1 mins
Not just a carbon copy
‘I played on a carbon fibre cello for years and was always interested in finding a way to make it sound more like a wooden one,’ says Alfred Goodrich, cellist and developer of the Forte3D cello, on the instrument’s origins. After much experimentation, Goodrich came up with a hybrid design: top and back plates cut from twill weave carbon fibre; 3D-printed neck, scroll and ribs; and tailpiece, pegs and fingerboard all made from the traditional materials. The parts are assembled by hand, as with wooden cellos, but the full process takes just a day.
The design uses ‘entirely different physics’ from traditional cellos, says Goodrich. The Forte3D’s slightly concave front plate makes use of carbon fibre’s high tensile (resistance to being pulled apart) strength. Using the wooden cello’s traditional arched design would require the carbon fibre to be significantly thicker to accommodate the stress, but the concave design allows for thinner plates, thereby creating a more resonant sound.
While high-quality sound was the primary goal, the cello’s accessibility at an affordable price point has become a defining feature. This is possible owing to the shorter manufacturing
time, and the ability of 3D-printing technology to implement design improvements quickly.
And it was the combination of high-quality sound and accessibility that brought Grammy Award-winning cellist Mike Block on board. ‘When I first played it I was blown away,’ he says. ‘It’s a game changer, whether it’s getting students high-quality instruments or professionals needing a good cello to tour with.’ Block tours with it and now helps run the company.
In terms of sound, Block says ‘the recurring feedback from other cellists was its playability and responsiveness, with a warm A-string and powerful C-string sound.’
Forte3D Carbon Fibre 3D printed cello £2,447
email contact@forte3d.com
web www.forte3d.com
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