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Thread: Another take on the "Virzi"

  1. #1
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
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    Default Another take on the "Virzi"

    This Virzi showed up on facebook today. 'First time I've veer seen one in that shape and in a violin; 'makes fitting the soundpost even more fun! It seems like a boatload of mass added to that tiny little bassbar....
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    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Another take on the "Virzi"

    Wow thats pretty neat James!

  4. #3
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Another take on the "Virzi"

    Whoa, they are out there.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=virz...&bih=770&dpr=1

    And apparently we've seen them before. I totally forgot about these.

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...dolin-Brothers
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  5. #4
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    Default Re: Another take on the "Virzi"

    How the [blank] do you set the soundpost in something like that?

  6. #5
    Registered User sblock's Avatar
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    Default Re: Another take on the "Virzi"

    Virzi tone producers were first developed for the violin, not for the mandolin. A number of violins and violas from the 1920's to 1930's have these installed. Lloyd Loar had the idea to install them some of Gibson's mandolins, which incorporated some other violin features, as well.

  7. #6

    Default Re: Another take on the "Virzi"

    Quote Originally Posted by rcc56 View Post
    How the [blank] do you set the soundpost in something like that?
    Looks like plenty of room, for the stab/pull/push tool, but the two strings approach might be frustrating.

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  9. #7
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    Default Re: Another take on the "Virzi"

    If you think you can get a post setter under that Virzi without breaking it or chewing up the f-hole, my hat is off to you.
    James has his work cut out [I hope not ] for him on this one.

  10. #8
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Another take on the "Virzi"

    Quote Originally Posted by rcc56 View Post
    If you think you can get a post setter under that Virzi without breaking it or chewing up the f-hole, my hat is off to you.
    James has his work cut out [I hope not ] for him on this one.
    Perhaps a French post setter? The plier type
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  11. #9
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    Default Re: Another take on the "Virzi"

    That's the typical shape for the Virzi Tone Producers in Virzi's violins and violas. They were actually pretty light weight, wide grain, and were typically around .080˝ thick. As to setting the soundpost, there's no concern because the soundpost is under - an just behind - the treble foot of the bridge. The bass bar and tone producer run under the bass foot of the bridge. I have Loar's personal viola (made by August Diehl in 1875) and the Tone Producer is very similar to the shape that James showed. "Virzi Tone Amplifier" (as Virzi called them) were in many Gibson mandolins, mandolas, and guitars until the relationship between Virzi and Gibson was halted at the end of 1924. Loar's personal F5 mandolin has one.
    R

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  13. #10
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
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    Default Re: Another take on the "Virzi"

    I have a 1924 Gibson Harp guitar with on in it about the size of a frisbee....
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  14. #11
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    Default Re: Another take on the "Virzi"

    James... Do I assume correctly that it is a tradition Gibson oval-hole harp guitar? If so, brace configuration appears to be two longitudinal braces/tone bars. Am I correct? Does it also have a cross brace just below the soundhole?
    R

  15. #12
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
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    Default Re: Another take on the "Virzi"

    Yes- two giant longitudinal braces with the virzi in the middle and a big single transverse brace next to the oval soundhole. The whole thing is massively overbraced and overbuilt; I could park my old Tacoma on the thing. Areas of the top are 8+mm thick- in the range of a double bass!

    A few years back I saw a huge virzi complete with the original label inside a piano that was almost a big as a guitar.....
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