I agree with the concensus sort of!

Pirastro Strings - I use obligato's 36 squids a set (gold plated Estring sound very gentle)

Bow Tension (but that can vary between old time irish and English and Scottish Cape Breton techniques) and how hard you press on with the bow.

Rosin amount and type (Cello Rosin sounds a lot softer on a fiddle but can be squeky)

Alos play well away form the bridge softer and more mellow by the finger board and harsher and brasher by the bridge.

I use an Ebony mute at times too - make sit quieter and more mellow but I am having a new mahogony one made soon as this gives a totally different sound.

Fiddle is not just a matter of playing it is a matter of living with a fiddle. Mine (Like Sorchas) can dominate very easily without amplification if I want it too!

Don't we fiddlers talk Bollox - we should take up melodeon and forget music :-)

Andy