Hi to everyone.
I'm here again to ask a little advice.
After 2 year I'm studying fiddle with my chinese one I would like to change it with something better but I don't know what I have to see to choose my new instrument.
I know I have to prove it to check the sound but sound isn't the only thing that make a good instrument!
So................ What I have to look for? What I have to ask to the seller?
Thank to everyone.
-bed condition of wood (how can I recognize the condition of wood?)
-broken somewhere (is it possible that a fiddle is broken somewhere and is it difficult to see it?)
-Kinds of wood (wood could change the sound of fiddle?)
- palce of construction (differnt school of construction could make be better the fiddle?)
- year of construction
-price
- factory or hand made (there are some factory how make good fiddles?)
these are only few exemples!
Having had the experience of buying 3 fiddles over the years I would offer the following comments (but don't take me for any kind of expert!) Although sound is obviously the most important thing, a fiddle that hasn't been played for a long time, or which hasn't been set up properly isn't going to sound good. I've got one that was unused in a cupboard for 5 or 6 years and it sounded thin and weedy when brought back into use, until played every day for a couple of months. It's now the one I use most and the sound is full and loud, and it looks great too. But if I'd tried it with a view to buying it when it had just come out of storage, I wouldn't bought it because of the sound. I would say practise looking at fiddles - get your hands on as many as possible. I always look at any fiddle closely if given a chance. Also look at some of the pictures and descriptions on eBay but don't make any rash decisions to buy one from there! There are many dealers who describe instruments fully on the web, and it's an education to read them and look at the pictures. When you examine a fiddle, look at the quality of the wood, the beauty of the grain, the way the back sections are matched (or the way it's carved if it has a one-piece back). I'm sure the making of a good instrument begins with the selection of the tone woods - but how do you tell? You have to look at lots of good ones first. Then you've got to examine closely every part of the fiddle because a good instrument won't have carelessly cut f-holes, an ugly, badly-carved scroll, cheap fittings, low-quality bridge etc. Look a pictures of bridges on expensive instruments and you'll see what I mean. The bridge should be at a normal height. One of my fiddles (not my favourite) needs to have a very low bridge - too low - because the neck has too flat an angle. The neck has been reglued badly at some time (that's the one I got off eBay but the repair wasn't mentioned). If it's a second-hand instrument, look for old repairs. Check for any cracks by examining every part of it, back, front, pegbox. Old, professional repairs shouldn't put you off but badly glued botch-ups should. Finally, check the sound - but remember it's the potential sound that's important, because the sound will develop. If you can get one on approval, get a good player to play it - in a session if possible. Some fiddles sing out and others are swamped. You want one of the first type.
i agree with Richard. The sound of the fiddle when you try it in a shop can be completely different from the one it develops after months of use. Another important issue is the chose of the strings. I have a fiddle whose sound is inhibited by gut or syntetic strings. I've put on it a set of Pirastro Flexocor (metal strings) and that... let "him" free "his" soul. Same chords on another fiddle give the opposite result, as the latter likes syntethic strings (Dominant, or Pirastro Violino). More than that, same fiddle with same setting can give completely different results according to the place you play it. Nice times when i played the "consistent guitars".... may be fiddles are not very good at hiding emotions!!!!
Also, I'd say, don't put down those Chinese fiddles; a lot is in the luthier. Karl Dennis made my instrument off a Shen kit, and she was an exquisite, one-piece back, brilliantly fiery tiger-striped piece of work with a lot of scratch and little else but volume. What made it worthwhile was that he had just set it up when I got it off his hands, so I slapped on some Helicore heavy tension strings and basically got to break it in to my playing preference.
I would definitely say, don't buy from a salesman: buy from a craftsman. [Most] luthiers will not rip you off, since it's as much a matter of personal pride for them as it is anything else. What's obvious from this topic is that you need an informed opinion, and nobody can give you better than the guy who made or restored the instrument!
I accidentally won an auction on ebay for a guitar shaped fiddle that I placed the first (and ONLY) bid on. US$135. My teacher and a number of well respected musicians have played it since, and have said "Well done - you know you'd have payed 10 times that in a local music store to get an instrument that sounds THIS good". .....and then one (who has toured the world) leant across and said to me "you know, I bought a Chinese instrument for $200 a couple of years ago - and have played it on a number of albums, and been offered up to $10,000 for it by other muso's who love its sound. But I reckon I'll just hold on to that fortune cookie".
how can I choose my new fiddle?
how can I choose my new fiddle?
Hi to everyone.
I'm here again to ask a little advice.
After 2 year I'm studying fiddle with my chinese one I would like to change it with something better but I don't know what I have to see to choose my new instrument.
I know I have to prove it to check the sound but sound isn't the only thing that make a good instrument!
So................ What I have to look for? What I have to ask to the seller?
Thank to everyone.
# Posted on January 8th 2007 by marite
Re: how can I choose my new fiddle?
I'm of the opinion that sound IS the only think that makes a good instrument. What else can matter?
# Posted on January 8th 2007 by ...
Re: how can I choose my new fiddle?
