Hardanger d'Amore
My own version of Salve Håkedal's beautiful Hardanger d'Amore. These are 9- and 10-string d'Amores (4 or 5 playing strings + 5 sympathetic understrings).
The Instruments
I have so far developed three models –
* The 9-string d'Amore (4 playing strings & 5 sympathetic understrings)
* The 10-string d'Amore (5 playing strings & 5 sympathetic understrings)
* The 10-string grande d'Amore (the largest body size, like a small viola)
Sophie playing a 10-string d'Amore.
9-string d'Amore
This instrument has an expansive and crystal-sweet sound with built-in reverb coming from 5 sympathetic strings running under the fingerboard. The concept driving this instrument is versatility. It marries the ethereal quality of the Hardanger with the classic feel and sound of the fiddle/violin, elevating any musical genre.
This model has 4 playing strings and a standard scale length (330 mm), with an intermediate bridge and fingerboard arch between that of a Hardanger and a standard violin.
This instrument can be strung with synthetic or gut strings depending on the player's preferences. The synthetic strings enhance the sparkling sound while the gut strings allow for a warmer sound as well as expanded opportunities for cross tuning.
Front: Reclaimed Spruce from a pipe organ
Back & neck: Myrtle from the Pacific Northwest
Fingerboard, chinrest & tailpiece: Rosewood
Wittner Finetune Geared Pegs
Hardanger-style f-holes
Custom-designed leaf scroll by Dev
Tested strings: Pirastro Violino (synthetic), Pirastro Euduxa (gut)
Sympathetic strings: Light gauge steel
10-string d'Amore
Front: Reclaimed Spruce from a pipe organ
Back & neck: Myrtle from the Pacific Northwest
Fingerboard, chinrest & tailpiece: Cocobola
Wittner Finetune Geared Pegs
Hardanger-style f-holes
Custom-designed leaf scroll by Dev
Tested strings: Pirastro Euduxa (gut)
Sympathetic strings: Light gauge steel
This model, with 5 playing strings and 5 understrings, is also designed for versatility. The width of the neck is smaller than the 10-string grande d’Amore, which results in the playing strings being spaced a little closer together. This is to facilitate the reach on the low C string and is designed more for players with a fiddle/violin background or those with smaller hands.
The bridge and fingerboard arch is between that of a Hardanger and a standard violin to enable the player to isolate single strings when desired but also easily play double stops.
This model also has a standard violin scale length, but the bouts are larger than a normal fiddle/violin to enhance the rich sound of the low C string and create balance across all 5 playing strings. The instrument is lightly built to maximize the resonance from the 5 understrings.
The amount of bridge arching and the curve of the fingerboard can be easily customized to the player’s preferences and style of music.
10-string grande d'Amore
This largest model is designed for maximizing the richness of the low strings and creating a deep, expressive sound with powerful, ethereal resonance from the understrings. It is typically made with a wider neck and flat fingerboard and bridge to match the specifications of the Hardanger d’Amore by Salve Håkedal. This, again, can be easily customized.
The body size is equivalent to a small viola, and the scale length is slightly longer than a normal violin at 336 mm.
The instrument is lightly built and is designed with gut strings and cross tunings in mind.
Front: Reclaimed Spruce from a pipe organ
Back: Reclaimed Cherry
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard, chinrest & tailpiece: Rosewood
Wittner Finetune Geared Pegs
Hardanger-style f-holes
Custom-designed leaf scroll by Dev
Tested strings: Pirastro Euduxa (gut)
Sympathetic strings: Light gauge steel