Is it preferable to have a fiddle with a richer tone? or a more dry, whiney tone?? I've heard well known players with both types of instruments... or is it more of a style thing?
I personally prefer a violin with a more rich tone...
American oldtime seems to prefer a sharper brighter more immediate response and the opposite might be Russian Romantic Period, maybe? Irish seems like it would be toward the brighter end. But really, isn't it just personal preference for a personal style?
Get a fiddle with the type of tone you like.
(Are we all not beginning to sound a bit like a broken record...assuming that metaphor has any meaning for our questioner, who postdates the invention of the cd... ;)
Part of the thing is that you're using terms for which there are only very subjective definitions, putf. What is "rich" to one person is far too dark for another, or too nasal, or too bright, or whatever. A friend of mine has a fiddle shop, and we've laughed over the times a succession of players will come into the shop, try out the same fiddle, and you'd never know they were talking about the same instrument.
My fiddle did not pick me out, but it was picked out for me, by Will, actually, with the connivance of Rock, who owns the aforementioned shop. Oisin Mac Diarmiada later played the thing during a lesson and said he quite liked it (but didn't like the D string), so I guess Rock and Will knew whereof they spoke. All I know is that it's a much better fiddle than I'm used to, way more sensitive and responsive, and it's taking a terrible long time for me to get used to it. It has a beautiful clear tone, not too dark, and good response across the strings. I have a heavier bow, which allows me to get a nice bite out of the thing, I'm not sure that it would be so easy to play this fiddle in the way I've developed over the last five years if my bow was lighter.
Anyway, the way I look at it, it mainly depends on your personal style and technique and your preference for what this stuff should sound like. Also, remember that what a fiddle sounds like under your chin is very different from how it sounds to someone who isn't currently part of the instrument.
Well, my fiddle kind of fell into my lap by coincidence before I had a clue what to do with it and I've had to learn to love it. My guitar definitely chose me. It called to me from North Vancouver when I was living downtown, lured me into an obscure little shop that has since gone out of business, and made itself kind of glow a little when I walked into the store so I would spot it right away. Love at first sight.
When I was shopping for fiddles, I found one distinction of interest. I noticed that German-made fiddles had a "cleaner" sound to them. And that French fiddles had shades of tone to them. The French fiddle almost had a buzz to it that the German fiddle did not, a tonal shading perhaps.
At first, I was attracted to the Roth, a German made fiddle for its "cleaness". In the end though, I determined that the French one I was playing had more character, and suited me better.
And in the end I was right. I absolutely love my fiddle.
There was also a tendency torward one end. Either the fiddle had a great low tone, and sang out on the G and D, or the high end was sweet, really playing well on A and E. There were few that were strong on both sides.
Again, I was lucky to to find a fiddle that was fairly balanced. It is more a high end fiddle, but the low end, while not projecting too well, has a wonderful full tone to it.
So, in summation, I would recommend searching for a balanced fiddle.
Jode makes good points. Balance--whatever the tone--is very important. Many fiddles are muffly on the low end and will help you develop bad bowing habits. Others are shrill or harsh on the high end, and you end up dreading tunes that go to the E string.
That's one example of trying to be more specific in your search for a tone that you like. Besides balance, other things to consider are:
(1) Resonance. One way to test for this is to play the notes that share fewer overtones with open strings in standard tuning. So play the Bb, C , and C# on the G string; the Eb, F nat, and G# on the D string; Bb, c, c#, and eb on the A string, and the f nat, g# and bb on the E string. Or just play all the C nats you can reach. The idea here is to draw a good strong stroke and lift the bow off the string to hear the quality of the note (clear or muddy, round and full or dull and shallow) and how long the note sustains. The better these notes resonate, the more the dominant tones (mainly D, A, G) will really ring out, giving the fiddle an overall big tone. I like a fiddle with decent sustain (which is always less than say a mandolin, guitar, or even banjo), but some people go the other way. Similar to how some people like tight fingered piping and others prefer open fingering.
