Im looking to buy a fiddle but am not too familiar with what makes or natioalities to be on the look out for. I would be interested in buying an old fiddle if possible.
You don't say if you've played before. If not, a cheaper fiddle would be best to start with and this would be unlikely to be an "old" fiddle unless you inherit one from a friendly old uncle. Best bet is to get an experienced fiddler to help you check them out first. Try before you buy.
See if you can do some background reading on the history of the violin to get a general feel for what you're looking for. A local reference library or the Internet should be able to help. Also, think about how much you can afford.
A fiddle isn't very useful without a bow (it's then only a pretty miserable attempt at a small guitar!), and a poor bow will hold you back significantly, so be prepared to pay a bit for a reasonable bow. A middle price range carbon fibre bow is often worth looking at, and may very well be better value than a wood bow costing say 25-30% more. If you go for wood, always go for pernambuco.
As John J says, unless you're experienced don't buy unless you have skilled help with you. This applies to both fiddle and bow. It takes a fair amount of good playing experience to distinguish between bows - it's not something a beginner or inexperienced player can be expected to do.
Finally, every fiddle and bow needs a case, so don't forget to budget for that item!
To start out with, get a student make fiddle. Stray away from Scheral and Roth but go for a German made student make like Knilling. Student make simply means their used in school orchestras, but it does not mean they are inferior insturments. Ashley MacIssac, the great Cape Breton fiddle player, plays with a student make fiddle. And make sure you get a full size fiddle, i.e a 4/4 fiddle.
Weel... there's fiddles and then there's fiddles, y'see. There's some fiddles than ain't worth t' mud on your boots (look out for ones that are pianted gaily!) and then there's fiddles that are worth the clothes off your back, your legs, and arm, and a new set of teeth.
Aim somewhere in the middle. Y'should turn out alright.
Don't believe what labels say inside fiddles. There are only about 600 genuine Stradivari around now, but there are millions of fiddles with a Stradivari label inside. All it means is that the fiddle is supposed to be modelled on a Stradivari. Fiddle makers have been doing this ever since Stradivari himself died in 1737.
Trevor
When i bought my last fiddle, i didn't have much cash to splash around, i went to a local shop which was pretty well respected, and tried out almost every fiddle in the shop. (from the cheapest to the most expensive). I put in order my top 3 (for quality of sound and feel). One of them was £600 ($1000 dollars perhaps) which i liked the best, but couldn't afford the second best sounding was £190!! i settled on that one! what a bargain.
the most expensive was £3000 or so, and didn't sound as good!
Fiddle Makes
Fiddle Makes
Im looking to buy a fiddle but am not too familiar with what makes or natioalities to be on the look out for. I would be interested in buying an old fiddle if possible.
# Posted on December 17th 2003 by jmurf100
Re: Fiddle Makes
You don't say if you've played before. If not, a cheaper fiddle would be best to start with and this would be unlikely to be an "old" fiddle unless you inherit one from a friendly old uncle. Best bet is to get an experienced fiddler to help you check them out first. Try before you buy.
John
# Posted on December 18th 2003 by John J.
Re: Fiddle Makes
Shouldn't Boorinwood be making an appearance about now? ;oD
# Posted on December 18th 2003 by nastyweegirl
Re: Fiddle Makes
See if you can do some background reading on the history of the violin to get a general feel for what you're looking for. A local reference library or the Internet should be able to help. Also, think about how much you can afford.
A fiddle isn't very useful without a bow (it's then only a pretty miserable attempt at a small guitar!), and a poor bow will hold you back significantly, so be prepared to pay a bit for a reasonable bow. A middle price range carbon fibre bow is often worth looking at, and may very well be better value than a wood bow costing say 25-30% more. If you go for wood, always go for pernambuco.
As John J says, unless you're experienced don't buy unless you have skilled help with you. This applies to both fiddle and bow. It takes a fair amount of good playing experience to distinguish between bows - it's not something a beginner or inexperienced player can be expected to do.
Finally, every fiddle and bow needs a case, so don't forget to budget for that item!
Trevor
# Posted on December 18th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Fiddle Makes
To start out with, get a student make fiddle. Stray away from Scheral and Roth but go for a German made student make like Knilling. Student make simply means their used in school orchestras, but it does not mean they are inferior insturments. Ashley MacIssac, the great Cape Breton fiddle player, plays with a student make fiddle. And make sure you get a full size fiddle, i.e a 4/4 fiddle.
Johnathan
# Posted on December 18th 2003 by Harper_Lad
Re: Fiddle Makes
Weel... there's fiddles and then there's fiddles, y'see. There's some fiddles than ain't worth t' mud on your boots (look out for ones that are pianted gaily!) and then there's fiddles that are worth the clothes off your back, your legs, and arm, and a new set of teeth.
Aim somewhere in the middle. Y'should turn out alright.
i cheoil
Pádraig
# Posted on December 19th 2003 by Pádraig
Re: Fiddle Makes
Don't believe what labels say inside fiddles. There are only about 600 genuine Stradivari around now, but there are millions of fiddles with a Stradivari label inside. All it means is that the fiddle is supposed to be modelled on a Stradivari. Fiddle makers have been doing this ever since Stradivari himself died in 1737.
Trevor
# Posted on December 19th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Fiddle Makes
When i bought my last fiddle, i didn't have much cash to splash around, i went to a local shop which was pretty well respected, and tried out almost every fiddle in the shop. (from the cheapest to the most expensive). I put in order my top 3 (for quality of sound and feel). One of them was £600 ($1000 dollars perhaps) which i liked the best, but couldn't afford the second best sounding was £190!! i settled on that one! what a bargain.
the most expensive was £3000 or so, and didn't sound as good!
try out every one in the shop!
# Posted on December 21st 2003 by aye