I bought an Ashbury electric 2 years ago for new, but i can't really get the feel for the wider neck, so consequently i've played it about twice. I bought for £400 so i'd sell it for £350 (it is in 'as new' condition) Full case and bow, and original shoulder rest, how about it?
". . .but be prepared to be scared by what you see....."
It doesn't scare me, but I've been trying for ages to decide whether I like it or not. I rather tend toward not, but I find myself going back for more looks. I think they've created some sort of scab on my violin psyche.
His Victorian Practice fiddles seem a bit of alright though.
Bristol Violin Shop make and sell the acoustic ones. They also sell practice fiddles - ones with great gaping holes in the belly and back so that there's no cavity to resonate.
Trevor
The thing about five string fiddles is that they are neither violins or violas. The top strings are never bright enough and the low strings are just never dark enough.
Think again about why you want that low C. Is it worth it to ruin the sounf of a fiddle? And if you really really really want it, do you need the top E string too.
Basically, have a shot on a decent viola before you make a decission.
I agree with David and Michael. I think the 5-string fiddle will only work properly if it is electronically amplified, and then you can tweak the sound from the bottom end to the top to your heart's content. Some time ago I tried out an acoustic 5-string out of curiosity and was rather less than impressed with the sound (quite apart from getting used to negotiating 5 strings instead of 4 with the bow).
If you need the low C in an acoustic fiddle, go for a decent viola, as Michael says, and learn to use the higher positions to get to those notes that would be up on an E-string. It's no big deal.
A decent viola doesn't need to be enormous, either. A friend of mine, a professional classical violinist and an Irish fiddle player in a band (she teaches both music genres), has an early 20c Belgian viola for her string quartet playing. This viola is no larger in length and width than a violin, but is rather deeper to give the required internal volume for the resonance. I've played on it and it has an absolutely gorgeous rich tone.
My 5 string Tim Phillips is gorgeous - I wouldn't part with it. It has a lovely rich, mellow sound across the whole range. It's the fiddle I usually take to sessions.
Within the band I use a 5 string Yamaha because the in-ear monitoring is useful when you're standing next to a full drum kit and a melodeon!! and it gives a decent signal to the desk.
Although there are probably 5 string fiddles with poor sound quality, it's worth looking round for for a good one. Mine is marginally bigger than a fiddle but not as big as a viola - I only have short fingers and a viola is too big for me. For a really deep, dark sound, I have an octave fiddle - again only marginally larger than a normal fiddle but with the sound of a celllo!!
"lovely rich, mellow sound across the whole range". That's the point. fiddles aren't lovely rich and mellow things. I'm not dissing you here, your instrument may indeed be a splended thing, but a violin it aint.
Though, to describe your octave fiddle as, "only marginally larger than a normal fiddle but with the sound of a celllo", makes me doubt that you have ever heard a real cello
My sister played cello for several years so I do have a rough idea.
I find that views on string sounds are very subjectvie - . I'm experimenting with strings at the moment and that alone can make considerable changes to the different tone qualities from my fiddles.
My 5 string certainly is a violin - just because the sound I prefer from my instrument varies from yours doesn't make it less of a violin.
From my experience, lots of fiddle players I know really crave a 5-string because of the extra bottom end. So, they go out and buy one, and are pleased with the extra range. They continue to play a standard 4-string also, and cart it along to gigs as well as the 5-string.
Soon they realise that 90% of the music they play only requires the range of the 4-string. So, having gotten fed up with lugging two instruments about, and never having got comfortable with a 5-string's extra neck width, or smaller string gap, they play more and more on the 4-string. They stop bringing the 5'er to gigs, then after a year of it lying about the house (with the occasional picking up to play it), they decide to sell it. So the cycle starts again.
I'm most certainly *not* having a crack at anyone here who owns or might buy a 5-string, and who knows exactly what they want from it. I'm only recounting my personal experience.
Michael, what's your rough percentage split between playing fiddle and viola as sessions (or anywhere else?) Just curious.
Yea I'll have to check the Bristol Violin Shop out cos I live in Bristol. All im loking for is the range. I've played violas before and have never had any problem with em. I'm keen on playing tunes lower down anyway.
5-string fiddles
5-string fiddles
Anyone know anywhere in the UK that makes /sells 5-string fiddles?
# Posted on March 10th 2005 by imahappycamper
Re: 5-string fiddles
yep- Tim Phillips- theres a link in the links section.
hope its useful.
# Posted on March 10th 2005 by Caraaz
Re: 5-string fiddles
I'd sell you mine.
I bought an Ashbury electric 2 years ago for new, but i can't really get the feel for the wider neck, so consequently i've played it about twice. I bought for £400 so i'd sell it for £350 (it is in 'as new' condition) Full case and bow, and original shoulder rest, how about it?
# Posted on March 10th 2005 by jfiddlerh
Re: 5-string fiddles
http://www.violectra.co.uk/ does them - but be prepared to be scared by what you see.....
