Adventures in Electro-Lutherie

The first CD featuring WARHORSE has been released!

eric@efkeebler.com — 2012-03-28T16:16:24-04:00

The first CD featuring my WARHORSE violin has been released, and shows how this violin’s tone shines right through distortion and other effects! It’s titled “Home” and is Michael Shulman’s first fully-produced studio album. Michael used WARHORSE violin #1 for all the lead violin parts on every track of the CD (and my 5-string “Black Dragon” for the rhythm violin parts). To listen to clips of every track and download three complete tracks for free, go to the store on his website and scroll down to “Home (2012)”.

Oh, and some trivia: I did some of the backing vocals in track 1; and play flute in track 4, pipe organ in tracks 7 and 10, and accordion in track 8. :)

Atomic Gracie's "Iced Passion" custom violin.

eric@efkeebler.com — 2012-03-08T20:33:30-05:00

Check out these awesome close-ups of Atomic Gracie's E. F. Keebler violin, “Iced Passion”! She’ll be playing at the Vintage Voltage expo in Denver on March 25.

From anodizing to powder-coating.

eric@efkeebler.com — 2012-03-08T20:24:09-05:00

Anodizing turned out to be a real mixed bag, largely due to the sloppy subcontractor I was using but also due to the translucency of the finish: any tiny scuffs left over from hand-finishing after machining could be seen upon close examination of the finish on some of the parts. So it was back to the drawing board - and after a LOT of additional effort, I’m thrilled to announce that I’m now offering WARHORSE violins with beautiful powder-coated finishes, and the first one (in gloss black) is already available at Electric Violin Shop. This new type of finish has a wonderfully even color everywhere it’s applied, is opaque and so hides any finishing scuffs, and is available in an astonishingly wide array of colors. I’m starting with gloss black and metallic silver, and branching out from there...

WARHORSE is now available!

eric@efkeebler.com — 2011-07-22T19:31:25-04:00

It’s official: the first publicly-available WARHORSE violin is now for sale at ElectricVIolinShop.com, with more to follow! The final version incorporates several subtle improvements suggested by our prototype testers, and the balance point has been moved even farther back towards the player so that the instrument’s heft largely disappears when the violin is placed on your shoulder. The available colors are Black, Blue, and Bronze. A case and strap are included with each instrument. Only limited quantities will be available initially as we increase the efficiency of our production processes, so visit ElectricViolinShop.com today!

WARHORSE unit 00 has been assembled.

eric@efkeebler.com — 2010-12-11T01:51:39-05:00

My prototype WARHORSE violin, dubbed unit 00, has been assembled and strung, and the results are excellent - it’s amazingly sturdy, and the weight is in line with that of my customized Tubular Electric Violins (with the balance point right under the pulleys, surprisingly close to your body). Indeed, you could fight off a pack of wild boars with this instrument and then play a jaunty victory tune on it! I will be working with it over the next week to verify that it I am satisfied with every aspect of its construction and to further polish a few minor design elements. After that, production will begin on units 01 through 06, concurrent with the completion of my remaining Tubular Electric Violin orders.

Website overhauled!

eric@efkeebler.com — 2010-11-29T02:01:20-05:00

After spending most of the day learning a new website program and exporting shiny graphics from the Rhinoceros CAD program that I use to do design work, I’ve now got a spiffy new website up and running! The old site, in addition to being seriously out-of-date and a bit rough around the edges, focused on my custom work; this new site will still showcase those creations, but is also meant to bring attention to the new WARHORSE line of violins that will be launched next year.