Hi there. I am new here, and hope that maybe someone could help me out. I am in the market for a new fiddle, and I am having some troubles. I have been looking into TimsViolins in Wales, but I have not actually heard them played. I can not at this time afford both the fiddle and a couple of trips to Wales from here, Minnesota. I know that if I want a fiddle built, I have to be absolutly sure I will love it, and I don't really know. I mean, do I need to just wait a while and save up enough to go try out one of his fiddles, pay for it, and then wait 6 months before I go back to get it? Does anyone have one of his fiddles and can vouch for it? I am 18 and have to pay for College and rent and all that jazz, so this is quite the predicament. If you have any suggestions, send them my way...Please! Thanks for your time, I have to go play my crappy student fiddle!
Yeah, I've got suggestions. There are tons of luthiers in the Midwest - if you're looking for a new fiddle, why not buy local? Paul Martens in Madison, WI does a great job, and there are always places like William H Lee in Chicago if you just want a whole bunch of selection at once. Minneapolis isn't exactly short on violin shops itself, and you could always just take your checkbook to a bluegrass or oldtime music festival - there will invariably be a vendor with a cheap Stainer copy that can be set up decent. I've found some fine instruments that way.
Thanks, yeah...I suppose. I have looked locally a lot.. I mean I love the look of these Wales fiddles though, and was just kinda hoping...... I will probably have to buy locally in the end I suppose.
Are you talking about Tim Phillips, the guy who makes the (among his more traditional fiddles) five strings and the ones with non-standard shaped bodies? If you are, one of the lads I know plays one (I think I've got a recording of him playing it somewhere if you'd like me to send it to you) and it's got a really nice tone. He reckons it's a bit quieter than he'd like, but that might be more that a) he bow's a bit shot, and b) the strings/set-up he uses.
I've met a few other people who play them and they generally get pretty good reviews. With the exchange rate how it is though, you might get a better instrument if you buy from a maker within the States.
OK, I have one of his fiddles, and you can take it from me, they're good. They're very good. But as they are all hand-made, and extremely individual on top of that, they do all sound noticeably different. I went to his place and spent about four hours deciding which one I liked best, but really I would have been very happy with any one of them.
So yeah. Get one!
You're welcome! You can probably even ring him and get him to play them down the phone to you. I'm sure he'd do it. It's not the same as playing them yourself, I know, but..
Tim's a nice man, talk to him... I've never heard a bad word about him business wise... However, as there are find luthiers scattered about the world, it would be best to be able to see and try a thing before you commit. Again, if you like Tim's work, talk to the source.
It's always best to play before you buy. No matter how good the maker, the fiddle might not be a fit for you and you don't want to be stuck with a fiddle that doesn't suit you.
Ask if Tim will allow you to return the fiddle or exchange it if you don't like it. If so, that takes away a lot of the risk.
I heard Alasdair White play one of his fiddles in a YouTube clip, and it did sound very nice.
II play Tim Phillips fiddles. They are gorgeous but I had the advantage of being able to try them - but it never took long to decide!!
Tim is a lovely man and I'm sure he will allow you to exchange or return. I'm trying to find time to go up and see Tim to get a pickup fitted and a bridge adjustment done.
I'll also be seeing him in May at a festival. If there's a particular fiddle you like the look of on his site, I'm happy to try it for you and send you a recording or video clip!
I don't have a Tim Phillips fiddle, but they are lovely instruments, I spent some time at the Baltimore Fiddle Fair last year trying out the ones he had with him, tones varied of course but all were good, I'd say go for it.
I've played a few Tim Philips instruments, they are nicely made and sound good. Thought they were quite overpriced
for the sound/feel of the instrument though... obviously their price reflects the fact that they are hand made in the UK etc etc and if you are looking for a unique looking instrument that is fine, but I have played other fiddles that are 1/4 of the price which to my ears sounded much better.
Have a look around for local luthiers & shops, you really really need to play an instrument before you buy it, especially if you are spending 3K pounds. A good shop will let you take a selection home for a week.
Hope that helps
Play it before you buy it.
Make sure you use a really good bow when you test it.
Play several others and then come back to it.
Test it again.
Then think twice about it.
Take out checkbook.
AND REMEMBER...
Life is too short to play crappy instruments.
And it is frequently too long to be grinding through it, looking back wistfully.
Trust me.
