Does anyone know what kind of fiddle Kevin Burke plays? Or what Johhny Cunningham played? Yes, 90% of that nice dark tone is the technique, but some of it is really in the wood.....I've gone through 4 in the last 2 years and finally found a decent one for only half of the first-born kid... (grin). What do you play? Did you get it from your Grandfather or in a session as a loaner or bought from the luthier, maybe ordered? Do you play the same one you started with or a different one? Just curious how everyone finds their instruments ....or maybe the instruments 'find' us!
I play a Gliga.. Yes, it's a cheap one but I like it and my voilin teacher has commented that he likes it because of its "rich deep tone". He was surprised at how little I paid for it. Just a warning though. Don't buy one from ebay or the web. I got mine used and was able to try it out before buying it.
I actually had the pleasure of playing Johnny Cunningham's fiddle. Don't know who the maker was but it's beautifully carved and inlaid. You can get a real good look at it on the cover of his Fair Warning CD. Johnny told me that the carving on the scroll had to be repaird because it was damaged on an airline flight. I can't remember who he said the guy on the scroll was.
By the way, anyone know what has happened to his fiddle.
I assume the family has it but it would be a shame for it not to be used.
For info on Kevin Burke's fiddles, go to http://pws.prserv.net/kevinburke/ and enter, and click on Tools of the Trade. He talks about his choice of fiddles, strings, rosin, bows, etc. there. (Although none of it mentions his latest fiddle made by Mick de Hoog, of Dublin, also rumored to have made a fiddle for Sean Smyth.)
My main fiddle was made by Joseph Geiger of Canton OH in 1906. I bought it from Ged Foley--it was Ged's main fiddle for some years. I see that he finally sold off most of his collection (until he fills another room with old fiddles *grin*).
I’ve owned four fiddles in thirty years. The first was a cheap student model that sounded pretty rough, but got me started. The second I bought from a friend who buys, sells and trades instruments at a rate that makes me dizzy. He has a good ear and good eye for bargains. It was still relatively inexpensive. I played that one for a few years but wasn’t really satisfied, so I kept an eye on my friends collection.
Meanwhile, one of my aunts gave me my grandfather’s old fiddle. I had it set up with the bridge that was stored with it and it sounded pretty good, but I experimented with modifications to the bridge and, through crass stupidity, finally broke it. I’ve had it set up a few more times and it has never sounded as good again.
My friend accumulated several nice fiddles and I became infatuated with one of them. As I expected, he eventually needed to move some merchandise, so I bought my favorite and have had it for nearly twenty years. I’ve been offered nearly ten times what I paid for it, but I’m not fickle like my friend, so I guess I’ll keep it. It’s a French instrument – Georges Larcher. About eighty years old, I think.
I've owned several over the years, with a couple of them resonating like a granite stone. Ten years ago or so, I lucked into acquiring a 1926 Eugene Meinel from a local violin shop and absolutely love the tone. It's got this big, alive, warm and rich mid-range which I think is getting stronger. Last fall, I picked up an inexpensive Chinese violin for camping/travelling. It's got an okay sound, but the A is kind of wacky. Maybe a sound post thing, but it fits the bill for any kind of risky, knockabout situations. So far, that whats in my stable
My friend, the constant trader, has been playing a very cheap Chinese fiddle lately and he loves it. I heard some recording he did with it and it sounded very nice.
My fiddle was given to my brother and I from my grandparents (I have taken it over, as he plays guitar). I have no idea where or when it was made, but I know that it was refurbished by Simpson Silverstone (a department store) in 1928/29. It has quite a nice dark tone, though it would likely sound better if I knew how to play it properly.
I aquired my great great great grandfather's fiddle recently, so i'm guessing it's from around the 1800/1850s sometime, but i'm not sure. It's based on a french violin and i don't know if it really is one. It has no indication of where and who made it. But it sounds good, i need some new strings.
Handmade fiddle from Ohio in the '50s. Will helped me find it at Rock Egan's shop in Denver at around the New Year. It's a little brighter than a lot of Irish players like, but I love it. I'm still trying to get used to it, though, it's way more responsive than my old student model was.
I play a lovely mellow fiddle that I've been told is around 100 years old- no makers name and have been told its from Germany then some other person in the know said its English. I have no idea but I'm so lucky to have it. Its my first and only fiddle and my friend owned it and had neglected it for many years and never learned to play it. She leant (sp?) it to me when I started playing and gave it to me as a birthday present when I kept on and on and on playing. So- maybe a fiddle can chose you.
I got mine from a luthier. It's got a lovely dark tone. It's my third fiddle and I absolutely love it. It's got a classical setup, but I find that it works very well for fiddling.
Thanks for the great replies so far - it paints a very interesting picture of how what we're playing for instruments! I love the fact that people are making fun (and satisfying) music with everything from resonating shoeboxes to works of art (which can also be the same thing). More, please......!
