Many thanks to all those contributions concering fiddle strings. I've just fitted a set of D'addario Helicore mediums. After about 30 minutes playing they started sounding ok, a different sound to my usual dominants but not unpleasant, more of a "traditional sound". The only slight niggle is that the D and the A string seem to sound louder when played open, although this effect seems to be lessening as I play, either I'm becoming used to it or the strings are settling in. I may get the sound post adjusted if this persists. They do do tune up quickly and maintain tuning very well. There does seem to be slight buzz on the A string, but that was there before changing the strings. Overall, I'm quite pleased with the sound they produce and playing at our session last night did seem to settle them in further, again it could be me getting used to them. Again thanks for all the contributions, any more hints, tips would be very welcome. Are all fiddlers alike in that they seem to be always concerned with the tone they produce ?
Your buzzing A string sounds like something's loose--If you have fine tuners, check the tighness of the threaded washers on each of the tuners. Also make sure that none of the tuner arms is touching the top of your fiddle beneath the tailpiece. If that doesn't cure it, make sure your chinrest is snug (but not so tight that it pinches the wood), adn then go looking for cracks or gaps in the fiddle itself, especially around the seams between top and sides or back and sides. Finally, you may want to have a repair person use a mirror to look inside to make sure everthing (kerfing, tone bars, etc) is intact in there.
I've played a variety of musical instruments, but fiddle strikes me as having more variables than most when it comes to finding a consistently good tone. It's also very close to the human voice, so we're more attuned to it's quality than say, banjo (is that an oxymoron to use banjo and quality in the same sentence? ).
Also, check your chin pad to make sure it's screwed tight enough (not too tight!) to the fiddle. I had a viola once in school with a chin pad that rattled if it wasn't adjusted just right.
Do you mean to say, Zina, that you don't hang breathless on my every word???!!!
The other thing that sometimes causes buzzing on MY fiddle is the fiddler's oversized ego fizzing out of his head after being rapidly deflated by the fiddle's reluctance to yield to his charms....
W
*snicker* Sure I do, Will. It's just that I am here today in a hurry, as my DSL has been down for two days now and I'm at my husband's office checking e-mail. Of COURSE I had to check in here at the same time.
So, what's the difference between using long shank and short shank tuners?
Okay, so we're talking fine tuners. The key here is that the fine tuners should NOT change the string length. Fiddles are designed for a specific string length, with the end of the string looping over the fret on the tailpiece and into the holes. The shanks on add-on fine tuners typically shorten the string length, which affects the tone. Kevin Burke pointed this out and recommended getting a tailpiece with built-in tuners. He said it would improve the fiddle's tone by at least 15 percent.
So I tried a Bois d' Harmonie tailpiece ($95 US), with carbon fiber fine tuners buit in, and I would say the improvement was more like 20-25 percent. I'm very happy with my fiddle now, no longer shopping for a new one. The Harmonie tailpiece keeps the string length correct, and the strings ride over the fret, as they're supposed to. The appearance is neater too, not the old telephone pole look with knobs and wires everywhere.
I would guess that the short-shank add-on tuners are an attempt to correct the string length issue.
You can buy a cheaper model made by Pusch--same idea, just not as fine-grained a blank for the tailpiece. The Harmonie are handmade in France--very nicely finished, great wood, and the only maker with carbon fiber fine tuners (reduces the weight). The Pusch's are only about $40 though.
If you're not shopping for a new fiddle now, Will, does that mean we won't see you down in Denver any time soon? *whimper whine whinge*
I'll have to go a-looking. Maybe I can talk Rock into letting me audition one of the fancy ones in hopes of actually selling me one. There's always hoping.
Anybody know of any online resources where I can get strings wholesale or cheaper than average retail sources after shipping & handling etc. US based companies would be prefered since I'm a yankee-doodle-dandy.
Hey Brad, also check out http://www.johnsonstring.com for good prices, good service, and great selection. I think they even offer free shipping for strings (because it doesn't amount to much for something so light).
The other trick I've found for getting strings at bottom feeder prices is to ask your local shop to carry them and then get all the other local fiddlers to use them too. Shops really appreciate this, and it's easier for them to drop the prices if they're ordering and selling big batches of them. Of course, you've got to find a string everyone genuinely likes--I can't say enough good things about these Evah Pirazzi's by Pirastro and I've got the whole Helena session switched over to them. Maybe the company will give me a commission....
