Interesting violin piece on the radio

Del Vento

While driving from work the other day I heard this on the radio. If I had stumbled on it on the internet, I would not have taken the time to read/listen to it, because it sounds cheesy from the introduction.

Instead the conversation is quite interesting and perhaps even insightful. So here it is!
https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/3-d-printed-violin-evergreen/

kawafanboi

so they're counting the plastic only right? or is the $7 already accounting for mass production.

Del Vento

kawafanboi

I don't know, I assume it's the price of the material itself and not the service of printing which can easily multiply that 10x (unless is mass-produced as you said). Then there is chinrest, pegs, strings, bow (which can be expensive on their own! ask me how I know...)

SouthPark

The main (actually - the 'only') concern I have for violin is having the instrument right next to my ear all the time. I wonder if they put some 'attenuators' in their ears - to give some protection or relief.

I got nothing against violins at all! Very expressive instruments.

Del Vento

SouthPark The main (actually - the 'only') concern I have for violin is having the instrument right next to my ear all the time. I wonder if they put some 'attenuators' in their ears - to give some protection or relief.

I had the same concern when my daughter started playing this instrument (and at the same time my other daughter started clarinet), so I did some research. Turns out, that's not a problem, also because violins are relatively quiet, compared for example to pianos, which is one reason why in an orchestra a section of violinists play all the same melody: to get enough volume! On the other hand, clarinetists have this problem which I was shocked to learn! And some use some attenuators in their ears, such as these ones:

https://www.howardpianoindustries.com/vibes-earplugs-for-piano-tuning/

To be clear, it's not the clarinet itself that's loud and ear damaging! It's the trumpets and trombones that:

are extremely loud
in classical orchestras are seated right behind the clarinets and
their bells are pointed right into the clarinetists' ears....

josh_sounds

a wonderful idea…

now lets scan a Strad

or the 1732 GUARNERI "FERNI"

oops.. it's been done.. 😊
https://www.theregister.com/2011/11/30/radiologist_uses_xrays_to_replicate_ancient_stradivarius_violin/