The one I am playing now (#4) is a really sweet 1850's Italian Guarneri copy - false label, but well made - probably by someone who left the shop to start out on his own. It has a slightly asymmetrical shape in the belly and is pretty lyrical on the DAE strings, while still holding a decent focus on the G string. I changed to Evah Pirazzi strings and am very happy with
the sound and stability. Obligatos are delicious, but so soft
that they fuzz out quickly, and at that price, forget it! Just for fun, I am trying out a Henry Richard Knopf 1888 (New York) which has a big sound, deep voice.....but I think my own fiddle got jealous and is sounding nicer than ever! The Knopf holds a good "non-fuzz" G string tone but is bigger in every sense and maybe a little awkward to manage. Also, my Guarneri copy came from a little old Hungarian luthier with a character you'd love - hunched over, coke-bottle spectacles, white lab coat, thick accent, dry-dry-dry sense of humor, shop full of completely unorganized treasures (but he knew exactly where everything was and all about it)....he died this last January and somehow I feel that he 'allowed' me to buy this one (it came from his personal collection) and it should stay with me. Besides, my fiddle and I have this understanding going - you know? Of course you do They all have personalities!
For added color I'll include this info: I emailed Liz Carrol last year and she was kind enough to let me know about her fiddle: she says: " The one I've used for years is an Amedee Dieudonne from Mirecourt (1940). But I've just gotten a new fiddle, and you're right about personalities. I'm really starting to like the new one, though. It's made by Ray Schreyer in Canada. So there! "
I've got a pre-WWII German Amati copy. I bought it along with my son's, a Stainer copy from around the same time, from a guy who mostly does business with serious classical students (and their parents). I think he was a little surprised that I went for these. They were two of his rental instruments--after we'd had them for enough time to build up some equity in his rent-to-buy program, I decided to buy them rather than go for anything more expensive in his shop. By that time, we knew the instruments well enough to know what we liked about them. My son's is a dark finish and has a darker, fuller tone, and is just a little smaller than standard. Mine has a honey brown finish, and the tone is a bit lighter too, but I've gotten very used to it--it suits me, and I don't think I'll find myself wanting another. It is set up with Dominant strings usually, or Tonicas, and a single fine tuner. The luthier who did the set up said he'd value it at about twice what I paid, which was OK to hear. Played it tonight at a nice small session at the house--fiddle, piano, mando, bodhran, along with my first semi-public attempts at flute, which was fun, though I have quite a ways to go on that instrument.
I've a collection of Tim Phillips fiddles. The first one I got was bright green. I saw it on Tim's stall at Sidmouth but it got sold. The next year it was back on the stall again as it had been traded in. While we were in an arena concert, my husband slipped out on the pretext of getting a pint, dashed down to the town to get money out of the bank and bought it without me knowing. When we came out of the concert, we went past Tims stall and there was a sold label on the fiddle. I was devastated! We started to walk out of the arena site and my husband disappeared on the pretext of going to the loo and reappeared 5 minutes later with the fiddle!
SInce then I have acquired a five string, an octave and a five string electro acoustic from Tim. My sister-in-law has borrowed the bright green fiddle as I mainly use the 5 string now.
I've a Scott Cao STV-017A, bought last year but it was made in 2003. It's funny, the label says "Handmade Instruments/Campbell CA", which I believe isin't the truth - these student models are made in Shanghai by students of Scott and his apprentices. Whatever! I bought a Cao because all these yahoos on the Internet said his stuff was fantastic quality, etc. etc. I wish the thing weren't so frickin' loud! For me, that is. Even with the mute on it's powerful.
I knocked around on another fiddle for years though, made by a Chinese maker named Stradivarius...
Burke was playing his new fiddle when I went over for a lesson a few weeks ago. Kevin uses a tall chin rest and one of those little cheapy pad shoulder rests, covered in velvet and held on with a rubber band. He told me about playing out in Yamhill County, where my folks live, and during the gig the rubber band snapped! Lucky thing, a little kid in the front row had a replacement handy.
Get that full set, Fel. A set without the regulators, how sad. "A day without sunshine is like...night!"
I've got a Stainer copy round about 100 yrs old bought on eBay last year - attractive-looking one-piece back and table. Buying on eBay is a risk, but I'm pleased with it - had to have some work done on it by a luthier, but he thought it was worth about twice what I'd paid including the cost of his work. It's very bright with good volume and resonance. I suppose it's an orchestral violin intended to sound quite bright. The other old one I've had for years is a Maggini copy which is large-bodied and has a lot of surface marking and a couple of fairly minor cracks, so I'm going to get it fixed up. Maybe it has a better tone for Irish music - woodier with less treble. I'll see what he says about it. Question: if I want to brighten up the tone of a fiddle like this just a little bit, should I try metal strings (it has dominants on it at the moment)? or should I go for thicker strings to fill out the sound because it is quite large-bodied? By the way, I pleased I'm in good company with my "little cheapy pad shoulder rest with a rubber band" - I found one and it's just what I needed (maker's name Sostenuto)
I bought my current fiddle in Stringers, Edinburgh (which many locals would argue was an "overpriced" outlet) a few years back. It wasn't expensive as they go and cost around £500. However, I liked the sound and playability better than others which were much more expensive. I could have gone a "lot higher" but this particular fiddle suited me.