Thanks Will, I drive through Newton on my way to work every work day (I work in Andover, MA a 75 Mile commute through Boston & Providence:o( ). Maybe I'll duck in & show my face. Has anyone here ever tried 'Baritone' fiddle strings? I've heard they're an octave below a normal fiddle. Can you just throw these things on or does it need to be set up by a violin/fiddle specialist? Do these strings have different tensions, will it mess up my fiddle? I imagine baritone strings probably cost a pretty penny.
I've been looking for a good price on those Evah Pirazzi's every since you told me about them, Will. I'll have to see if the price at Johnson's is better than SW Strings. Or I could send you a check and you can send 'em down to me from your local.
Our local shop sells the Pirazzi's for $45 and change. That's about what Johnson String was selling them for the last time I checked. See if Johnson will give you free shipping. If not, let me know.
Brad, I just found out that Barbera pickups sells a Baritone kit for electric fiddles--double gauge strings and a special piezo-mounted bridge so you can play an octave below standard pitch. They claim it produces cello tones but with fiddle fingering. That would be wonderful for all these slow airs. I've been toying with the idea of getting a Jordan elelctric fiddle, and now am wondering about setting one up as a baritone. Anyone else out there done that, electric or acoustic?
fidlle strings
fidlle strings
Many thanks to all those contributions concering fiddle strings. I've just fitted a set of D'addario Helicore mediums. After about 30 minutes playing they started sounding ok, a different sound to my usual dominants but not unpleasant, more of a "traditional sound". The only slight niggle is that the D and the A string seem to sound louder when played open, although this effect seems to be lessening as I play, either I'm becoming used to it or the strings are settling in. I may get the sound post adjusted if this persists. They do do tune up quickly and maintain tuning very well. There does seem to be slight buzz on the A string, but that was there before changing the strings. Overall, I'm quite pleased with the sound they produce and playing at our session last night did seem to settle them in further, again it could be me getting used to them. Again thanks for all the contributions, any more hints, tips would be very welcome. Are all fiddlers alike in that they seem to be always concerned with the tone they produce ?
# Posted on November 29th 2001 by Daver
Tone
Only the *good* fiddlers....
).
Your buzzing A string sounds like something's loose--If you have fine tuners, check the tighness of the threaded washers on each of the tuners. Also make sure that none of the tuner arms is touching the top of your fiddle beneath the tailpiece. If that doesn't cure it, make sure your chinrest is snug (but not so tight that it pinches the wood), adn then go looking for cracks or gaps in the fiddle itself, especially around the seams between top and sides or back and sides. Finally, you may want to have a repair person use a mirror to look inside to make sure everthing (kerfing, tone bars, etc) is intact in there.
I've played a variety of musical instruments, but fiddle strikes me as having more variables than most when it comes to finding a consistently good tone. It's also very close to the human voice, so we're more attuned to it's quality than say, banjo (is that an oxymoron to use banjo and quality in the same sentence?
Will
# Posted on November 30th 2001 by Will Harmon
Re: fidlle strings
Also, check your chin pad to make sure it's screwed tight enough (not too tight!) to the fiddle. I had a viola once in school with a chin pad that rattled if it wasn't adjusted just right.
Zina
# Posted on November 30th 2001 by Zina Lee
Re: fidlle strings
Ooops...I hit post and THEN noticed that Will had already mentioned your chinrest. Sorry. What I get for not reading everything.
# Posted on November 30th 2001 by Zina Lee
"What I get for not reading everything..."
Do you mean to say, Zina, that you don't hang breathless on my every word???!!!
The other thing that sometimes causes buzzing on MY fiddle is the fiddler's oversized ego fizzing out of his head after being rapidly deflated by the fiddle's reluctance to yield to his charms....
W
# Posted on November 30th 2001 by Will Harmon
Re: fidlle strings
*snicker* Sure I do, Will. It's just that I am here today in a hurry, as my DSL has been down for two days now and I'm at my husband's office checking e-mail. Of COURSE I had to check in here at the same time.
So, what's the difference between using long shank and short shank tuners?
Zina
# Posted on November 30th 2001 by Zina Lee
Re: fidlle strings
What IS a shank and why would you want to tune one?
# Posted on November 30th 2001 by Will Harmon
Re: fidlle strings
Will,
I'm not at all sure about the "oxy" bit but moron and banjo seem made for each other (Bela Fleck excepted of course), only joking!!!
Wook. .
# Posted on December 2nd 2001 by Thewookster
Re: fidlle strings
You know...the tuners that have a long shank go under and the short ones go over the tailpiece. MY shanks, on the other hand, could go on a diet.
zls
# Posted on December 3rd 2001 by Zina Lee
Shanks
Okay, so we're talking fine tuners. The key here is that the fine tuners should NOT change the string length. Fiddles are designed for a specific string length, with the end of the string looping over the fret on the tailpiece and into the holes. The shanks on add-on fine tuners typically shorten the string length, which affects the tone. Kevin Burke pointed this out and recommended getting a tailpiece with built-in tuners. He said it would improve the fiddle's tone by at least 15 percent.