(2) Response. Response depends a lot on technique and strings and even rosin and hair tension. But a responsive fiddle will sound more of its full tone (see resonance and balance above) at a lighter touch of the bow than less responsive fiddles. See how quiet you can go while still enjoying the tone the fiddle makes. Some quickly sound raspy or breathy/whispery. Others will produce good overtones even at almost no weight on the hair. You can also get a sense of responsiveness by playing bowed triplets, or even just a passage of short single bow strokes, and listening to whether the separation between the notes is clear and distinct, or blurred. If you go from a relatively dead fiddle to a really responsive one, be prepared for some shock from the G-forces as it rockets you into the stratosphere at the slightest touch. It takes a while to adjust your touch, and to find out just how responsive the fiddle can be.
(3) Projection. Not all resonant, responsive fiddles project, and if you get a quiet one, you'll end up exhausting your bow arm trying to be heard in a session. Projection doesn't necessarily mean loud. A clear strong tone will cut through other noise even if the other noises are louder. But it's nice to have enough volume when you need it, as well. You can get a sense of a fiddle's projection by playing it in a session or other group of instruments. But you're better off letting someone else play it while you listen from across the room. If you plan to play in sessions or other unamplified groups, best to test it out that way, and spend 20 minutes listening to someone else put it through the paces.
The fiddle that Zina and I found at Rock's shop was instantly recognizable as balanced and with a strong, resonant tone. She was able to take it on loan for a while to play in group settings. Most reputable shops will let you try them out this way.
I look forward to the day when I can pick up a fiddle, draw the bow across the strings and make a balanced assessment of its tone. At present, when I pick up *my* fiddle and put hair to string, it squeaks and growls bit, then sounds a note; if I pick up someone else's, it just squeaks and growls. So I suppose mine must be the right one for me - at the moment, anyway.
In the viola this tendency is even more prounounced, which is one of the reasons it "enjoys" the reputation it does.
In all honesty I prefer the deeper voice of the viola, but I've never heard one that was particularly well balanced, and you can't exactly hold one in the old style position when using it for vocal accompaniment, as is my wont.
Thanks Will - Maybe we should start calling you Obi-Wan Harmon I'm currently searhing for a new fiddle and I appreciate your advice and insight. I was looking at efiddles.com and I see your name included as a satisifed player. Too bad that's winding down.
Actually, I suppose it was Evan who first brought us that fiddle out of Rock's stock, wasn't, Will? Because he liked it? Bless his heart. Did I remember to tell you that Evan quoted us a price that Rock had originally set that fiddle at but later determined was far too low, Will? Bless *his* heart, Rock let the price stand, mainly because he's just a really nice guy...
BTW, MG, when I was having a lesson with Oisin, and we were playing each other's fiddles, he pointed out that he finds it extremely difficult (ha!) to play someone else's fiddle. His theory is that fiddles can be so different in how they play that it's possible to pick up a strange fiddle and not be able to play a note without doing something horrible to it.
However, he was doing a fine old job with mine, so I think he was just trying to make me feel better that I sounded awful on his fiddle.
I tried two of Ged's fiddles (at efiddles.com) and liked both of them. But the budget wouldn't allow buying both so I settled on one, which happened to be Ged's own main fiddle until just before he sold it. Very fairly priced, and Ged was a font of information, help, and patience. In fact, it was Ged who clued me in on the trick of playing c nats to check a fiddle's resonance.
Zina, the hardest thing for me about briefly swapping fiddles with another player is that everything I do sounds just like it always does--no hoped for instant improvement. Oh well.
I'm eager to play our two old Ohio fiddles side by side to see how they sound together. Not to mention just getting some tunes in.
Great advice Will, and I echo the point about having someone else play it for you. Take someone you know, or whose playing you know. And have several people try it for you, just to see how it sounds. Bring it to your session and get someone to play a few tunes for you. This is the easiest task in the world, because people love to try new instruments!
Also, when you are in the shop just sampling some, make sure to test out the whole sound, or as much of it as you will use. A local shop owner paid me a compliment because I would work each fiddle throughout the first position, from the bottom G up to the high B. I would spend time on each string, listening to how the fiddle responded. And I selected a few tunes for myself to play, ones that went low to high and back again.
