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Home / News / Meet 3Dvarius, the electric violin that looks like a glitch in the Matrix

Meet 3Dvarius, the electric violin that looks like a glitch in the Matrix

3D printed instrument looks like it’s come through a wormhole from the future

What… what is that?

It’s a violin!

It looks like a ghost violin. And they’re playing dance music on it in the video. Have I gone mad? Did I take the red pill and wake up in an alternate 2016?

Nope. This is an electric violin. More specifically, someone’s been mad enough to take a Stradivarius violin (which is to violinists like a Gibson Les Paul is to a guitarist), and reimagine it as a strange but awesome 3D-printed spectacle with a single-piece body.

I see. Er, why?

Because it’s resulted in a unique and brilliant instrument. Its weight is perfectly balanced, and doesn’t get in the way of the musician. (In fact, because the centre of gravity is closer to the shoulder, it’s supposed to lessen the chances of tendonitis in regular players.)

Sound control is reportedly superb, with “optimal sound-wave flow throughout the instrument”. The sound sensor is so good that there’s no pre-amp, and the jack cable’s near the bridge, to eradicate latency and avoid radio disruptions. Plus, let’s face it, the thing just looks really cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G38UAp3GYHo

I suddenly really want a violin.

We agree. If ever there’s an instrument likely to release your inner Nigel Kennedy, Vanessa-Mae or (to actually add a classical reference and make us look vaguely intellectual) Vivaldi, it’s the 3Dvarius.

How can I get one?

Following the white rabbit and learning Kung Fu is sadly not enough. You’ll need to back this beauty on Kickstarter for, er, €6,299.

My enthusiasm just dwindled a touch.

We thought it might. But if you still want the 3Dvarius to exist, you can instead lob €15 their way for a CD, or, better, spend €149 on a 3Dvarius one-third scale miniature, and pretend you’re a classical-music-loving giant stuck in The Matrix.

Profile image of Craig Grannell Craig Grannell Contributor

About

I’m a regular contributor to Stuff magazine and Stuff.tv, covering apps, games, Apple kit, Android, Lego, retro gaming and other interesting oddities. I also pen opinion pieces when the editor lets me, getting all serious about accessibility and predicting when sentient AI smart cookware will take over the world, in a terrifying mix of Bake Off and Terminator.

Areas of expertise

Mobile apps and games, Macs, iOS and tvOS devices, Android, retro games, crowdfunding, design, how to fight off an enraged smart saucepan with a massive stick.