It is a Geronimo Barnabetti which was made in Paris. I believe that it's a "factory model" made about the turn of century (19-20th) but I'm not sure. Anyway, I like it and, unless I become really rich, I don't see the need to spend a lot of money on a really expensive fiddle when this one suits me well.
However, I did purchase a new bow about four years ago (while I was still working and had money to burn). Previously, I used a "Knoll" which had cost about £100. It's reckoned that you should spend about one quarter of the price of the fiddle on a bow. However, I treated myself to a better bow--a "Lepin" which was about £400. Again, I spent some time in the shop trying them out and took a notion to it. It was the right sound for me.
Now, my main problem is being able to play the damned thing properly.
my fiddle that iv had for the past two years, is the "50p Oxfam Fiddle". my friend saw it in the aforementioned charity shop, and took it home to keep, until a while later, i mentioned i was looking for a fiddle, and he produced the fiddle, and gave me it. its in beautiful condition, once the layers of grime were removed, and plays really well. having taken it to a luthier, i found out it was a german factory made, turn-of-the-century job, (due to the oversized fingerboard).
my other fiddle is the one we refer to as the "family fiddle"- a turn of the century french made model, which was my great, great uncles, who went to fight in the first world war, and never returned, leaving his violin untouched until i picked it up over 80 years later. it has great sentimental value, hence the "oxfam fiddle" for sessioning and pub gigs.also, when we dug out the old family fiddle, we discovered manuscript dedicated to "The Brave Souls Who Lost Their Lives Aboard The Titanic", something that brought home how long the case had been untouched.
also got a bridge electric violin, but often dosent feel as good as the other two-i guess i'l have to practice more often.
My fiddle is French, circia 1880, by Jerome Thibouville Lamy (which is just a workshop name) It's not worth a fortune, but then fortunes are relative. All this talk about dark tone is really about how you have the thing set up. I prefer bright and loud.
My viola is Max Rudolph cicia 1900 and is a much better instrument. It's easy to get a dark viola, 'cause that's what they are, but mine is bright as buttons
My fiddle was made for my great uncle about 100 years ago. It probably hadnt been played for over 50 years when I started using it and you can hear the difference between then and now. I think its got a bright, almost harsh, tone but it sounds much sweeter played by somebody who can play well.
At the moment I mainly play a cheap student model, that sounds alright, but brilliant. I'm in the middle of trying to restore an old one though. It was made on Odense in Denmark in 1840, but I don't know who by.
I play a strad-copy, German from the 1870's. Mass-produced, but sounds good. I am also trying to get to terms with another German of the same age, looks more French, and plays totally different. I play the lottery every week, so that one day I too can collect old fiddles....
My main fiddle is circa 1800 and has been in the family since about 1850. The story is that my great-great-grandfather bought it from an Irish musician who came over to West Wales from Ireland at that time, perhaps fleeing the Famine – who knows?
It came down to me from my mother a few years ago, but it hadn’t been played for 60 years and so needed a fair amount of work done on it to put it back in playing order. With a lot of regular playing the tone has now returned.
My information is that it is a German copy of a Stradivari, and looks quite close in design detail to the Farnmouth Stradivari of 1692. It is dimensionally slightly larger than most fiddles, and is light in weight. These factors, I believe, go to give it its resonant big tone and depth of tone, especially on the G string. It plays well with the current string set – Thomastic Spirocore G, D, A, and an Olive E, but this is one of those instruments where you’ve got to show it who’s boss. In different circumstances I think it would make a good solo instrument.
My second fiddle is a 2002 Jay Haide (California), which I got in exchange for an old classical guitar that I hadn’t been playing for many years (I decided I needed a second fiddle as a “reserve”). I’ve been playing the Jay Haide in for two years and the tone is now getting appreciably sweeter and smoother. It’s resonant and responsive, and easy to play, but hasn’t got the depth and power of the older fiddle. I use it as my main practise instrument, and for smaller sessions. I’m using exactly the same type of strings as on the older instrument.
I started off with a wee school 1/4 size! I still got school fiddles for 1/2 and 3/4. When I was ready for a full size I got one which my dad bought for my mum she never had time to practice so her playing is now slightly "rough" It is a copy of an "Ole Bull" made in Germany. Very sweet tone but one of my voilin teachers thought it was pretty quiet. I then got a good fiddle from a very nice man at Banchory-Devenick (Aberdeenshire, Scotland) and this one has no name, no country which it was made in and is kind of orangey couloured. It is made of pine and maple and I absolutely love the feel and sound of it!!