Yuo're right Will I was talking about Baltimore Ireland, not the other one in the States! No idea if Tim Phillips ever gets to the States at all but he's suposed to be back in Baltimore, West Cork for this years fiddle fair in May.
I could have sworn I'd seen Tim hawking fiddles at GreyFox (in upstate NY) a few years back. I tried out a couple of his 5-string instruments and thinking that they were "nice" but also thinking that I had little interest in actually purchasing one.
In general, I agree with benhall, who prefers normal instruments.
But more than that, I would NEVER buy any violin I had not had the chance to try out first.
Yes, Tim would be wise to accept returns (within a reasonable amount of time), but you should factor in the cost of overseas shipping into your equation--and that wouldn't be cheap. At All. (I'd guess at around $400 each way)
At the end, if you really like the idea of a funky-lookin' fiddle, and you are willing to risk the $800 it might cost to actually test it out, and ship it back if you don't like it, then go ahead. But then make sure you compare it to a similarly-priced 'normal' fiddle from a local shop (and there are plenty of good ones in MN). You might find that the similarly priced normal fiddle is both much cheaper and better sounding.
I've tried maybe six or seven of Tim Phillips' fiddles in recent times and found them to be very very different from each other in terms of volume, tone, appearance etc. So much so in fact that I would suggest that you 'must' try before you buy.
For my taste they didn't suit at all but their owners loved them so there you go...one man's meat.
A new fiddle......must I hear it?
A new fiddle......must I hear it?
Hi there. I am new here, and hope that maybe someone could help me out. I am in the market for a new fiddle, and I am having some troubles. I have been looking into TimsViolins in Wales, but I have not actually heard them played. I can not at this time afford both the fiddle and a couple of trips to Wales from here, Minnesota. I know that if I want a fiddle built, I have to be absolutly sure I will love it, and I don't really know. I mean, do I need to just wait a while and save up enough to go try out one of his fiddles, pay for it, and then wait 6 months before I go back to get it? Does anyone have one of his fiddles and can vouch for it? I am 18 and have to pay for College and rent and all that jazz, so this is quite the predicament. If you have any suggestions, send them my way...Please! Thanks for your time, I have to go play my crappy student fiddle!
# Posted on February 26th 2008 by modestlyawesomefiddler
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
Yeah, I've got suggestions. There are tons of luthiers in the Midwest - if you're looking for a new fiddle, why not buy local? Paul Martens in Madison, WI does a great job, and there are always places like William H Lee in Chicago if you just want a whole bunch of selection at once. Minneapolis isn't exactly short on violin shops itself, and you could always just take your checkbook to a bluegrass or oldtime music festival - there will invariably be a vendor with a cheap Stainer copy that can be set up decent. I've found some fine instruments that way.
# Posted on February 26th 2008 by reenactor
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
Thanks, yeah...I suppose. I have looked locally a lot.. I mean I love the look of these Wales fiddles though, and was just kinda hoping...... I will probably have to buy locally in the end I suppose.
# Posted on February 26th 2008 by modestlyawesomefiddler
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
Joe CSS has one of Tim's Violins - you can email him via his profile I'm sure
# Posted on February 26th 2008 by mehitabel23
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
Are you talking about Tim Phillips, the guy who makes the (among his more traditional fiddles) five strings and the ones with non-standard shaped bodies? If you are, one of the lads I know plays one (I think I've got a recording of him playing it somewhere if you'd like me to send it to you) and it's got a really nice tone. He reckons it's a bit quieter than he'd like, but that might be more that a) he bow's a bit shot, and b) the strings/set-up he uses.
I've met a few other people who play them and they generally get pretty good reviews. With the exchange rate how it is though, you might get a better instrument if you buy from a maker within the States.
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by Andy V
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
Yeah, I am referring to Tim Phillips. His fiddles are beautiful, I am just afraid to buy one before I hear it!
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by modestlyawesomefiddler
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
OK, I have one of his fiddles, and you can take it from me, they're good. They're very good. But as they are all hand-made, and extremely individual on top of that, they do all sound noticeably different. I went to his place and spent about four hours deciding which one I liked best, but really I would have been very happy with any one of them.
So yeah. Get one!
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by Joe CSS
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
Thank you so much! That is really great. Thanks again!
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by modestlyawesomefiddler
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
You're welcome! You can probably even ring him and get him to play them down the phone to you. I'm sure he'd do it. It's not the same as playing them yourself, I know, but..
