fiddle scroll

Subject: fiddle scroll
From: herge
Date: 17 Oct 99 - 06:03 AM

Does the scroll on a fiddle have any purpose or is it just ornamental? I have my own theroy but I'd like to hear yours.

Herge

Subject: RE: fiddle scroll
From: wildlone
Date: 17 Oct 99 - 09:17 AM

Do not know Herge but Thomas Hardy's fiddle has got a face instead of a scroll.

Subject: RE: fiddle scroll
From: DonMeixner
Date: 17 Oct 99 - 09:44 AM

Herge,

Years back when I fixed the odd fiddle I had and heard several theories on this. Ornamental seems to stand up best. But some folks said it was to give some weight to the neck to help with balance of the instrument. Others, a more practical contingent, said it was there to keep your hand from coming of the end. (Spaw, I know thats from an old joke too, but my good manners prevents me..) I think it may have much to do with all these thoughts. I would offer this as well.

The string box is actually a fairly fragile structure. By having the mass of the fiddle head to protect the wooden structure from damage, some costly and constant repairs are avoided.

Some people use the eye of the scroll to line up with when sighting along the edge of the back rib to see of the neck is twisted or poorly installed.

The best playing and sounding fiddle I ever had was very poorly lined up with the scroll.

There yo go Herge, more info than you need and none of it difinitive. Say hi to TinTin for me, I loved your comics. ;-)))

Don

Subject: RE: fiddle scroll
From: Herge
Date: 17 Oct 99 - 12:08 PM

Here's my idea! If when playing in a heavy session (or a noisy orcherstra) and you think you may be out of tune (and before the whistle player tells you!), stick the scroll in you ear and pluck the strings. You will be able to hear each string perfectly above all the other noise (or music)and be able to get back in tune without having to tell everyone to keep quite. Try it - it works.

Herge

Subject: RE: fiddle scroll
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 17 Oct 99 - 01:16 PM

Good heavens, so it does! You learn something new every day...

Malcolm

Subject: RE: fiddle scroll
From: Tony Burns
Date: 18 Oct 99 - 12:25 PM

Darn! I wish I could remember the details of Grit Laskin's explaination of the effect of mass on the sound of an instrument. It has to do with enhancing either the volume or the sustain, perhaps both. The scroll on the fiddle would make up a fair percentage of the mass of the instrument I would think.

Subject: RE: fiddle scroll
From: unclenort
Date: 18 Oct 99 - 12:51 PM

its sustain.
i've seen a guitar with a metal head stock. when i asked the luthier what it was all about he told me that he had been reading about the relationship between mass/sound and it was an experiment to see how it would work in an extreme example. it worked, BIG TIME sustain.
it was a little bit awkward to play and sounded a bit funny though.

thanks for the scroll in the ear tip. you might look a little funny but damned if it don't work.

Subject: RE: fiddle scroll
From: Bill L
Date: 18 Oct 99 - 04:01 PM

I heard the ocean when I put the scroll to the ear. Maybe it was a sea shanty.