Main fiddle is a 1907 English made by William Beard of Derbyshire. Not paricularly expensive, but an all-round medium tone across all the strings. Bags of volume there too.
Gigging and recording fiddle is an electric Yamaha SV-200 in a lovely shade of blue!
I've also got a Mittenwald fiddle, had it for two years now, and I love it to bits. It seems to play itself sometimes. It's got a characteristic lion's head where the scroll usually is, and the whole thing really shows its history - someone has burnt a crude cross into the back, and the varnish (original) is almost black in places. I found it at a Bridge stall at Bromyard folk festival. Had to think a bit about the price, but I've never been happier with a decision.
A few weeks back some oblivious person at a session knocked it off a table, which broke an old repair, causing the neck to come loose. Had it glued up ("could last 60 years, could last 3 weeks") but three weeks was all it did last, unfortunately. Went to Stringers, was quoted 300 quid, 3 weeks and signifcant hackery to the wood. Ended up (via a friend of a friend of a friend) at guy named Michael Kerr who said he made fiddles, not repaired them, but he'd have a look and give his opinion, which was that that bit of the fiddle should never be taken apart, so traditional glue was unnecessary. A quick sanding, some superglue in a crack and a bit of white wood glue and all was together there and then, no payment accepted. Lucky thing as I was playing a gig at the weekend!
Touch wood, it all seems as good as ever (or perhaps better, given new soundpost positioning). A while back I changed all the Dominant strings for Eva Pirazzi which was a grand move (ta Will!). If anyone's interested, cheapest place in UK to get 'em (that I could find after shopping around) is from http://www.sdlmusic.com/
I bought my fiddle from Brendan Mulvihill for $500 (later appraised at 3,500) . He told me it was a late 19th century copy of a Lupot? The seal inside says Lupot some address in paris 1817.
I just got a new one that I love! It's from Eastern Europe and was made around the late 1880's. I was a rich, dark sound and I paired it with a very, very nice bow that was recently made. Apparently, a lot of these types of fiddles came our of the 'bohemian' area of Europe during this time.
I found it at violin shop that also carries a lot of 'fiddles' from local Southern makers. A German luthier in the city gave me the details of it's origins.
Mine is a Chinese fiddle, but made by a luthier family instead of a factory. About four years old, and I've been playing it for a bit less than two. Lovely dark mellow tone, and is growing into something very nice as it settles in.
I wish I still had the fiddle I first owned as a kid, marvelous instrument that would be about 125 years old now. Had been made as a seventh birthday present for the old man I bought it from. But I was dumb and sold when I thought I'd never play again. 20-20 hindsight and all that...
I made my main fiddle, an unconventional first effort made from trees I cut from my land here in Missouri. It has an Eastern red cedar top and walnut back and sides. The fingerboard, pegs, and tailpiece are dogwood.
Surprisingly, it sounds pretty nice! I've played it for many many dances over the years.
I love this posting, although if the dates are correct, noone has used it in years.
I started with a Korean student model from ebay. Great way to start for under $100. I later bought an old West Germany Strad. copy for $200. After almost a year of playing and taking lessons, I bought a pretty good Nicolas Lupot copy (I assume it's a copy). I would like to find out more about it. It sounds better than any $5000-$7500 one I've heard. It's a pretty good shape. I assume it's a Miercourt workshop, handmade copy from the early 1900s. Who knows. I'm still looking. I mainly need a good bow though. I have an old Germany student bow from ebay. I was told it's worth $200 or so.
Speaking of great fiddle player's, anyone know what Mark Sheehan of the Dubliner's played early on? Now?
Bruce
What kind of fiddle do you play?
What kind of fiddle do you play?
Does anyone know what kind of fiddle Kevin Burke plays? Or what Johhny Cunningham played? Yes, 90% of that nice dark tone is the technique, but some of it is really in the wood.....I've gone through 4 in the last 2 years and finally found a decent one for only half of the first-born kid... (grin). What do you play? Did you get it from your Grandfather or in a session as a loaner or bought from the luthier, maybe ordered? Do you play the same one you started with or a different one? Just curious how everyone finds their instruments ....or maybe the instruments 'find' us!
# Posted on April 20th 2005 by dragonfiddle
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I play a Gliga.. Yes, it's a cheap one but I like it and my voilin teacher has commented that he likes it because of its "rich deep tone". He was surprised at how little I paid for it. Just a warning though. Don't buy one from ebay or the web. I got mine used and was able to try it out before buying it.
I actually had the pleasure of playing Johnny Cunningham's fiddle. Don't know who the maker was but it's beautifully carved and inlaid. You can get a real good look at it on the cover of his Fair Warning CD. Johnny told me that the carving on the scroll had to be repaird because it was damaged on an airline flight. I can't remember who he said the guy on the scroll was.