Watch the resonance or sustain. A fiddle that rings out too much can be difficult to amplify. (Or perhaps it is just when some notes ring out more than others.) Obviously, you want an instrument that sings, but I don't like the ones that "ring". You know, like some of the new instruments that get all their sound from their resonance and have no real guts to them.
It's difficult to describe sound. I am not trying to contradict Will here concerning resonance, but just sounding a caution to say that some instruments do ring out too much.
Is this where I say "in my humble opinion" and all that carry on?
". . . I echo the point about having someone else play it for you."
And in the absence of someone to play it for you simply hold it old style, along your arm. Makes quite a difference in your perception of the tone.
The other night someone borrowed my guitar at a jam. After awhile they looked at me and apologized for monopolizing my instrument and tried to give it back.
"No, no, you keep playing. I'm enjoying myself just getting to hear what it sounds like. I don't get a lot of chances to do that."
I *love* shopping for fiddles, because I then have an excuse to sit down with a fiddle and go through half an hour of tunes with it. And *then* I get to pick up ANOTHER fiddle! Most luxurious!!! It's a great way to blow an afternoon, if the shop will let you. (I generally do try to buy a set of strings or something to make it worth their while and make sure I'm welcome back again. Heh.)
Def true on the bow, Sunnybear. I love my bow, although of course it's too heavy for most (Sean Smyth hated it, though he was quite nice about it -- "that's much too nice a bow for me!" *smirk*), but since I started as a viola player, it feels good and natural to me. It was Mike Dugger's old bow, so unsurprising on the weight. i should write Mike, I haven't talked to him in ages.
So, putf, are you in the market for a new fiddle, or is this all idle speculation?
Bow shopping is loads of fun too because even the high end shops see less of it than people looking for fiddles, so they're usually very attentive and helpful. But choosing among bows is even more fraught with variables and nuances than choosing among fiddles. And it's next to impossible to know what a good bow feels like when you're just starting out. Best to rely on the help and advice of a good player who can test different bows for you.
Whenever possible I like to take my current fiddle and a few bows with me to try other fiddles or bows. Mostly to control at least some of the variables and to have something "known" to compare against.
And I agree 100% with Jode about fiddles that resonate like a steel drum band but lack soul--avoid at all cost. That said, new fiddles sometimes sound ringy but will open up and gain all sorts of warmth and depth of tone with six months of steady playing. Also, I have one fiddle that easily goes from sounding like a cereal box stuffed with old socks to church bells in a metal culvert with just a millimeter move of the soundpost. Somewhere between those extremes, it's a very decent sounding fiddle, once the soundpost is set properly.
"Also, I have one fiddle that easily goes from sounding like a cereal box stuffed with old socks to church bells in a metal culvert with just a millimeter move of the soundpost."
Speaking of soundposts, anybody know of a decent luthier in my area to trust with setting a soundpost? My area would be anywhere from Atlanta, GA, into western NC.
"BTW, MG, when I was having a lesson with Oisin, and we were playing each other's fiddles, he pointed out that he finds it extremely difficult (ha!) to play someone else's fiddle."
He may *find* it difficult, but I'll bet he makes it look and sound easy.
Just had a rather eye-opening experience with my old fiddle. I have been playing this same instrument for most of my life but I have never had the bridge replaced. Well, recently the bridge began to show a bit of a warp so I took it to the local shop earlier in the week to have it repaired. When I got it back yesterday I couldn't believe the difference in the quailty of the tone. It sounds so rich now. There is a resonance in the low end I had forgotten about. I guess I never really considered how a bridge can impact the tone. Makes me feel so guily for neglecting the poor sweet thing.
Makes me think...I have an indentation, not a hole, more a divit in my bridge. It's from a barcus berry pickup that I used to put on it. I got a little over-zealous about attaching the pickup securely to the bridge.
FiddleMe, I’ve had a few surprises after a fiddle setup too, but mostly in the other direction. Now I’m very cautious about choosing a luthier. I know several good guitar engineers, but I”ve gotten mixed results from fiddle fixers. I can cut a bridge and make a nut, but soundpost setting is a Master’s degree all on its own. I tried once and did a horrible job.
