I didn't think it was that serious, but when you start talking about tubes...When I think about fiddle players I wish I could play like, Dave Swarbrick springs to my mind before anyone else. The man can play any tune or song suberbly. The way he accompanies singers is unbelievable, weaving in and out of the songs, doing complicated things (listen to a href=http://homepages.tesco.net/~sjsheldon/bonbh.ra>The Bonnie Black Hare - just shoot me now) and never distracting from the song.
I wrote a tune - The Obituary (MIDI) - after the premature report of his death. I've never met the man, and probably never will, but he's had a great effect on my musical life. Get well, Swarb.