It’s not every day you come across a musical instrument that could comfortably double as a lethal weapon, but here’s one such creation.
The ‘Piezoelectric Violin’ sports a rather remarkable design that may leave those of a nervous disposition sweating profusely, though if used in the proper manner it should be capable of producing soothing music rather than a nasty injury.
Impressively, this eye-catching instrument – the work of Miami-based architects Eric Goldemberg and Veronica Zalcberg – was entirely 3D printed.
Goldemberg told the BBC recently that the pair’s idea to build offbeat instruments like the Piezoelectric Violin came “when we realised the aesthetic and technical issues we were facing as architects did not differ much from those of musicians and composers.”
He added that the pointy two-string violin sounds “quite similar” to what you’d expect. Elaborating, Goldemberg says the violin should sound “more or less like classical bowed strings. On the other hand, they do have a character all their own as a result of the materials and methods in which they are formed. Consider the tonality of classical guitar against that of the Les Paul electric guitar: they do sound the same in a sense, yet also quite different.”
While acknowledging the instrument’s “aggressive sci-fi looks,” Goldemberg insists the Piezoelectric Violin preserves “enough of the history of the violin,” adding that departing from established concepts in instrument design “is a balancing act of paying homage to history and tradition while at the same time looking forward boldly into the future.”
If you happen to be around New York City later this month and fancy checking out the Piezoelectric Violin, it’ll be on show at the three-day Inside 3D Printing conference at Manhattan’s Javits Center from April 15.
Also on display will be the designers’ unique and 3D-printed takes on the cello, sitar, and didgeridoo, with various performers playing the instruments throughout the event in what promises to be an orchestral performance quite unlike any other.