Anybody know where I can find a good fiddle luthier?
trouble is that anyone with a knife thinks that they can carve a bridge...looks pretty simple, right?
bobhimself, you can try Steve at Gianna Violins...I don't know his work, but have spoken with him before... http://www.giannaviolins.com/
he is in your neck of the woods, I believe
remember that every luthier has an opinion on another luthiers work!
Well I should add that the luthier at the shop I took mine too have the bridge has a good reputation locally for minor repairs. If I were in need of more extensive repairs I would probaly take my fiddle somewhere else. I would start by talking with fiddlers I know and trust to make a few recommendations the talk with the luthier and look at some of their work.
Anyway, back to bridges, after talking several players and luthiers, I've come to look at bridges the same way as strings. The are a consumable commodity. Granted, they last longer than strings, but they need replaced or repaired periodically. Usually this is due to warping.
Type of fiddle sounds
Type of fiddle sounds
just wondering...
Is it preferable to have a fiddle with a richer tone? or a more dry, whiney tone?? I've heard well known players with both types of instruments... or is it more of a style thing?
I personally prefer a violin with a more rich tone...
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by picking up that fiddle
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
You don't pick your fiddle. Your fiddle picks you.
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
...
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by BTCpz
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
American oldtime seems to prefer a sharper brighter more immediate response and the opposite might be Russian Romantic Period, maybe? Irish seems like it would be toward the brighter end. But really, isn't it just personal preference for a personal style?
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Emily Horne
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
"Is it preferable to have a fiddle with a richer tone? or a more dry, whiney tone??"
It is preferable that you love your fiddle.
KFG
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by KFG
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
Get a fiddle with the type of tone you like.
(Are we all not beginning to sound a bit like a broken record...assuming that metaphor has any meaning for our questioner, who postdates the invention of the cd... ;)
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by sara g
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
cd? Is that some new iPod file format?
KFG
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by KFG
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
This thread might help: http://thesession.org/discussions/display.php/3814
The bottom line is that we have no definitive answer. But I love James Kelly: http://www.claddaghrecords.com/www/music/mp3/NOV2004/JKM0147trk1.mp3
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by slainte
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
Part of the thing is that you're using terms for which there are only very subjective definitions, putf. What is "rich" to one person is far too dark for another, or too nasal, or too bright, or whatever. A friend of mine has a fiddle shop, and we've laughed over the times a succession of players will come into the shop, try out the same fiddle, and you'd never know they were talking about the same instrument.
My fiddle did not pick me out, but it was picked out for me, by Will, actually, with the connivance of Rock, who owns the aforementioned shop. Oisin Mac Diarmiada later played the thing during a lesson and said he quite liked it (but didn't like the D string), so I guess Rock and Will knew whereof they spoke. All I know is that it's a much better fiddle than I'm used to, way more sensitive and responsive, and it's taking a terrible long time for me to get used to it. It has a beautiful clear tone, not too dark, and good response across the strings. I have a heavier bow, which allows me to get a nice bite out of the thing, I'm not sure that it would be so easy to play this fiddle in the way I've developed over the last five years if my bow was lighter.
Anyway, the way I look at it, it mainly depends on your personal style and technique and your preference for what this stuff should sound like. Also, remember that what a fiddle sounds like under your chin is very different from how it sounds to someone who isn't currently part of the instrument.
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
Your fiddle picks you! You've been reading too much J.K.Rowling.
# Posted on March 1st 2003 by dafydd
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
No way! MY fiddle has Dragon-gut strings and Unicorn-tail hair on the bow.
Whenever I play it, children start following me around....
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Joe CSS
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
"You don't pick your fiddle. Your fiddle picks you."
...until, like Tolkien's Ring, it decides to move onto a new owner...
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by JerryH
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
Well, my fiddle kind of fell into my lap by coincidence before I had a clue what to do with it and I've had to learn to love it. My guitar definitely chose me. It called to me from North Vancouver when I was living downtown, lured me into an obscure little shop that has since gone out of business, and made itself kind of glow a little when I walked into the store so I would spot it right away. Love at first sight.
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
When I was shopping for fiddles, I found one distinction of interest. I noticed that German-made fiddles had a "cleaner" sound to them. And that French fiddles had shades of tone to them. The French fiddle almost had a buzz to it that the German fiddle did not, a tonal shading perhaps.
