Unusual "Violin"

Hello. That is indeed an unusual violin.

 

It almost looks like a very small 'cello, but that neck is extremely short. And the body is long for a violin - it looks like it would be difficult to play using the standard under-the-chin position. Interesting, at any rate!

 

Well first, that's kind of a "homemade" instrument by someone who maybe built guitars. The tailpiece looks kinda flat with the strings all in the same plane, so I'm wondering if the fingerboard is flat or with a low profile radius. The tuners are stock guitar type, pretty contemporary looking.
Have you done any image searches for "violin kit"? That might be a place to start. Other than that, it might be the product of an instrument making workshop at a folk music school or something...

 

A ukuolin maybe, or a violele?

 

Darol Anger plays some unique corner-less violins:



Reinventing the String Band: Darol Anger Forges A New Tradition — BolderBeat

 

Yeah that looks like a one-off proof of concept or something, though in fairness it looks like it could be somebody's attempt at something renaissance or pre-renaissance-esque

 

My thoughts: This may be intended more as a fiddle than as a violin.

 

I love how the lowest string goes under the fingerboard. Special playing technique required for this instrument, Shirley.

Art school project, perhaps?

 

I've seen a celloist bow the outer two strings together, by placing the bow under the strings. i'd love to see someone do the hook-lowest-string-under-fingerboard thing on the fly, just to, I dunno, do a mean triple stop with the other three? OTOH, virtuoso literature for the instrument was so well-developed by the mid-18-huns that I wouldn't be surprised if it hasn't already been done...

 

That's because there's no bridge.

 

Er, that was a joke, son...

 

Someone’s attempt at making a fiddle, with no idea of how one is traditionally made. The “Roadshow” would call it something like “folk art”.

I wonder how long that leather-lace tailgut would last against the tension of the steel strings tuned to pitch?!? BAM!!!

 

I have to stay alert, or I miss these things....

 

No worries, Ed. My humor is always misunderstood!

 

Cornerless or guitar shaped violins are uncommon but not unheard of. Lots of them came out of Germany between 1880-1950 or so and are generally affordable ($500-2000). Some of the Chinese eBay dealers still make them, I have one and it's actually quite nice.

That's definitely a home 'project' type build. It might sound pretty neat. That type of fiddle will often sound kind of boxy or mid forward with a lot of nasally high end. They work well for renaissance fair type tones.

Lots of unusual violins shown here:
Curious violins