By the way, anyone know what has happened to his fiddle.
I assume the family has it but it would be a shame for it not to be used.
Mary
# Posted on April 20th 2005 by Antikhntr
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
For info on Kevin Burke's fiddles, go to http://pws.prserv.net/kevinburke/ and enter, and click on Tools of the Trade. He talks about his choice of fiddles, strings, rosin, bows, etc. there. (Although none of it mentions his latest fiddle made by Mick de Hoog, of Dublin, also rumored to have made a fiddle for Sean Smyth.)
My main fiddle was made by Joseph Geiger of Canton OH in 1906. I bought it from Ged Foley--it was Ged's main fiddle for some years. I see that he finally sold off most of his collection (until he fills another room with old fiddles *grin*).
# Posted on April 20th 2005 by Will CPT
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I’ve owned four fiddles in thirty years. The first was a cheap student model that sounded pretty rough, but got me started. The second I bought from a friend who buys, sells and trades instruments at a rate that makes me dizzy. He has a good ear and good eye for bargains. It was still relatively inexpensive. I played that one for a few years but wasn’t really satisfied, so I kept an eye on my friends collection.
Meanwhile, one of my aunts gave me my grandfather’s old fiddle. I had it set up with the bridge that was stored with it and it sounded pretty good, but I experimented with modifications to the bridge and, through crass stupidity, finally broke it. I’ve had it set up a few more times and it has never sounded as good again.
My friend accumulated several nice fiddles and I became infatuated with one of them. As I expected, he eventually needed to move some merchandise, so I bought my favorite and have had it for nearly twenty years. I’ve been offered nearly ten times what I paid for it, but I’m not fickle like my friend, so I guess I’ll keep it. It’s a French instrument – Georges Larcher. About eighty years old, I think.
# Posted on April 20th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I've owned several over the years, with a couple of them resonating like a granite stone. Ten years ago or so, I lucked into acquiring a 1926 Eugene Meinel from a local violin shop and absolutely love the tone. It's got this big, alive, warm and rich mid-range which I think is getting stronger. Last fall, I picked up an inexpensive Chinese violin for camping/travelling. It's got an okay sound, but the A is kind of wacky. Maybe a sound post thing, but it fits the bill for any kind of risky, knockabout situations. So far, that whats in my stable
# Posted on April 20th 2005 by yonder
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
My friend, the constant trader, has been playing a very cheap Chinese fiddle lately and he loves it. I heard some recording he did with it and it sounded very nice.
# Posted on April 20th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
My fiddle was given to my brother and I from my grandparents (I have taken it over, as he plays guitar). I have no idea where or when it was made, but I know that it was refurbished by Simpson Silverstone (a department store) in 1928/29. It has quite a nice dark tone, though it would likely sound better if I knew how to play it properly.
# Posted on April 20th 2005 by 1847
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I aquired my great great great grandfather's fiddle recently, so i'm guessing it's from around the 1800/1850s sometime, but i'm not sure. It's based on a french violin and i don't know if it really is one. It has no indication of where and who made it. But it sounds good, i need some new strings.
# Posted on April 20th 2005 by ecidralla
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
Handmade fiddle from Ohio in the '50s. Will helped me find it at Rock Egan's shop in Denver at around the New Year. It's a little brighter than a lot of Irish players like, but I love it. I'm still trying to get used to it, though, it's way more responsive than my old student model was.
# Posted on April 20th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I play a lovely mellow fiddle that I've been told is around 100 years old- no makers name and have been told its from Germany then some other person in the know said its English. I have no idea but I'm so lucky to have it. Its my first and only fiddle and my friend owned it and had neglected it for many years and never learned to play it. She leant (sp?) it to me when I started playing and gave it to me as a birthday present when I kept on and on and on playing. So- maybe a fiddle can chose you.
# Posted on April 20th 2005 by Caraaz
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I made my own
It is based on a Madginni (spelling close) Its a half inch narrower and a half inch longer than the strad dimensions
works for me
Jim
# Posted on April 20th 2005 by seammc
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I got mine from a luthier. It's got a lovely dark tone. It's my third fiddle and I absolutely love it. It's got a classical setup, but I find that it works very well for fiddling.
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by Fiddlekit
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I play a german student model; neck is slightly low and mis aligned- but it works; would like a different one but still want a full set of pipes more
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by I_Fel
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
Thanks for the great replies so far - it paints a very interesting picture of how what we're playing for instruments! I love the fact that people are making fun (and satisfying) music with everything from resonating shoeboxes to works of art (which can also be the same thing). More, please......!