At first, I was attracted to the Roth, a German made fiddle for its "cleaness". In the end though, I determined that the French one I was playing had more character, and suited me better.
And in the end I was right. I absolutely love my fiddle.
There was also a tendency torward one end. Either the fiddle had a great low tone, and sang out on the G and D, or the high end was sweet, really playing well on A and E. There were few that were strong on both sides.
Again, I was lucky to to find a fiddle that was fairly balanced. It is more a high end fiddle, but the low end, while not projecting too well, has a wonderful full tone to it.
So, in summation, I would recommend searching for a balanced fiddle.
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Jode
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
Jode makes good points. Balance--whatever the tone--is very important. Many fiddles are muffly on the low end and will help you develop bad bowing habits. Others are shrill or harsh on the high end, and you end up dreading tunes that go to the E string.
That's one example of trying to be more specific in your search for a tone that you like. Besides balance, other things to consider are:
(1) Resonance. One way to test for this is to play the notes that share fewer overtones with open strings in standard tuning. So play the Bb, C , and C# on the G string; the Eb, F nat, and G# on the D string; Bb, c, c#, and eb on the A string, and the f nat, g# and bb on the E string. Or just play all the C nats you can reach. The idea here is to draw a good strong stroke and lift the bow off the string to hear the quality of the note (clear or muddy, round and full or dull and shallow) and how long the note sustains. The better these notes resonate, the more the dominant tones (mainly D, A, G) will really ring out, giving the fiddle an overall big tone. I like a fiddle with decent sustain (which is always less than say a mandolin, guitar, or even banjo), but some people go the other way. Similar to how some people like tight fingered piping and others prefer open fingering.
(2) Response. Response depends a lot on technique and strings and even rosin and hair tension. But a responsive fiddle will sound more of its full tone (see resonance and balance above) at a lighter touch of the bow than less responsive fiddles. See how quiet you can go while still enjoying the tone the fiddle makes. Some quickly sound raspy or breathy/whispery. Others will produce good overtones even at almost no weight on the hair. You can also get a sense of responsiveness by playing bowed triplets, or even just a passage of short single bow strokes, and listening to whether the separation between the notes is clear and distinct, or blurred. If you go from a relatively dead fiddle to a really responsive one, be prepared for some shock from the G-forces as it rockets you into the stratosphere at the slightest touch. It takes a while to adjust your touch, and to find out just how responsive the fiddle can be.
(3) Projection. Not all resonant, responsive fiddles project, and if you get a quiet one, you'll end up exhausting your bow arm trying to be heard in a session. Projection doesn't necessarily mean loud. A clear strong tone will cut through other noise even if the other noises are louder. But it's nice to have enough volume when you need it, as well. You can get a sense of a fiddle's projection by playing it in a session or other group of instruments. But you're better off letting someone else play it while you listen from across the room. If you plan to play in sessions or other unamplified groups, best to test it out that way, and spend 20 minutes listening to someone else put it through the paces.
The fiddle that Zina and I found at Rock's shop was instantly recognizable as balanced and with a strong, resonant tone. She was able to take it on loan for a while to play in group settings. Most reputable shops will let you try them out this way.
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Will CPT
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
I look forward to the day when I can pick up a fiddle, draw the bow across the strings and make a balanced assessment of its tone. At present, when I pick up *my* fiddle and put hair to string, it squeaks and growls bit, then sounds a note; if I pick up someone else's, it just squeaks and growls. So I suppose mine must be the right one for me - at the moment, anyway.
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by granama
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
"There was also a tendency torward one end."
In the viola this tendency is even more prounounced, which is one of the reasons it "enjoys" the reputation it does.
In all honesty I prefer the deeper voice of the viola, but I've never heard one that was particularly well balanced, and you can't exactly hold one in the old style position when using it for vocal accompaniment, as is my wont.
Or at least I can't.
KFG
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by KFG
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
Thanks Will - Maybe we should start calling you Obi-Wan Harmon
I'm currently searhing for a new fiddle and I appreciate your advice and insight. I was looking at efiddles.com and I see your name included as a satisifed player. Too bad that's winding down.