So I tried a Bois d' Harmonie tailpiece ($95 US), with carbon fiber fine tuners buit in, and I would say the improvement was more like 20-25 percent. I'm very happy with my fiddle now, no longer shopping for a new one. The Harmonie tailpiece keeps the string length correct, and the strings ride over the fret, as they're supposed to. The appearance is neater too, not the old telephone pole look with knobs and wires everywhere.
I would guess that the short-shank add-on tuners are an attempt to correct the string length issue.
W
# Posted on December 3rd 2001 by Will Harmon
Re: fidlle strings
hmmmm....maybe I'm going to have to try one of those. I've had the short-shank tuners on, but that sounds interesting...
zls
# Posted on December 3rd 2001 by Zina Lee
Re: fidlle strings
You can buy a cheaper model made by Pusch--same idea, just not as fine-grained a blank for the tailpiece. The Harmonie are handmade in France--very nicely finished, great wood, and the only maker with carbon fiber fine tuners (reduces the weight). The Pusch's are only about $40 though.
# Posted on December 3rd 2001 by Will Harmon
Re: fidlle strings
If you're not shopping for a new fiddle now, Will, does that mean we won't see you down in Denver any time soon? *whimper whine whinge*
There's always hoping.
I'll have to go a-looking. Maybe I can talk Rock into letting me audition one of the fancy ones in hopes of actually selling me one.
Zina
# Posted on December 3rd 2001 by Zina Lee
Re: fidlle strings
I avoid Denver because of inlaws there...the usual story. It's also a two day drive for this old geezer and his bad back.
Maybe next summer.
# Posted on December 3rd 2001 by Will Harmon
Re: fidlle strings
Anybody know of any online resources where I can get strings wholesale or cheaper than average retail sources after shipping & handling etc. US based companies would be prefered since I'm a yankee-doodle-dandy.
Thanks, B
# Posted on April 26th 2002 by B Rad
Re: fidlle strings
I like South West Strings when stuff is on sale... http://www.swstrings.com
Zina
# Posted on April 26th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: fidlle strings
Hey Brad, also check out http://www.johnsonstring.com for good prices, good service, and great selection. I think they even offer free shipping for strings (because it doesn't amount to much for something so light).
The other trick I've found for getting strings at bottom feeder prices is to ask your local shop to carry them and then get all the other local fiddlers to use them too. Shops really appreciate this, and it's easier for them to drop the prices if they're ordering and selling big batches of them. Of course, you've got to find a string everyone genuinely likes--I can't say enough good things about these Evah Pirazzi's by Pirastro and I've got the whole Helena session switched over to them. Maybe the company will give me a commission....
# Posted on April 27th 2002 by Will Harmon
Re: fidlle strings
Johnson Strings is even in your neck of the woods--Newton Center, Mass (west Boston).
# Posted on April 27th 2002 by Will Harmon
Baritone Fiddle Strings
Thanks Will, I drive through Newton on my way to work every work day (I work in Andover, MA a 75 Mile commute through Boston & Providence:o( ). Maybe I'll duck in & show my face. Has anyone here ever tried 'Baritone' fiddle strings? I've heard they're an octave below a normal fiddle. Can you just throw these things on or does it need to be set up by a violin/fiddle specialist? Do these strings have different tensions, will it mess up my fiddle? I imagine baritone strings probably cost a pretty penny.
# Posted on April 27th 2002 by B Rad
Re: fidlle strings
I've been looking for a good price on those Evah Pirazzi's every since you told me about them, Will. I'll have to see if the price at Johnson's is better than SW Strings. Or I could send you a check and you can send 'em down to me from your local.
Zina
# Posted on April 27th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: fidlle strings
Our local shop sells the Pirazzi's for $45 and change. That's about what Johnson String was selling them for the last time I checked. See if Johnson will give you free shipping. If not, let me know.
Brad, I just found out that Barbera pickups sells a Baritone kit for electric fiddles--double gauge strings and a special piezo-mounted bridge so you can play an octave below standard pitch. They claim it produces cello tones but with fiddle fingering. That would be wonderful for all these slow airs. I've been toying with the idea of getting a Jordan elelctric fiddle, and now am wondering about setting one up as a baritone. Anyone else out there done that, electric or acoustic?
# Posted on April 27th 2002 by Will Harmon