-bed condition of wood (how can I recognize the condition of wood?)
-broken somewhere (is it possible that a fiddle is broken somewhere and is it difficult to see it?)
-Kinds of wood (wood could change the sound of fiddle?)
- palce of construction (differnt school of construction could make be better the fiddle?)
- year of construction
-price
- factory or hand made (there are some factory how make good fiddles?)
these are only few exemples!
# Posted on January 8th 2007 by marite
Re: how can I choose my new fiddle?
but all these are merely contributions to the sound
# Posted on January 8th 2007 by ...
Re: how can I choose my new fiddle?
Ok, but there are them too!
And I want to understand a little more beafore I spent money!
# Posted on January 8th 2007 by marite
Re: how can I choose my new fiddle?
Having had the experience of buying 3 fiddles over the years I would offer the following comments (but don't take me for any kind of expert!) Although sound is obviously the most important thing, a fiddle that hasn't been played for a long time, or which hasn't been set up properly isn't going to sound good. I've got one that was unused in a cupboard for 5 or 6 years and it sounded thin and weedy when brought back into use, until played every day for a couple of months. It's now the one I use most and the sound is full and loud, and it looks great too. But if I'd tried it with a view to buying it when it had just come out of storage, I wouldn't bought it because of the sound. I would say practise looking at fiddles - get your hands on as many as possible. I always look at any fiddle closely if given a chance. Also look at some of the pictures and descriptions on eBay but don't make any rash decisions to buy one from there! There are many dealers who describe instruments fully on the web, and it's an education to read them and look at the pictures. When you examine a fiddle, look at the quality of the wood, the beauty of the grain, the way the back sections are matched (or the way it's carved if it has a one-piece back). I'm sure the making of a good instrument begins with the selection of the tone woods - but how do you tell? You have to look at lots of good ones first. Then you've got to examine closely every part of the fiddle because a good instrument won't have carelessly cut f-holes, an ugly, badly-carved scroll, cheap fittings, low-quality bridge etc. Look a pictures of bridges on expensive instruments and you'll see what I mean. The bridge should be at a normal height. One of my fiddles (not my favourite) needs to have a very low bridge - too low - because the neck has too flat an angle. The neck has been reglued badly at some time (that's the one I got off eBay but the repair wasn't mentioned). If it's a second-hand instrument, look for old repairs. Check for any cracks by examining every part of it, back, front, pegbox. Old, professional repairs shouldn't put you off but badly glued botch-ups should. Finally, check the sound - but remember it's the potential sound that's important, because the sound will develop. If you can get one on approval, get a good player to play it - in a session if possible. Some fiddles sing out and others are swamped. You want one of the first type.
# Posted on January 8th 2007 by RichardB
Re: how can I choose my new fiddle?
i agree with Richard. The sound of the fiddle when you try it in a shop can be completely different from the one it develops after months of use. Another important issue is the chose of the strings. I have a fiddle whose sound is inhibited by gut or syntetic strings. I've put on it a set of Pirastro Flexocor (metal strings) and that... let "him" free "his" soul. Same chords on another fiddle give the opposite result, as the latter likes syntethic strings (Dominant, or Pirastro Violino). More than that, same fiddle with same setting can give completely different results according to the place you play it. Nice times when i played the "consistent guitars".... may be fiddles are not very good at hiding emotions!!!!
# Posted on January 8th 2007 by fiddlemax
Re: how can I choose my new fiddle?
Also, I'd say, don't put down those Chinese fiddles; a lot is in the luthier. Karl Dennis made my instrument off a Shen kit, and she was an exquisite, one-piece back, brilliantly fiery tiger-striped piece of work with a lot of scratch and little else but volume. What made it worthwhile was that he had just set it up when I got it off his hands, so I slapped on some Helicore heavy tension strings and basically got to break it in to my playing preference.
I would definitely say, don't buy from a salesman: buy from a craftsman. [Most] luthiers will not rip you off, since it's as much a matter of personal pride for them as it is anything else. What's obvious from this topic is that you need an informed opinion, and nobody can give you better than the guy who made or restored the instrument!
--DtM
# Posted on January 9th 2007 by Dan the Man
Re: how can I choose my new fiddle?
and NEVER rule out luck!
I accidentally won an auction on ebay for a guitar shaped fiddle that I placed the first (and ONLY) bid on. US$135. My teacher and a number of well respected musicians have played it since, and have said "Well done - you know you'd have payed 10 times that in a local music store to get an instrument that sounds THIS good". .....and then one (who has toured the world) leant across and said to me "you know, I bought a Chinese instrument for $200 a couple of years ago - and have played it on a number of albums, and been offered up to $10,000 for it by other muso's who love its sound. But I reckon I'll just hold on to that fortune cookie".
# Posted on January 9th 2007 by FiddleFancy
Re: how can I choose my new fiddle?
if you have a teacher or a good player bring them along,,,,,remember 2 heads are better than one when buyin anything your not sure about
# Posted on December 6th 2010 by gerry1916