The one I am playing now (#4) is a really sweet 1850's Italian Guarneri copy - false label, but well made - probably by someone who left the shop to start out on his own. It has a slightly asymmetrical shape in the belly and is pretty lyrical on the DAE strings, while still holding a decent focus on the G string. I changed to Evah Pirazzi strings and am very happy with
They all have personalities!
the sound and stability. Obligatos are delicious, but so soft
that they fuzz out quickly, and at that price, forget it! Just for fun, I am trying out a Henry Richard Knopf 1888 (New York) which has a big sound, deep voice.....but I think my own fiddle got jealous and is sounding nicer than ever! The Knopf holds a good "non-fuzz" G string tone but is bigger in every sense and maybe a little awkward to manage. Also, my Guarneri copy came from a little old Hungarian luthier with a character you'd love - hunched over, coke-bottle spectacles, white lab coat, thick accent, dry-dry-dry sense of humor, shop full of completely unorganized treasures (but he knew exactly where everything was and all about it)....he died this last January and somehow I feel that he 'allowed' me to buy this one (it came from his personal collection) and it should stay with me. Besides, my fiddle and I have this understanding going - you know? Of course you do
For added color I'll include this info: I emailed Liz Carrol last year and she was kind enough to let me know about her fiddle: she says: " The one I've used for years is an Amedee Dieudonne from Mirecourt (1940). But I've just gotten a new fiddle, and you're right about personalities. I'm really starting to like the new one, though. It's made by Ray Schreyer in Canada. So there! "
Thanks!
Sarah
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by dragonfiddle
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I've got a pre-WWII German Amati copy. I bought it along with my son's, a Stainer copy from around the same time, from a guy who mostly does business with serious classical students (and their parents). I think he was a little surprised that I went for these. They were two of his rental instruments--after we'd had them for enough time to build up some equity in his rent-to-buy program, I decided to buy them rather than go for anything more expensive in his shop. By that time, we knew the instruments well enough to know what we liked about them. My son's is a dark finish and has a darker, fuller tone, and is just a little smaller than standard. Mine has a honey brown finish, and the tone is a bit lighter too, but I've gotten very used to it--it suits me, and I don't think I'll find myself wanting another. It is set up with Dominant strings usually, or Tonicas, and a single fine tuner. The luthier who did the set up said he'd value it at about twice what I paid, which was OK to hear. Played it tonight at a nice small session at the house--fiddle, piano, mando, bodhran, along with my first semi-public attempts at flute, which was fun, though I have quite a ways to go on that instrument.
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by jfsmith
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I've a collection of Tim Phillips fiddles. The first one I got was bright green. I saw it on Tim's stall at Sidmouth but it got sold. The next year it was back on the stall again as it had been traded in. While we were in an arena concert, my husband slipped out on the pretext of getting a pint, dashed down to the town to get money out of the bank and bought it without me knowing. When we came out of the concert, we went past Tims stall and there was a sold label on the fiddle. I was devastated! We started to walk out of the arena site and my husband disappeared on the pretext of going to the loo and reappeared 5 minutes later with the fiddle!
SInce then I have acquired a five string, an octave and a five string electro acoustic from Tim. My sister-in-law has borrowed the bright green fiddle as I mainly use the 5 string now.
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by Tarrantella
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I've a Scott Cao STV-017A, bought last year but it was made in 2003. It's funny, the label says "Handmade Instruments/Campbell CA", which I believe isin't the truth - these student models are made in Shanghai by students of Scott and his apprentices. Whatever! I bought a Cao because all these yahoos on the Internet said his stuff was fantastic quality, etc. etc. I wish the thing weren't so frickin' loud! For me, that is. Even with the mute on it's powerful.
I knocked around on another fiddle for years though, made by a Chinese maker named Stradivarius...
Burke was playing his new fiddle when I went over for a lesson a few weeks ago. Kevin uses a tall chin rest and one of those little cheapy pad shoulder rests, covered in velvet and held on with a rubber band. He told me about playing out in Yamhill County, where my folks live, and during the gig the rubber band snapped! Lucky thing, a little kid in the front row had a replacement handy.
Get that full set, Fel. A set without the regulators, how sad. "A day without sunshine is like...night!"
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by Kevin Rietmann
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I've got a Stainer copy round about 100 yrs old bought on eBay last year - attractive-looking one-piece back and table. Buying on eBay is a risk, but I'm pleased with it - had to have some work done on it by a luthier, but he thought it was worth about twice what I'd paid including the cost of his work. It's very bright with good volume and resonance. I suppose it's an orchestral violin intended to sound quite bright. The other old one I've had for years is a Maggini copy which is large-bodied and has a lot of surface marking and a couple of fairly minor cracks, so I'm going to get it fixed up. Maybe it has a better tone for Irish music - woodier with less treble. I'll see what he says about it. Question: if I want to brighten up the tone of a fiddle like this just a little bit, should I try metal strings (it has dominants on it at the moment)? or should I go for thicker strings to fill out the sound because it is quite large-bodied? By the way, I pleased I'm in good company with my "little cheapy pad shoulder rest with a rubber band" - I found one and it's just what I needed (maker's name Sostenuto)
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by RichardB
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I bought my current fiddle in Stringers, Edinburgh (which many locals would argue was an "overpriced" outlet) a few years back. It wasn't expensive as they go and cost around £500. However, I liked the sound and playability better than others which were much more expensive. I could have gone a "lot higher" but this particular fiddle suited me.