Jim
# Posted on March 10th 2005 by Worldfiddler
Re: 5-string fiddles
....and at http://www.chamberlainmusic.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=EV205
Jim
# Posted on March 10th 2005 by Worldfiddler
Re: 5-string fiddles
". . .but be prepared to be scared by what you see....."
It doesn't scare me, but I've been trying for ages to decide whether I like it or not. I rather tend toward not, but I find myself going back for more looks. I think they've created some sort of scab on my violin psyche.
His Victorian Practice fiddles seem a bit of alright though.
# Posted on March 10th 2005 by KFG
Re: 5-string fiddles
Bristol Violin Shop make and sell the acoustic ones. They also sell practice fiddles - ones with great gaping holes in the belly and back so that there's no cavity to resonate.
Trevor
# Posted on March 10th 2005 by lazyhound
Re: 5-string fiddles
The thing about five string fiddles is that they are neither violins or violas. The top strings are never bright enough and the low strings are just never dark enough.
Think again about why you want that low C. Is it worth it to ruin the sounf of a fiddle? And if you really really really want it, do you need the top E string too.
Basically, have a shot on a decent viola before you make a decission.
# Posted on March 10th 2005 by llig leahcim
Re: 5-string fiddles
I agree with David and Michael. I think the 5-string fiddle will only work properly if it is electronically amplified, and then you can tweak the sound from the bottom end to the top to your heart's content. Some time ago I tried out an acoustic 5-string out of curiosity and was rather less than impressed with the sound (quite apart from getting used to negotiating 5 strings instead of 4 with the bow).
If you need the low C in an acoustic fiddle, go for a decent viola, as Michael says, and learn to use the higher positions to get to those notes that would be up on an E-string. It's no big deal.
A decent viola doesn't need to be enormous, either. A friend of mine, a professional classical violinist and an Irish fiddle player in a band (she teaches both music genres), has an early 20c Belgian viola for her string quartet playing. This viola is no larger in length and width than a violin, but is rather deeper to give the required internal volume for the resonance. I've played on it and it has an absolutely gorgeous rich tone.
Trevor
# Posted on March 11th 2005 by lazyhound
Re: 5-string fiddles
My 5 string Tim Phillips is gorgeous - I wouldn't part with it. It has a lovely rich, mellow sound across the whole range. It's the fiddle I usually take to sessions.
Within the band I use a 5 string Yamaha because the in-ear monitoring is useful when you're standing next to a full drum kit and a melodeon!! and it gives a decent signal to the desk.
Although there are probably 5 string fiddles with poor sound quality, it's worth looking round for for a good one. Mine is marginally bigger than a fiddle but not as big as a viola - I only have short fingers and a viola is too big for me. For a really deep, dark sound, I have an octave fiddle - again only marginally larger than a normal fiddle but with the sound of a celllo!!
# Posted on March 11th 2005 by Tarrantella
Re: 5-string fiddles
"lovely rich, mellow sound across the whole range". That's the point. fiddles aren't lovely rich and mellow things. I'm not dissing you here, your instrument may indeed be a splended thing, but a violin it aint.
Though, to describe your octave fiddle as, "only marginally larger than a normal fiddle but with the sound of a celllo", makes me doubt that you have ever heard a real cello
# Posted on March 11th 2005 by llig leahcim
Re: 5-string fiddles
My sister played cello for several years so I do have a rough idea.
I find that views on string sounds are very subjectvie - . I'm experimenting with strings at the moment and that alone can make considerable changes to the different tone qualities from my fiddles.
My 5 string certainly is a violin - just because the sound I prefer from my instrument varies from yours doesn't make it less of a violin.
# Posted on March 11th 2005 by Tarrantella
Re: 5-string fiddles
I have no problem with you prefering a different sound. But be aware that it is different. And there are certain sounds you cannot get
# Posted on March 11th 2005 by llig leahcim
Re: 5-string fiddles
From my experience, lots of fiddle players I know really crave a 5-string because of the extra bottom end. So, they go out and buy one, and are pleased with the extra range. They continue to play a standard 4-string also, and cart it along to gigs as well as the 5-string.
Soon they realise that 90% of the music they play only requires the range of the 4-string. So, having gotten fed up with lugging two instruments about, and never having got comfortable with a 5-string's extra neck width, or smaller string gap, they play more and more on the 4-string. They stop bringing the 5'er to gigs, then after a year of it lying about the house (with the occasional picking up to play it), they decide to sell it. So the cycle starts again.
I'm most certainly *not* having a crack at anyone here who owns or might buy a 5-string, and who knows exactly what they want from it. I'm only recounting my personal experience.
Michael, what's your rough percentage split between playing fiddle and viola as sessions (or anywhere else?) Just curious.
Jim
# Posted on March 11th 2005 by Worldfiddler
Re: 5-string fiddles
Yea I'll have to check the Bristol Violin Shop out cos I live in Bristol. All im loking for is the range. I've played violas before and have never had any problem with em. I'm keen on playing tunes lower down anyway.
# Posted on March 11th 2005 by imahappycamper