VIOLECTRA- THE TRUE PIEZO-ELECTRIC VIOLIN
Violectra's success lies in its combination of an innovative instrument design with a unique system of piezo- electric bridge transducer technology. ( 'piezo' literally means 'pressure sensing'). This works by replacing the acoustic body with a skeletal- frame body construction. The piezo-electric signal produced is directly sensing wood vibrations with no possible loss of tone production, distortion or feedback usually found when amplifying through an air born acoustic body. Violectra works by the string tension over the bridge being increased in mass by the wooden frame underneath. This is similar to how a tuning fork increases in volume when struck and placed upon a wooden surface. An active response is created by the interaction with the arched and open frame of the body underneath. The result is a powerful output with a balanced and full tone and the dynamic response more accustomed to an acoustic instrument.
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STRING MODELS
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I have worked with Supersensitive String Co of Florida, since the mid 1990's, and now electric string players can choose between 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 string violin and viola models, and 4, 5 & 6 string cellos models. This has made many new instrument ranges possible including the range from violin to viola, cello, or double bass on one instrument... These opportunities have changed the face of modern composition and improvisation. Many Violectra players are leaders in their versatility of musical styles.
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VIOLECTRA BRIDGES
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The early Violectras used the Barbera Transducer System from New York from 1992-1995.
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BTS Bridge
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From 1995-2008, we used a bridge system developed for Violectra instruments in collaboration with a leading manufacturer of piezo transducer bridges; Alun Jones, of Ashworth Electronics, Cornwall. The bridges were made at Violectra for each instrument, and then sent to Ashworth Electronics for the fitting of the transducers. The final bridge fitting was completed at Violectra.
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Violectra-Ashworth Bridge
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Sadly, in June 2008, Alun Ashworth, of Ashworth
Electronics, died suddenly while rowing a boat. His
work of over 30 years in transducer technology was innovative and unique
and was used extensively in the amplification of all stringed
instruments, acoustic and electric.
Also a brilliant guitarist and musician, Alun is greatly missed. |
Alun Ashworth in 1998
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I have developed my own ideas and production techniques with piezo bridge making over the past 5 years. The Violectra bridge design is made of a solid inner of maple, that is covered with hardwood plates. They are now exclusively used for all Violectra models.
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Violectra Violin bridge
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Violectra Cello Bridge
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