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by RogueFiddler
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
Actually, I suppose it was Evan who first brought us that fiddle out of Rock's stock, wasn't, Will? Because he liked it? Bless his heart. Did I remember to tell you that Evan quoted us a price that Rock had originally set that fiddle at but later determined was far too low, Will? Bless *his* heart, Rock let the price stand, mainly because he's just a really nice guy...
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
We call him Senseii Harmon... ;)
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
BTW, MG, when I was having a lesson with Oisin, and we were playing each other's fiddles, he pointed out that he finds it extremely difficult (ha!) to play someone else's fiddle. His theory is that fiddles can be so different in how they play that it's possible to pick up a strange fiddle and not be able to play a note without doing something horrible to it.
However, he was doing a fine old job with mine, so I think he was just trying to make me feel better that I sounded awful on his fiddle.
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
I tried two of Ged's fiddles (at efiddles.com) and liked both of them. But the budget wouldn't allow buying both
so I settled on one, which happened to be Ged's own main fiddle until just before he sold it. Very fairly priced, and Ged was a font of information, help, and patience. In fact, it was Ged who clued me in on the trick of playing c nats to check a fiddle's resonance.
Zina, the hardest thing for me about briefly swapping fiddles with another player is that everything I do sounds just like it always does--no hoped for instant improvement. Oh well.
I'm eager to play our two old Ohio fiddles side by side to see how they sound together. Not to mention just getting some tunes in.
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Will CPT
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
Great advice Will, and I echo the point about having someone else play it for you. Take someone you know, or whose playing you know. And have several people try it for you, just to see how it sounds. Bring it to your session and get someone to play a few tunes for you. This is the easiest task in the world, because people love to try new instruments!
Also, when you are in the shop just sampling some, make sure to test out the whole sound, or as much of it as you will use. A local shop owner paid me a compliment because I would work each fiddle throughout the first position, from the bottom G up to the high B. I would spend time on each string, listening to how the fiddle responded. And I selected a few tunes for myself to play, ones that went low to high and back again.
Watch the resonance or sustain. A fiddle that rings out too much can be difficult to amplify. (Or perhaps it is just when some notes ring out more than others.) Obviously, you want an instrument that sings, but I don't like the ones that "ring". You know, like some of the new instruments that get all their sound from their resonance and have no real guts to them.
It's difficult to describe sound. I am not trying to contradict Will here concerning resonance, but just sounding a caution to say that some instruments do ring out too much.
Is this where I say "in my humble opinion" and all that carry on?
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Jode
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
One of the most overlooked facets of sound production is the bow...people always want to try anothers fiddle...I always wnat to try someones bow...
A good bow can do wonders with a fiddle, and a bow that sounds good on one fiddle may sound like crap on another..
A good bow can cost as much or more than your fiddle...don't shortchange your tone here...
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Sunnybear
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
". . . I echo the point about having someone else play it for you."
And in the absence of someone to play it for you simply hold it old style, along your arm. Makes quite a difference in your perception of the tone.
The other night someone borrowed my guitar at a jam. After awhile they looked at me and apologized for monopolizing my instrument and tried to give it back.
"No, no, you keep playing. I'm enjoying myself just getting to hear what it sounds like. I don't get a lot of chances to do that."
KFG
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by KFG
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
I *love* shopping for fiddles, because I then have an excuse to sit down with a fiddle and go through half an hour of tunes with it. And *then* I get to pick up ANOTHER fiddle! Most luxurious!!! It's a great way to blow an afternoon, if the shop will let you. (I generally do try to buy a set of strings or something to make it worth their while and make sure I'm welcome back again. Heh.)
Def true on the bow, Sunnybear. I love my bow, although of course it's too heavy for most (Sean Smyth hated it, though he was quite nice about it -- "that's much too nice a bow for me!" *smirk*), but since I started as a viola player, it feels good and natural to me. It was Mike Dugger's old bow, so unsurprising on the weight. i should write Mike, I haven't talked to him in ages.
So, putf, are you in the market for a new fiddle, or is this all idle speculation?
