# 3D-Printed Rainbow Violin

> A rainbow Hovalin printed on a CR-10, assembled with guitar tuners, and put to the test—from plucked strings to the first days of bow practice.

Canonical page: [3D-Printed Rainbow Violin](<https://devanmetz.com/portfolio/printed-violin/>)

Project date: Jan 2021

Updated: 2026-10-13

Category: Making & music

Status: Printed & played

Tags: 3D printing, Hovalin, Music, Video

- **My work:** Printing, assembly, sound tests, and video
- **Printer:** Creality CR-10
- **Print time:** About 20 hours

- [Original Hovalin design](<https://www.hovalabs.com/work/hovalin>)

## In short

I printed and assembled a rainbow Hovalin violin, using a one-piece body, printed neck and bridge, and guitar tuners. I tested it with acoustic guitar strings while waiting for violin strings and a bow, then filmed my early bow practice. The videos show how the printed instrument sounds, both plucked and played with a bow.

![Playing a rainbow-colored printed violin fitted with a gray neck, four strings, and guitar tuning machines.](<https://devanmetz.com/_astro/printed-violin-playing.CmsxwXA4_1UJjwy.webp>)

The assembled violin during its first plucked-string sound test. Frame from my original video.

## Overview 

I found out I could 3D print a violin, so I made one. This is my rainbow build of the **Hovalin**, a 3D-printable violin design by [Hova Labs](<https://www.hovalabs.com/work/hovalin>).

I started with an improvised guitar-string sound test while waiting for violin strings and a bow (the tool drawn across strings to make them sound). The videos below show that first test and my early attempts at playing with a bow.

## Printing and assembly 

### Printed parts 

I printed the entire body in one piece on a **Creality CR-10**, a 3D printer, with a print time of about **20 hours**. The neck and bridge (the piece that supports the strings above the body) were also printed. Guitar tuning machines, or tuners, adjust string tension to change pitch.

The body prints upright, standing vertically as the printer builds it layer by layer. Rainbow bands run across those layers.

### Assembly and tuning 

After printing, I fitted the neck, bridge, tuners, and strings. The gray neck and bridge contrast with the colorful body. I tuned it E–A–D–G, the notes of its four strings.

## First sound test 

Before my violin strings and bow arrived, I fitted **acoustic guitar strings** and tried plucking it. The first recording starts with a look around the body and hardware, followed by the playing test. I change notes by pressing the strings against the fingerboard, the surface along the neck.

   

**First sound test of the printed violin with guitar strings**

- [Video (video/webm)](<https://devanmetz.com/media/printed-violin/first-sound-test.webm>)
- [Video (video/mp4)](<https://devanmetz.com/media/printed-violin/first-sound-test.mp4>)
- [captions: English](<https://devanmetz.com/media/printed-violin/first-sound-test.vtt>)
- [Preview image](<https://devanmetz.com/media/printed-violin/first-sound-test.webp>)

The original 1 minute 16 second sound-test video, with the build introduction and plucked-string playing. English captions are available.

**Video transcript**

The body was completely 3D printed in one piece on my Creality CR-10. The neck and bridge were also printed. The violin uses guitar tuners and is tuned E–A–D–G. I am using acoustic guitar strings until my violin strings and bow arrive.

The remainder of the video shows me holding the violin across my lap and plucking the strings while changing notes on the fingerboard.

## Learning with a bow 

Once I had a bow, I started learning to play. This clip is from about **three days of practice**—an early attempt, but a chance to hear the printed violin played with a bow.

   

**Early bowed performance on the printed rainbow violin**

- [Video (video/webm)](<https://devanmetz.com/media/printed-violin/bowed-playing.webm>)
- [Video (video/mp4)](<https://devanmetz.com/media/printed-violin/bowed-playing.mp4>)
- [captions: English](<https://devanmetz.com/media/printed-violin/bowed-playing.vtt>)
- [Preview image](<https://devanmetz.com/media/printed-violin/bowed-playing.webp>)

A 25-second excerpt from my original short video: early bow practice on the assembled violin.

In the clip, I hold the instrument at my shoulder, draw the bow across the strings, and change notes with my left hand. There is no spoken narration in this excerpt.

## Design and build references 

**Hova Labs created the Hovalin design.** I printed and assembled this one, learned to play it, and filmed the tests. Their [project page](<https://www.hovalabs.com/work/hovalin>) has more about the instrument and its printable files.

Other small physical builds, including the arcade controller and soldering fan, remain in [From the Workbench](<https://devanmetz.com/portfolio/workshop-builds/>).

## Build photos

![A 3D printer working on the upright rainbow violin body, with its sound holes and raised tailpiece visible.](<https://devanmetz.com/_astro/printed-violin-printing.Cma7Jifg_1moy8H.webp>)

The body being printed in one piece. Frame from the original short build video.

![The completed rainbow violin body held upright before fitting the neck, bridge, and strings.](<https://devanmetz.com/_astro/printed-violin-body.CCEPpJXk_1nnLBm.webp>)

The unstrung body, showing the color bands, printed layers, sound holes, and neck opening.

![The rainbow printed violin lying on a white table, fitted with a gray neck and bridge and acoustic guitar strings, under the title text “3D Printed Violin with Guitar Strings.”](<https://devanmetz.com/_astro/printed-violin-guitar-strings.DdswxFCZ_Z1Db7zc.webp>)

My earlier title thumbnail for the build, showing the violin strung with acoustic guitar strings before the violin strings and bow arrived.

## Build stories

- [The first sound from my printed violin](<https://devanmetz.com/blog/printed-violin-first-sound/index.md>)

## Related reading

- [From the Workbench](<https://devanmetz.com/portfolio/workshop-builds/index.md>)
- [DIY Electric Bike](<https://devanmetz.com/portfolio/diy-electric-bike/index.md>)
- [Catan Organizers](<https://devanmetz.com/portfolio/catan-organizers/index.md>)