Evening Lecture given by 

John Dominy

Special Professor, Nottingham University

abstract

About three years ago we were approached byPeter Killingback, a local violin maker, to look at new alternative materialsfor acoustic violins.  Although woodeninstruments are used by almost all concert violinists, they are not withouttheir problems.  Peter believed that acomposite violin would be more robust, less sensitive to humidity and have amore predictable performance than the traditional instrument – if it could bemade to produce a comparable sound.

This lecture considers the issues involvedin producing a violin in composite materials. It looks at the vibration and stiffness research that was necessary toproduce a violin with a very high quality sound.  We consider the materials and themanufacturing methods that are appropriate to the instrument.  We look at a by-product of this work – theelectric violin.  Finally, we address theissue – have we achieved a high quality, carbon fibre violin?

Carbon Violin