It is a Geronimo Barnabetti which was made in Paris. I believe that it's a "factory model" made about the turn of century (19-20th) but I'm not sure. Anyway, I like it and, unless I become really rich, I don't see the need to spend a lot of money on a really expensive fiddle when this one suits me well.
However, I did purchase a new bow about four years ago (while I was still working and had money to burn). Previously, I used a "Knoll" which had cost about £100. It's reckoned that you should spend about one quarter of the price of the fiddle on a bow. However, I treated myself to a better bow--a "Lepin" which was about £400. Again, I spent some time in the shop trying them out and took a notion to it. It was the right sound for me.
Now, my main problem is being able to play the damned thing properly.
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by Johannes J
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
my fiddle that iv had for the past two years, is the "50p Oxfam Fiddle". my friend saw it in the aforementioned charity shop, and took it home to keep, until a while later, i mentioned i was looking for a fiddle, and he produced the fiddle, and gave me it. its in beautiful condition, once the layers of grime were removed, and plays really well. having taken it to a luthier, i found out it was a german factory made, turn-of-the-century job, (due to the oversized fingerboard).
my other fiddle is the one we refer to as the "family fiddle"- a turn of the century french made model, which was my great, great uncles, who went to fight in the first world war, and never returned, leaving his violin untouched until i picked it up over 80 years later. it has great sentimental value, hence the "oxfam fiddle" for sessioning and pub gigs.also, when we dug out the old family fiddle, we discovered manuscript dedicated to "The Brave Souls Who Lost Their Lives Aboard The Titanic", something that brought home how long the case had been untouched.
also got a bridge electric violin, but often dosent feel as good as the other two-i guess i'l have to practice more often.
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by aaron b
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
My fiddle is French, circia 1880, by Jerome Thibouville Lamy (which is just a workshop name) It's not worth a fortune, but then fortunes are relative. All this talk about dark tone is really about how you have the thing set up. I prefer bright and loud.
My viola is Max Rudolph cicia 1900 and is a much better instrument. It's easy to get a dark viola, 'cause that's what they are, but mine is bright as buttons
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by llig leahcim
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
My fiddle was made for my great uncle about 100 years ago. It probably hadnt been played for over 50 years when I started using it and you can hear the difference between then and now. I think its got a bright, almost harsh, tone but it sounds much sweeter played by somebody who can play well.
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by jerryb
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
"a set without regs is a day without sunshine" Thanks Kevin- hope you're well. Gotta use that as a signiture somewhere
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by I_Fel
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
At the moment I mainly play a cheap student model, that sounds alright, but brilliant. I'm in the middle of trying to restore an old one though. It was made on Odense in Denmark in 1840, but I don't know who by.
Anders
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by weefreefidler
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I play a strad-copy, German from the 1870's. Mass-produced, but sounds good. I am also trying to get to terms with another German of the same age, looks more French, and plays totally different. I play the lottery every week, so that one day I too can collect old fiddles....
/Snorre
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by snorre
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
My main fiddle is circa 1800 and has been in the family since about 1850. The story is that my great-great-grandfather bought it from an Irish musician who came over to West Wales from Ireland at that time, perhaps fleeing the Famine – who knows?
It came down to me from my mother a few years ago, but it hadn’t been played for 60 years and so needed a fair amount of work done on it to put it back in playing order. With a lot of regular playing the tone has now returned.
My information is that it is a German copy of a Stradivari, and looks quite close in design detail to the Farnmouth Stradivari of 1692. It is dimensionally slightly larger than most fiddles, and is light in weight. These factors, I believe, go to give it its resonant big tone and depth of tone, especially on the G string. It plays well with the current string set – Thomastic Spirocore G, D, A, and an Olive E, but this is one of those instruments where you’ve got to show it who’s boss. In different circumstances I think it would make a good solo instrument.
My second fiddle is a 2002 Jay Haide (California), which I got in exchange for an old classical guitar that I hadn’t been playing for many years (I decided I needed a second fiddle as a “reserve”). I’ve been playing the Jay Haide in for two years and the tone is now getting appreciably sweeter and smoother. It’s resonant and responsive, and easy to play, but hasn’t got the depth and power of the older fiddle. I use it as my main practise instrument, and for smaller sessions. I’m using exactly the same type of strings as on the older instrument.
Trevor
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by lazyhound
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I started off with a wee school 1/4 size! I still got school fiddles for 1/2 and 3/4. When I was ready for a full size I got one which my dad bought for my mum she never had time to practice so her playing is now slightly "rough" It is a copy of an "Ole Bull" made in Germany. Very sweet tone but one of my voilin teachers thought it was pretty quiet. I then got a good fiddle from a very nice man at Banchory-Devenick (Aberdeenshire, Scotland) and this one has no name, no country which it was made in and is kind of orangey couloured. It is made of pine and maple and I absolutely love the feel and sound of it!!
