Marx violin-guitar

The violin-guitar appears to have been invented very late in the Marxochime Colony's active lifetime, which ended in 1972. Following the closing of the factory, the building sat empty and full of unsold instruments for approximately 20 years, at which time the contents were sold via public auction. As a result, Marx instruments in new-like condition are still surfacing today. Most examples of the violin-guitar are of this category, as is the one represented here.

the "case"

The "case" consists of a hinged lid affixed directly to the instrument. The lid swings 180 degrees. The instrument itself is the other half of the "case." Below it is shown in closed, open, and playing positions.

the hinges

Special hinges allow the lid to make the half-circle swing. A close-up of one is shown below.

the integral capo d'astro

The violin-guitar has a fully chromatic melody range of nearly three octaves, C to C to C to A. In other words, it has the same melody range as that which is usual for a key of C and a key of G bowed fretless zither, combined.

But even more innovative is the violin-guitar's approach to the accompaniment section; it allows the player to alter the base key of its 5 chords to any pitch of the chromatic scale. It does so by means of a built-in capo. A lever is raised to place it in key-changing mode, following which it is moved to the desired location and the lever is lowered to lock it in place. In the example below, we are changing the base key from C to F.