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
Bow shopping is loads of fun too because even the high end shops see less of it than people looking for fiddles, so they're usually very attentive and helpful. But choosing among bows is even more fraught with variables and nuances than choosing among fiddles. And it's next to impossible to know what a good bow feels like when you're just starting out. Best to rely on the help and advice of a good player who can test different bows for you.
Whenever possible I like to take my current fiddle and a few bows with me to try other fiddles or bows. Mostly to control at least some of the variables and to have something "known" to compare against.
And I agree 100% with Jode about fiddles that resonate like a steel drum band but lack soul--avoid at all cost. That said, new fiddles sometimes sound ringy but will open up and gain all sorts of warmth and depth of tone with six months of steady playing. Also, I have one fiddle that easily goes from sounding like a cereal box stuffed with old socks to church bells in a metal culvert with just a millimeter move of the soundpost. Somewhere between those extremes, it's a very decent sounding fiddle, once the soundpost is set properly.
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Will CPT
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
"Also, I have one fiddle that easily goes from sounding like a cereal box stuffed with old socks to church bells in a metal culvert with just a millimeter move of the soundpost."
You do have a way with words, Mr. Harmon.
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
Speaking of soundposts, anybody know of a decent luthier in my area to trust with setting a soundpost? My area would be anywhere from Atlanta, GA, into western NC.
# Posted on February 15th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
"BTW, MG, when I was having a lesson with Oisin, and we were playing each other's fiddles, he pointed out that he finds it extremely difficult (ha!) to play someone else's fiddle."
He may *find* it difficult, but I'll bet he makes it look and sound easy.
# Posted on February 16th 2005 by granama
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
Just had a rather eye-opening experience with my old fiddle. I have been playing this same instrument for most of my life but I have never had the bridge replaced. Well, recently the bridge began to show a bit of a warp so I took it to the local shop earlier in the week to have it repaired. When I got it back yesterday I couldn't believe the difference in the quailty of the tone. It sounds so rich now. There is a resonance in the low end I had forgotten about. I guess I never really considered how a bridge can impact the tone. Makes me feel so guily for neglecting the poor sweet thing.
# Posted on February 17th 2005 by RogueFiddler
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
Makes me think...I have an indentation, not a hole, more a divit in my bridge. It's from a barcus berry pickup that I used to put on it. I got a little over-zealous about attaching the pickup securely to the bridge.
How much would this impact the sound?
# Posted on February 17th 2005 by Jode
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
FiddleMe, I’ve had a few surprises after a fiddle setup too, but mostly in the other direction. Now I’m very cautious about choosing a luthier. I know several good guitar engineers, but I”ve gotten mixed results from fiddle fixers. I can cut a bridge and make a nut, but soundpost setting is a Master’s degree all on its own. I tried once and did a horrible job.
Anybody know where I can find a good fiddle luthier?
# Posted on February 17th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
trouble is that anyone with a knife thinks that they can carve a bridge...looks pretty simple, right?
bobhimself, you can try Steve at Gianna Violins...I don't know his work, but have spoken with him before...
http://www.giannaviolins.com/
he is in your neck of the woods, I believe
remember that every luthier has an opinion on another luthiers work!
# Posted on February 17th 2005 by Sunnybear
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
Well I should add that the luthier at the shop I took mine too have the bridge has a good reputation locally for minor repairs. If I were in need of more extensive repairs I would probaly take my fiddle somewhere else. I would start by talking with fiddlers I know and trust to make a few recommendations the talk with the luthier and look at some of their work.
Anyway, back to bridges, after talking several players and luthiers, I've come to look at bridges the same way as strings. The are a consumable commodity. Granted, they last longer than strings, but they need replaced or repaired periodically. Usually this is due to warping.
There is a good discussion of it here: http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/5086/
Ken
# Posted on February 17th 2005 by RogueFiddler
Re: Type of fiddle sounds
My father-in-law (RIP) was a professional cellist..
he had 2 bridges...one for winter and one for summer....different levels of humidity...
he used these same bridges for some time....
there are different grades of maple that are used for bridges...I wouldn't go about switching bridges the way I've been known to do for strings!
# Posted on February 18th 2005 by Sunnybear