Violele -- Ukulele-Violin Hybrid (Bow-Paying Ukulele) by Rubber Tramp Studios

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SonSprinter

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Violele, Fiddle-lele -- Ukulele-Violin Hybrid (Bow-Paying Ukulele) by Rubber Tramp Studios

Any of you tried this -- or any -- bow-playing stringed instrument that is tuned with the ukulele’s G-C-E-A?

I am interested in the bow-paying instrument’s (violin, viola, etc.) unique sound as well as their ability to sustain a note. And I am very familiar with the ukulele’s G-C-E-A fret board.

So I was looking at tweaking a viola, which is tuned C-G-D-A by replacing the C (fourth) string with the G (third) string; and then using the D (second) string in place of the original placement of the G (third) string. And then with the two D strings in the middle (second and third), one (the third) goes down to C, and the other (the second) goes up to E.

But then I found this …

“Some Where Over the Rainbow”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSkOn3uTiX4

Instructional Basics 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrpYd88-LrY

Instructional Basics 2 (Sounds)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojhbeFXvpds

“Something”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWEODbo2MoM

“Golden Slumbers”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouA-2lUC2ZI

http://www.etsy.com/listing/122363587/violele-a-ukulele-fiddle

And, "Yes!!!", it is has frets!!!

Anyone try this? Any thoughts? I am also wondering about this instrument's ability to play a four-stringed chord with the bow.

http://www.rubbertrampstudio.com/home
(I do not see their violele on their home page.)

They make bow-playing guitars (GuitarViol! -- hybrid guitar/cello) also:
http://www.rubbertrampstudio.com/videos
 
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I've been wondering about this concept lately. Glad to see it works...........very cool. Thanks for sharing.
 
UAS coming back to me...What a coincidence that I recently got a job too =D

Oh damn, I realised they don't send to Australia.
 
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This is not a new concept at all; look at the viol de gamba.

That said, very cool to see someone taking a very old idea and bringing it into the current context, and hopefully allowing a new generation of musicians to be inspired by it.
 
PhilUSAFRet said:
Only see a general connection....apples and oranges
Click to expand...

Not really. The viol de gamba led to the creation of a number of instruments that we now know (especially since it is the precursor to the acoustic bass which was the precursor to the electric, since the P Bass was designed as a portable option for upright bass players), so it's very easy to see where the influence comes from. Especially if you look at their GuitarViol which is a six string fretted instrument that is violin shaped and played in a sitting position.

They may not have deliberately been influenced by the viol, but again my point is that it wasn't a new idea. Bowing a fretted instrument has been used for centuries, but as I said, it's very cool that they put a new spin on it.
 
Mmmmmm, got me thinking.

I ordered one of them there fancy East-Start arch-tops with steel strings. I could use an e-bow on it!!!! (maybe)
 
pootsie said:
Mmmmmm, got me thinking.

I ordered one of them there fancy East-Start arch-tops with steel strings. I could use an e-bow on it!!!! (maybe)
Click to expand...

Putting an eBow to it should be relatively easy, given the scale and the tuning. Those things are pretty cool, once you get the hang of how to use one.
 
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Perhaps the viol or aka viola da gamba is the way to go ...
You are not really re-creating the wheel...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viol#Versions

The standard tuning of the viol (aka viola da gamba) is in fourths, with a major third in the middle (like the standard Renaissance lute tuning). For bass viols, the notes would be (from the lowest) D-G-c-e-a-d', with an additional low AA for seven-string bass viols. For the tenor viol, the tuning is G-c-f-a-d'-g' (a smaller tenor, or "alto" viol, is usually tuned A-d-g-b-e'-a'). The treble viol is one octave higher than the bass.
 
I've been playing with the idea of retuning a regular violin to GCEA.. but the problem would be with strings and having it setup at the right tensions.

This seems to be a better option for me though. I gotta get me one of these!! YES!
 
SonSprinter said:
Violele, Fiddle-lele -- Ukulele-Violin Hybrid (Bow-Paying Ukulele) by Rubber Tramp Studios

Any of you tried this -- or any -- bow-playing stringed instrument that is tuned with the ukulele’s G-C-E-A?

I am interested in the bow-paying instrument’s (violin, viola, etc.) unique sound as well as their ability to sustain a note. And I am very familiar with the ukulele’s G-C-E-A fret board.

So I was looking at tweaking a viola, which is tuned C-G-D-A by replacing the C (fourth) string with the G (third) string; and then using the D (second) string in place of the original placement of the G (third) string. And then with the two D strings in the middle (second and third), one (the third) goes down to C, and the other (the second) goes up to E.

But then I found this …

“Some Where Over the Rainbow”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSkOn3uTiX4

Instructional Basics 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrpYd88-LrY

Instructional Basics 2 (Sounds)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojhbeFXvpds

“Something”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWEODbo2MoM

“Golden Slumbers”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouA-2lUC2ZI

http://www.etsy.com/listing/122363587/violele-a-ukulele-fiddle

And, "Yes!!!", it is has frets!!!

Anyone try this? Any thoughts? I am also wondering about this instrument's ability to play a four-stringed chord with the bow.

http://www.rubbertrampstudio.com/home
(I do not see their violele on their home page.)

They make bow-playing guitars (GuitarViol! -- hybrid guitar/cello) also:
http://www.rubbertrampstudio.com/videos
Click to expand...
an e-bow is pretty cool to try on an electric uke i can say that.
there is an instrument called a ukelin i think, its a weird hybrid instrument
honestly im not a big fan of the violin bow sound on anything thats not a violin
i do like messing around with e-bows on electric guitars/electric ukes though.
 
Anyone see what the Flea/Fluke people had at the last NAMM show? I hear it is a bowed ukulele...with PEGHED tuners.
 
TheCraftedCow said:
Anyone see what the Flea/Fluke people had at the last NAMM show? I hear it is a bowed ukulele...with PEGHED tuners.
Click to expand...

I hope you're right! I was just thinking, hearing the sound, that I prefer the brighter Flea. And what if I took a bow to the Flea I do not yet have? That would be so awesome! Demonstrating my ignorance of these things, when are NAMM products usually released? Or do we just hold our breath and wait? Really excited now! :D
 
I love the eBow even though I don't have one (keep meaning to but just never pulled the trigger). There is a guy who plays fretless bass with an ebow and it is really cool.

That said, the eBow doesn't really sound anything like a truly bowed instrument. A real bow gives not only sustain, but also alters the timbre of the strings and is even percussive - on a real bowed instrument the timing of the reversals in bowing direction is absolutely critical to the feel of the piece being played.

John
 
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