Fidular: The Future of Traditional Instruments

Revolutionizing Asian and Middle Eastern Fiddles with Modularity and Digital Fabrication

As a luthier's apprentice, Hantrakul observed that the design and fabrication of traditional instruments like the Thai Sloh and Cambodian Saw U fiddles have remained unchanged for centuries. Western instruments, on the other hand, have been continuously evolving. Inspired by recent 3D printed violins and modular guitars, Hantrakul set out to reimagine traditional instruments using these new technologies, addressing the changing needs of musicians and consumers in his home country, Thailand, and across Asia.

Fidular is a cross-cultural, modular system designed for traditional bowed fiddles across Asia and the Middle East. Unlike traditional fiddles, which have permanently bonded components, Fidular enables instant disassembly and interchangeability of chamber, strings, and shaft across different fiddles. This unprecedented cross-compatibility allows players to customize the timbre by "mixing and matching" fiddle parts on the fly. The design functions with both traditional and novel digitally fabricated chambers.

The realization of Fidular involved a blend of traditional and modern manufacturing techniques. The shaft and tuning pegs were made from teak for strength using a carpenter's lathe and hand tools. Complex geometries of the shaft base, tuning buns, and plastic chamber were designed on CAD software and 3D printed with PLA. The Sloh chamber was made from chopped dried coconuts glued to a wooden panel, while other chambers were purchased from respective luthiers.

One of the challenges Hantrakul faced was engineering modular connections between the chamber and shaft. The mechanism had to be rigid, compatible with chambers of various geometries, retain acoustic phenomena, and respect traditional fiddle aesthetics. The design had to appeal to older, conservative musicians and luthiers while sparking excitement for "millennial generation" consumers. The manufacturing process had to leverage the best of parallel worlds still found in developing nations: handmade methods and Industry 4.0.

Fidular is a manifestation of Hantrakul's vision of culture-aware technology, a convergence of future and traditional technologies, engineered for cross-cultural fluidity. The design fuses modern acoustics and digital fabrication with traditional craftsmanship. Fidular has inspired new horizons and reimaginations of culture from fresh perspectives in design and science. Emerging plans to commercialize Fidular can propel industries where craftsmen, engineers, and consumers merge across generations and technologies.

This innovative design was awarded Silver in A' Musical Instruments Design Award in 2017. The award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.