length of a standard fiddle. Both instruments are completely new designs from D. Rickert Musical Instruments. Both instruments are for the player who seeks to gain even more raw acoustic power and low frequency “punch” than can be obtained even from the very successful and, frankly, quite amazing violin length (14” body like a violin but substantially deeper) Fat Strad 8vb Octave Violin. It is our judgment that the Fat Strad, either in the 5-string violin or octave violin configuration, is as close to perfection for a 14" body instrument as we are going to get in the foreseeable future.

• Fat Strad 8vb Acoustic Octave Violin
• Fat Strad Deux 5-String Mezzo Viola (5-String Violin or Fiddle)

A Hybrid Violin-Viola: An Octave Violin on Steroids

Sonically, the V-8vb Violin Scale Large Body Octave Violinis, metaphorically, an octave violin on steroids. Technically, the instrument is a hybrid between a violin and a medium-sized (15.5” body) viola. It is louder, darker and richer in low frequency overtones (i.e. more bass “growl”) than any other octave fiddle we have designed or heard (except for its cousin, the V-8vb Long Scale Octave Violin).

Based on Ingenious Tertis Wide-Body Viola Pattern

The V-8vb Violin Scale Large Body Octave Violin is based on a 15.5” Tertis wide body pattern viola. Before buying, you should ensure that you have the necessary left arm “reach” necessary for this larger-bodied instrument. We have shortened the playable string length by about 1 inch; however, the body is still a full 1.5 inches longer than a violin.

Left Arm Reach: About the Same as a Regular Violin (24” vs. 23”)

For violin, you only need a 23” left arm reach. For a regular 15.5” viola, you need a 25” reach. Given the shorter scale length of the V-8vb Violin Scale Large Body Octave Violin, you can get away with a 24” reach. This is not something you want to “cheat” on, as you will pay immediately with the 4th finger intonation and pay later with physical problems associated with playing an instrument that is too large.

There are many guides on the Internet for measuring your reach to determine the ideal viola size for you.

See the article: Measurements for Determining Correct Violin/Fiddle or Viola Size

See also the table below:

How Did We Shorten the Original 13.9” String Length to 13” (i.e. Violin Length)

Your first guess might be that we simply used a shorter neck. For various design reasons we decided NOT to take this approach. We wanted a scale-shortening solution that was reversible. With our design, reversing the operation involves simply replacing the fingerboard and nut.

So, we developed an innovative string guide and nut that shortens the playable string length by about 1 inch. This is much more elegant that devising some sort of capo; however, it achieves the same end without the buzzing and “deadness” that can result from use of a capo on a fretless instrument. The following image illustrates the approach.

The V-8vb Violin Scale Large Body Octave Violin is Made Possible by Our Discovery of the Tertis Wide-Body Viola Pattern

Lionel Tertis is regarded by many as the greatest viola player of the 20th century. Tertis preferred a large viola in order to get an especially rich tone from this instrument. Tertis created a viola pattern that would provide the tonal advantages as a large 17.5 inch viola from a 16 inch viola, which is today regarded as a full size viola. The same Tertis-inspired design principles that apply to a 16” also apply with great success to smaller 15.5” and even 15” instruments. Tertis pattern instruments are considerably wider than conventional violas of the same body lengths, especially in the middle bout. This extreme body width with a relatively shallow depth seems to be the source of the acoustic magic of a Tertis body.

Tertis pattern instruments have the appearance of incredibly large violas; however, their playable string lengths and rib heights are standard. In the case of our shortened-scale 15.5” instrument, the string length is about 13” and the rib height of about 37mm.

Case

• Comes with a pretty nice lightweight oblong case, at no charge.

Bow

• You must use a bow suitable for a large octave violin. Choices would include:
• Specialized Series Octave Violin Bow (based on a viola bow shaft)
• Specialized Series Light Octave Viola Bow (based on a viola bow shaft).
• A high-end (preferably stiff carbon fiber) viola bow can also do the job.
• Please do not even consider using a reqular violin bow, as this practice would reflect very poorly on us, the designers and makers of the instrument.
  • The instrument is designed for a heavy, aggressive bow...end of story!

Tuning Pegs

• V-8vb Violin Scale Large Body Octave Violin is fitted with a special set of Wittner FineTune internally geared tuning pegs, which are modified to handle the wider diameter of the octave strings.

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