Electric Violin Build Packet Print Packet

Generated: 2026-05-09

Packet folder: `/tmp/electric-violin-codex-gina-r2-build-packet`

File Map

design.md

Project intent, catalog metadata, assumptions, and validation plan.

Electric Violin Design

Intent

Create an L2 packet for a solid-body electric violin that can become a CAD and

shop prototype while keeping the unresolved pickup, ergonomics, and load

questions visible.

Readiness

L2 scaffold. This is ready for CAD layout and component sourcing review, not

for production or final electrical performance claims.

Governing Model

Pitch is controlled by Mersenne-Taylor string behavior. The body is primarily a

mechanical support and ergonomic structure; output depends on bridge/piezo

coupling, preamp impedance, wiring noise, and player setup.

f = (1 / (2 L)) * sqrt(T / mu)

Baseline Assumptions

Tension And Electronics Notes

• Use published string tension data before sizing the neck/body joint.
• Shield and strain-relieve wiring before closing any cavity.
• Verify piezo output through the intended preamp, not only direct to an amp.
• Balance the instrument with shoulder rest/chin rest installed.

Known Gaps

• No body outline or ergonomic mockup evidence.
• No pickup/preamp selection or wiring test.
• No CAD neck-joint/load review.
• No sourceability/pricing check.
• No setup measurements.

bom.csv

Starter bill of materials with part categories, quantities, drawing refs, and notes.

sourcing.csv

Supplier/search tracker with specs, price/date fields, lead time, substitutes, and risks.

cut-list.csv

Rough/final stock sizes, material, grain/orientation, operations, yield, and offcuts.

drawing-brief.md

Manufacturing drawing and technical product sketch brief.

Electric Violin Drawing Brief

Required first drawings:

• Body plan with bridge line, string paths, pickup, controls, jack, and cavity.
• Side setup drawing with nut, fingerboard, bridge, action, and tailpiece.
• Neck/body joint detail.
• Headstock or pegbox drilling layout for 4-string and optional 5-string.
• Wiring schematic with shielding and strain relief.

assembly-manual.md

Shop-facing sequence, tools, fixtures, safety, tuning, finishing, and maintenance notes.

Electric Violin Assembly Manual

1. Choose 4-string or 5-string baseline before final CAD.

2. Select pickup bridge and preamp so the CAD reflects real hardware.

3. Produce body, neck, fingerboard, bridge, electronics, and ergonomic drawings.

4. Cut body and neck oversize, then dry-fit the neck/body joint.

5. Route electronics cavity and wire path only after component dimensions are

confirmed.

6. Fit fingerboard, nut, bridge, tailpiece, and tuners.

7. Wire pickup, jack, shielding, and preamp with strain relief.

8. String gradually, test signal, and record setup/balance data.

Safety: protect eyes during first pitch-up and ventilate during soldering or

finish work.

validation.csv

Target/measured values, tolerance, environment, result, and tuning/build action log.

supplier-rfq.md

Supplier email/request-for-quote starter.

Supplier RFQ Draft

Hello,

Please quote parts for a solid-body electric violin prototype: piezo bridge,

high-impedance preamp or recommended electronics, output jack, violin string

set with published tensions, tuners/fittings, and any wiring/shielding supplies.

Please include dimensions, compatibility notes, unit price, lead time, and

recommended substitutions for 4-string and 5-string variants.

visual-bom-brief.md

Art direction for an image-forward visual BOM.

Visual BOM Brief

Show the solid body and neck with exploded callouts for pickup bridge, preamp,

jack, wiring, shielding, tailpiece, tuners, fingerboard, strings, chin/shoulder

interface, finish, and cavity cover.

electric-violin-starter.wl

Wolfram starter for physics, optimization, visualization, and validation.

(* Electric violin open-string starter. Values are first-pass assumptions. *)
ClearAll["Global`*"];
a4 = 440;
freqFromMidi[m_] := a4*2^((m - 69)/12);
scaleLengthIn = 12.91;
tuning4 = <|"G3" -> 55, "D4" -> 62, "A4" -> 69, "E5" -> 76|>;
tuning5 = <|"C3" -> 48, "G3" -> 55, "D4" -> 62, "A4" -> 69, "E5" -> 76|>;

makeRows[tuning_] := KeyValueMap[
  <|"string" -> #1, "frequencyHz" -> N[freqFromMidi[#2]],
    "scaleLengthIn" -> scaleLengthIn|> &,
  tuning
];

<|"fourString" -> Dataset[makeRows[tuning4]], "fiveString" -> Dataset[makeRows[tuning5]]|>

README.md

Project artifact.

Electric Violin

Engineering documentation and parametric design table for the electric violin -

solid-body 4- and 5-string variants with piezo bridge pickup integration.

Part of the [tonykoop/instrument-maker](https://github.com/tonykoop/instrument-maker) catalogue.

Readiness

L2 scaffold. This repo now includes root-mode build packet documentation for a

solid-body electric violin prototype. It is not L3 because CAD, electronics

verification, sourceability, ergonomic balance, and measured setup data remain

open.

Packet Contents

• `design.md` - solid-body violin assumptions and 4/5-string variant notes.
• `bom.csv`, `sourcing.csv`, `cut-list.csv`, `validation.csv` - packet tables.
• `assembly-manual.md`, `risks.md`, `photo-shotlist.md` - build and review aids.
• `drawing-brief.md`, `drawings/README.md`, `cad/README.md`,

`electric-violin-starter.wl`, `wolfram/README.md` - starter technical artifacts.

String-Scale Assumptions

Baseline: 4-string violin scale at 328 mm / 12.91 in with optional 5-string

variant adding C3. Use published string tension data, then verify bridge/piezo

compatibility and neck/body stiffness before first full setup.

License

[CC BY 4.0](LICENSE) - see LICENSE for details.

photo-shotlist.md

Project artifact.

Photo Shotlist

• Body and neck blank orientation.
• Full-size body/hardware layout before cutting.
• Pickup bridge and electronics dimensions on arrival.
• Neck/body dry fit and string path check.
• Wiring/shielding before cavity close.
• First signal test, action readings, and balance/posture photos.

risks.md

Project artifact.

Electric Violin Risks

• Pickup/preamp mismatch can produce weak, noisy, or brittle output.
• Neck/body joint and bridge support are not validated under final tension.
• Poor balance can make the instrument uncomfortable even if it works

electrically.

• Hardware dimensions may force CAD changes after sourcing.
• Remain at L2 until CAD, electronics, setup, and balance evidence are logged.