6 replies to this topic

[Barlera]

I have seen elsewhere that the violin Octave string would work well with a small viola. Then I am wondering if there are different sizes of violas, as are there violins.

Barlera

[saintjohnbarleycorn]

yes there are, you probably can google it and find out the different sizes and explanations,with pictures and explanations.

[gowan]

I have seen elsewhere that the violin Octave string would work well with a small viola. Then I am wondering if there are different sizes of violas, as are there violins.

Barlera

I don't have much to say about using violin strings on a viola except that on a very small viola maybe the violin A, D, and G strings would work but you'd still need a C string.

As for size, violins normally come in 4/4 ("full" size), 7/8, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16 sizes. The smaller sizes are for usually children but some small-statured adults need 7/8 or even 3/4 size. I don't know what the "fraction" mean in terms of length of the body of the instruments. Violas are usually described by length of the body of the instrument. Normal "full size" violas range from 15.5" to 17.25" in body length. For children beginning on viola you can get 12", 13", 14" size violas. A full size violin is about 14" in body length so small beginner size violas for children are smaller than full size violins. Therefore, on these small violas you probably could use violin A, D, and G strings. It is hard to imagine that any C string would sound very well on such small-bodied violas.

[Ben Hebbert]

I don't have much to say about using violin strings on a viola except that on a very small viola maybe the violin A, D, and G strings would work but you'd still need a C string.

As for size, violins normally come in 4/4 ("full" size), 7/8, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16 sizes. The smaller sizes are for usually children but some small-statured adults need 7/8 or even 3/4 size. I don't know what the "fraction" mean in terms of length of the body of the instruments. Violas are usually described by length of the body of the instrument. Normal "full size" violas range from 15.5" to 17.25" in body length. For children beginning on viola you can get 12", 13", 14" size violas. A full size violin is about 14" in body length so small beginner size violas for children are smaller than full size violins. Therefore, on these small violas you probably could use violin A, D, and G strings. It is hard to imagine that any C string would sound very well on such small-bodied violas.

Corelli Crystal make sets for small viola and the C is about as good as it gets (everything is relative) if your viola is of violin size, then its definitely best to mix that string with a violin G, D, and A. However, it is genuinely difficult to create a fractional-size viola that has a full and powerful tone. We (stringersmusic.com) do a 'conversion' in which you make a hole in the belly so that the treble bridge-foot connects directly to the soundpost and directly to the back-plate. Its quite a tricky operation, but the result is - comparatively speaking - amazing!

[vclatl]

Q: What's a little viola?

A: A step in the right direction...

(sorry, can never resist low-hanging fruit!)

[Kevin Miller]

When you say "octave strings" are you talking about the strings like the ones Thomastik and Super-Sensitive make that sound an octave lower than a standard violin? If so, you probably don't want to go too much bigger than a 14" viola, which will have about the same string length that the octave violin strings are designed for. You could use a larger viola, but in that case you'd probably want to get octave viola strings instead. Be aware that the body still won't be quite big enough to project. Octave strings are a lot of fun under the ear and in intimate settings, but if you need real projection you'll probably need to think about amplification.

[Barlera]

Many thanks to every one of you that answered my question. YES, the "Octave strings" I mentioned are effetively those ones tuned an octave lower than standard violin strings. Someone suggested a "little viola" certainly supposing that it has near the same size of a "full" violin. Thus, I believe the Octave could be simply placed on the little viola. However, if the size of both body is almost identical I don't see any profit using a viola stead a violin. I never touched a viola but was told that the sound is not better than violin.

Barlera