Viola da Gamba - Violin/Fiddle "New Kid on the Block"

The most popular and functional bowed stringed instrument of the Renaissance.

The Gamba was made into four sizes to play the four ranges of vocal music. A set of six Gambas, usually comprised of two trebles, two tenors, and two basses, were called a "chest of viols." When played together in ensemble they were known as a "consort."

The Viola da Gamba (Italian - literally a "leg viol" or simply "viol" in English) has a flat back, sloping shoulders, six strings, C-shaped sound holes, and frets on the fingerboard (like a guitar).

By the Baroque Period the smaller viols had given way to the newly-formed violin family, but the bass viol held a firm place in both vocal and instrumental music.

Nowt wrong with a fretted fiddle - in fact ...... It's more "in tune" when played alongside other fretted instruments!

now here's a nice one..

interesting article