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by nicola1
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I've had mine for 30 years. It's a lovely 1829 Anton Schaendl (sp?) made in Mittenwald. Beautiful tone especially down on the G.
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by domnull
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
Main fiddle is a 1907 English made by William Beard of Derbyshire. Not paricularly expensive, but an all-round medium tone across all the strings. Bags of volume there too.
Gigging and recording fiddle is an electric Yamaha SV-200 in a lovely shade of blue!
Jim Dorans
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by Worldfiddler
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I've also got a Mittenwald fiddle, had it for two years now, and I love it to bits. It seems to play itself sometimes. It's got a characteristic lion's head where the scroll usually is, and the whole thing really shows its history - someone has burnt a crude cross into the back, and the varnish (original) is almost black in places. I found it at a Bridge stall at Bromyard folk festival. Had to think a bit about the price, but I've never been happier with a decision.
A few weeks back some oblivious person at a session knocked it off a table, which broke an old repair, causing the neck to come loose. Had it glued up ("could last 60 years, could last 3 weeks") but three weeks was all it did last, unfortunately. Went to Stringers, was quoted 300 quid, 3 weeks and signifcant hackery to the wood. Ended up (via a friend of a friend of a friend) at guy named Michael Kerr who said he made fiddles, not repaired them, but he'd have a look and give his opinion, which was that that bit of the fiddle should never be taken apart, so traditional glue was unnecessary. A quick sanding, some superglue in a crack and a bit of white wood glue and all was together there and then, no payment accepted. Lucky thing as I was playing a gig at the weekend!
Touch wood, it all seems as good as ever (or perhaps better, given new soundpost positioning). A while back I changed all the Dominant strings for Eva Pirazzi which was a grand move (ta Will!). If anyone's interested, cheapest place in UK to get 'em (that I could find after shopping around) is from http://www.sdlmusic.com/
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by rog
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I bought my fiddle from Brendan Mulvihill for $500 (later appraised at 3,500) . He told me it was a late 19th century copy of a Lupot? The seal inside says Lupot some address in paris 1817.
Sean
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by kheel
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I just got a new one that I love! It's from Eastern Europe and was made around the late 1880's. I was a rich, dark sound and I paired it with a very, very nice bow that was recently made. Apparently, a lot of these types of fiddles came our of the 'bohemian' area of Europe during this time.
I found it at violin shop that also carries a lot of 'fiddles' from local Southern makers. A German luthier in the city gave me the details of it's origins.
Oh, it's brown!
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by fiddle_around
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
Mine is a Chinese fiddle, but made by a luthier family instead of a factory. About four years old, and I've been playing it for a bit less than two. Lovely dark mellow tone, and is growing into something very nice as it settles in.
I wish I still had the fiddle I first owned as a kid, marvelous instrument that would be about 125 years old now. Had been made as a seventh birthday present for the old man I bought it from. But I was dumb and sold when I thought I'd never play again. 20-20 hindsight and all that...
# Posted on April 21st 2005 by sara g
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I made my main fiddle, an unconventional first effort made from trees I cut from my land here in Missouri. It has an Eastern red cedar top and walnut back and sides. The fingerboard, pegs, and tailpiece are dogwood.
Surprisingly, it sounds pretty nice! I've played it for many many dances over the years.
Want to see it? go to:
http://www.silphium.net/blog
and look for a link to "Lutherie Projects" in the right-hand sidebar.
# Posted on April 22nd 2005 by Layers
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I also have a beautiful Eugen Meinel from 1922- possibly the older sister to Yonder's Meinel fiddle.
I love my fiddle. She is so much happier being a fiddle than she ever was being a violin.
I sound like a nutcase, but there you go.
# Posted on April 22nd 2005 by tara~the~fiddler
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
Well done, Layers! that's a great looking instrument - enviable skill.
# Posted on April 23rd 2005 by RichardB
Re: What kind of fiddle do you play?
I love this posting, although if the dates are correct, noone has used it in years.
I started with a Korean student model from ebay. Great way to start for under $100. I later bought an old West Germany Strad. copy for $200. After almost a year of playing and taking lessons, I bought a pretty good Nicolas Lupot copy (I assume it's a copy). I would like to find out more about it. It sounds better than any $5000-$7500 one I've heard. It's a pretty good shape. I assume it's a Miercourt workshop, handmade copy from the early 1900s. Who knows. I'm still looking. I mainly need a good bow though. I have an old Germany student bow from ebay. I was told it's worth $200 or so.
Speaking of great fiddle player's, anyone know what Mark Sheehan of the Dubliner's played early on? Now?
Bruce
# Posted on November 23rd 2006 by BAT