Good luck!
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by Joe CSS
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
Tim's a nice man, talk to him... I've never heard a bad word about him business wise... However, as there are find luthiers scattered about the world, it would be best to be able to see and try a thing before you commit. Again, if you like Tim's work, talk to the source.
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
It's always best to play before you buy. No matter how good the maker, the fiddle might not be a fit for you and you don't want to be stuck with a fiddle that doesn't suit you.
Ask if Tim will allow you to return the fiddle or exchange it if you don't like it. If so, that takes away a lot of the risk.
I heard Alasdair White play one of his fiddles in a YouTube clip, and it did sound very nice.
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by Marklar
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
II play Tim Phillips fiddles. They are gorgeous but I had the advantage of being able to try them - but it never took long to decide!!
Tim is a lovely man and I'm sure he will allow you to exchange or return. I'm trying to find time to go up and see Tim to get a pickup fitted and a bridge adjustment done.
I'll also be seeing him in May at a festival. If there's a particular fiddle you like the look of on his site, I'm happy to try it for you and send you a recording or video clip!
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by Tarrantella
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
I don't have a Tim Phillips fiddle, but they are lovely instruments, I spent some time at the Baltimore Fiddle Fair last year trying out the ones he had with him, tones varied of course but all were good, I'd say go for it.
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by cathycook
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
I obviously have completely different tastes in fiddles, bows and everything else to do with instruments from a lot of people here.
I hold Tim Phillips' frankly ersatz fiddles as being in the same category as Incredibows.
Personally I prefer proper instruments.
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by benhall.1
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
I've played a few Tim Philips instruments, they are nicely made and sound good. Thought they were quite overpriced
for the sound/feel of the instrument though... obviously their price reflects the fact that they are hand made in the UK etc etc and if you are looking for a unique looking instrument that is fine, but I have played other fiddles that are 1/4 of the price which to my ears sounded much better.
Have a look around for local luthiers & shops, you really really need to play an instrument before you buy it, especially if you are spending 3K pounds. A good shop will let you take a selection home for a week.
Hope that helps
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by ginjaninja
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
Play it before you buy it.
Make sure you use a really good bow when you test it.
Play several others and then come back to it.
Test it again.
Then think twice about it.
Take out checkbook.
AND REMEMBER...
Life is too short to play crappy instruments.
And it is frequently too long to be grinding through it, looking back wistfully.
Trust me.
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by Rook
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
cathycook has a fine idea, there. Why not email Tim Phillips and find out the next time he'll be hawking his fiddles in the USA?
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by reenactor
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
Reenactor, I suspect Cathy was talking about Baltimore, Ireland (in West Cork).
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
Yay for regional assumptions! That's what I get for posting early...
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by reenactor
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
Yuo're right Will I was talking about Baltimore Ireland, not the other one in the States! No idea if Tim Phillips ever gets to the States at all but he's suposed to be back in Baltimore, West Cork for this years fiddle fair in May.
# Posted on February 27th 2008 by cathycook
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
I could have sworn I'd seen Tim hawking fiddles at GreyFox (in upstate NY) a few years back. I tried out a couple of his 5-string instruments and thinking that they were "nice" but also thinking that I had little interest in actually purchasing one.
In general, I agree with benhall, who prefers normal instruments.
But more than that, I would NEVER buy any violin I had not had the chance to try out first.
Yes, Tim would be wise to accept returns (within a reasonable amount of time), but you should factor in the cost of overseas shipping into your equation--and that wouldn't be cheap. At All. (I'd guess at around $400 each way)
At the end, if you really like the idea of a funky-lookin' fiddle, and you are willing to risk the $800 it might cost to actually test it out, and ship it back if you don't like it, then go ahead. But then make sure you compare it to a similarly-priced 'normal' fiddle from a local shop (and there are plenty of good ones in MN). You might find that the similarly priced normal fiddle is both much cheaper and better sounding.
# Posted on February 28th 2008 by Georgi
Re: A new fiddle......must I hear it?
I've tried maybe six or seven of Tim Phillips' fiddles in recent times and found them to be very very different from each other in terms of volume, tone, appearance etc. So much so in fact that I would suggest that you 'must' try before you buy.
For my taste they didn't suit at all but their owners loved them so there you go...one man's meat.
# Posted on February 28th 2008 by john knoss