Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
A valid reason for acquiring a Stroh would be for a museum collection. For playing - I think not, other than in a lecture demonstration or as a musical hall turn.
The Stroh was designed as an amplified fiddle when electronic PA systems had yet to be invented. I've heard a recording of one, and it's not a lovely sound, but it did do its job for its era - enabling a fiddle to be heard playing out of doors, or in noisy surroundings. Its great (and only) advantage over its modern successors was that it was 100% portable and didn't need batteries
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
Armand, I have a Stroh violin that I got from Lark in the morning (normal pegs, aluminum horn), which is identical in construction to the one in the Elderly link above. They are WAY overrated. I suspect that it's the same company that makes most of them these days, since the one I got from Lark in the Morning was identical in every discernible way to the one sold by Elderly, so it wouldn't really matter where you bought yours. (I even got to see two examples of them, since the first one that was sent to me had a snapped neck, and needed to be returned).
The instrument itself came wrapped in foam, twine, and a cambodian newspaper. The peg holes looked like they were drilled in under 10 seconds by somebody with the rare and dangerous combination of a handheld power-drill, bad eyesight, and delirium-tremens (you could see through the pegholes when the pegs were in!). The sound was best described by our friend Martin, who said "It sounds like it's coming from inside my teeth".
Stroh fiddles were handy in the early days of Irish music for two reasons:
1) they're generally cheaper to manufacture than normal fiddles
2) They were louder than a reasonably-priced violin. Much harsher sounding, but in the days before microphones that was all there was available. Stroh violins could cut the wax on a cylinder more effectively than a cheap real violin. But they sound absolutely dreadful in person.
In the end, it might be possible to find a legitimate stroh violin made with real craftsmanship, but most of the ones available count for little more than a moderately expensive novelty to hang on your wall.
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
ha ha, I love that description of the sound, "from inside your teeth". And I can see Tom Waits coming across that as a review of Bone Machine and being quite pleased with it.
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
As a last note, I imagine it's possible to acquire one made with better craftsmanship than the ones sold by LiTM and Elderly. Particularly if you could find one made in Europe during the 20s, when they were actually expected to be used as a real instrument rather than a freaky-looking novelty, but I'd imagine that prices for those would run into the thousands of dollars easily, which seems a lot to pay for something that sounds like a knife scraping on a metal garbage-can.
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
Stroh violins were popular a century ago because in a band you would get he volume of two fiddlers for the price of one...
Also for the wax recording machines the Stroh violin were frequently used to make sure you got a deep cut in them wax rolls. I remember reading that Michael Coleman had to deal with stroh violins from time to time. Have any of his famous recordings or sets been made using Strohs?
A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
Any ideas on the best way to go about acquiring a Stroh Fiddle?
Cheers,
Armand
# Posted on September 2nd 2009 by fiddlinviolinin
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
Come to Michigan, Armand:
http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/STROHV27.htm
# Posted on September 2nd 2009 by fidkid
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
Seems like I've seen one at Bernunzio's but not sure if it was for sale. http://bernunzio.com/
# Posted on September 2nd 2009 by iampeterfonda
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
Keep an eye on Ebay, they turn up quite regularly.
(Though why anyone would want one I have no idea.)
# Posted on September 2nd 2009 by skreech
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
http://www.strohviolin-shop.com/en/index.php
I was tempted but resisted and bought a better wooden fiddle!
# Posted on September 2nd 2009 by RichardB
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
I played one for a short time. It was a horror. Do like RichardB says.
# Posted on September 2nd 2009 by millionyears_bc
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
There's a absolutely brilliant sounding one on Tom Waits' Bone Machine.
(Not that I can imagine anyone really seriously wanting to sound like they are on a Tom Waits album)
# Posted on September 3rd 2009 by llig leahcim
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
A valid reason for acquiring a Stroh would be for a museum collection. For playing - I think not, other than in a lecture demonstration or as a musical hall turn.
The Stroh was designed as an amplified fiddle when electronic PA systems had yet to be invented. I've heard a recording of one, and it's not a lovely sound, but it did do its job for its era - enabling a fiddle to be heard playing out of doors, or in noisy surroundings. Its great (and only) advantage over its modern successors was that it was 100% portable and didn't need batteries
# Posted on September 3rd 2009 by lazyhound
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
The one on Bone Machine is a lovely sound
# Posted on September 3rd 2009 by llig leahcim
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
Armand, I have a Stroh violin that I got from Lark in the morning (normal pegs, aluminum horn), which is identical in construction to the one in the Elderly link above. They are WAY overrated. I suspect that it's the same company that makes most of them these days, since the one I got from Lark in the Morning was identical in every discernible way to the one sold by Elderly, so it wouldn't really matter where you bought yours. (I even got to see two examples of them, since the first one that was sent to me had a snapped neck, and needed to be returned).
The instrument itself came wrapped in foam, twine, and a cambodian newspaper. The peg holes looked like they were drilled in under 10 seconds by somebody with the rare and dangerous combination of a handheld power-drill, bad eyesight, and delirium-tremens (you could see through the pegholes when the pegs were in!). The sound was best described by our friend Martin, who said "It sounds like it's coming from inside my teeth".
Stroh fiddles were handy in the early days of Irish music for two reasons:
1) they're generally cheaper to manufacture than normal fiddles
2) They were louder than a reasonably-priced violin. Much harsher sounding, but in the days before microphones that was all there was available. Stroh violins could cut the wax on a cylinder more effectively than a cheap real violin. But they sound absolutely dreadful in person.
In the end, it might be possible to find a legitimate stroh violin made with real craftsmanship, but most of the ones available count for little more than a moderately expensive novelty to hang on your wall.
# Posted on September 3rd 2009 by Georgi
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
ha ha, I love that description of the sound, "from inside your teeth". And I can see Tom Waits coming across that as a review of Bone Machine and being quite pleased with it.
# Posted on September 3rd 2009 by llig leahcim
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
As a last note, I imagine it's possible to acquire one made with better craftsmanship than the ones sold by LiTM and Elderly. Particularly if you could find one made in Europe during the 20s, when they were actually expected to be used as a real instrument rather than a freaky-looking novelty, but I'd imagine that prices for those would run into the thousands of dollars easily, which seems a lot to pay for something that sounds like a knife scraping on a metal garbage-can.
# Posted on September 3rd 2009 by Georgi
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
Here's an alternative: http://www.springersmusic.co.uk/Library/Instruments/Violins/V%20%20banjo%20f.JPG I bet this sounds even worse!
# Posted on September 3rd 2009 by RichardB
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
ha ha ... hell
# Posted on September 3rd 2009 by llig leahcim
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
I knew I'd seen a picture of Julia Clifford playing (or at least holding!) one of these contraptions
http://www.jimmaginn.com/diddileedee/cliffordjulia.htm
# Posted on September 3rd 2009 by domnull
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
Stroh violins were popular a century ago because in a band you would get he volume of two fiddlers for the price of one...
Also for the wax recording machines the Stroh violin were frequently used to make sure you got a deep cut in them wax rolls. I remember reading that Michael Coleman had to deal with stroh violins from time to time. Have any of his famous recordings or sets been made using Strohs?
# Posted on September 3rd 2009 by FiddleTramp
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
www.folkfriends.de used to have stroh-fiddles
# Posted on September 4th 2009 by Mina the Fiddler
Re: A quest for the acquisition of a Stroh Fiddle.
I'm sure I've seen em at "Lark in the morning" but whn I checked they weren't listed.
# Posted on September 10th 2009 by Fiddleshed