Which Starter Fiddle To Buy

Subject: Which Starter Fiddle To Buy
From: GUEST,Charles
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 01:14 AM

If someone wanted to begin playing acoustic guitar and had 400 dollars to spend, I'd know a few models to suggest.
There are decent guitars in that price range nowadays.

But what about fiddles ? I'm not up on fiddles at all.
Are there decent new fiddles to be had for 400 bucks ?(not counting bow) If so, what brand ?

Subject: RE: Which Starter Fiddle To Buy
From: Mark Ross
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 11:23 AM

Don't buy a new fiddle. There are old ones out there . Buy the best sounding one that you can afford!

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Which Starter Fiddle To Buy
From: wilco
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 03:09 PM

I have an acoustic music shop in East Tennesse USA, with about 150 fiddles in stock.
    In my area, there are many "fiddle contests" and festivals where there will be hundreds of used fiddles for sale, most priced within yoyr price range. Get someone to go with you and pick one out.
    If I were you, I'd get a new 100 series eastman, possibly a second with a finish flaw. Or a GVC set, out of Romania. The Eastman set is $425.00 plus shipping, and the GVC set is $325.00 plus shipping. If you get the GVC, I would include a pernabuco bow, for a total of $400.00, plus freight.

Steve Daugherty
Mountain Music Of Tennesee

Subject: RE: Which Starter Fiddle To Buy
From: pitheris
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 06:56 PM

IMO, for begining, the bow is probably more important than the fiddle.   It may take a few months to learn how to use the bow consistantly. It may take a year or more to begin to start to become proficent.

Subject: RE: Which Starter Fiddle To Buy
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 08:22 PM

One that is playable. Take a fiddler with you.

Subject: RE: Which Starter Fiddle To Buy
From: Nick E
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 08:55 PM

This is one reason I love Mudcat.

I do not have, or know how to play a violin/fiddle.
I do not plan to buy/learn to play one.
I know a few people I wsih had not bought nor "Learned" how to play one.
Despite that I read this thread and find it entertaining!
Thanks

Subject: RE: Which Starter Fiddle To Buy
From: Stewart
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 09:06 PM

Life was hard for the pioneers,

but every now and again,

someone would get out the fiddle

and make it all worse!


Cheers, S. in Seattle

actually I have 3 fiddles now
and 3 bows
One can never have too many fiddles and bows.

Subject: RE: Which Starter Fiddle To Buy
From: Stewart
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 09:09 PM

The last fiddle I was given free
spent $500 to restore it
and am really enjoying it
probably worth twice that amount

S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Which Starter Fiddle To Buy
From: Artful Codger
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 10:17 PM

Stewart, that's a good'n. Is it original?

East is east and west is west
And the wrong one I have chose.
Let's go where they scalp the hair
Of those who drag out fiddles and bows,
Rosin and strings and fiddles and bows.

(Apologies to Livinston and Evans)

Subject: RE: Which Starter Fiddle To Buy
From: Stewart
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 10:46 PM

Copied from a birthday card
my dear sister sent me.
(see my post above)

Then she added...

"keep on fiddling"

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Which Starter Fiddle To Buy
From: Stewart
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 11:07 PM

EDGAR – by Pam Ayres

Oh, don't sell our Edgar no more violins,
That dear little laddie of mine.
Although he's but eight, we'd prefer him to wait
For I doubt if he'll live to be nine.
He plays the same song, and it's sad and it's long
And when Edgar reaches the end
With his face full of woe, he just rosins the bow
And starts it all over again.

Now Dad he says Edgar's a right little gem,
It's only his face that looks bored.
It's really delight makes his face appear white
When Edgar scrapes out that first chord.
Daddy, of course, was filled with remorse
When Edgar came home from the choir
To find that his fiddle, well, the sides and the middle
Were stuffed down the back of the fire.

So don't sell our Edgar no more violins
When next he appears in your shop.
His daddy and me, well, we both do agree
That his fiddling will soon have to stop.
Sell him a clean or a filthy magazine,
Ply him with whisky or gin,
A teddy, a bunny, or just pinch the kid's money
But don't sell out Edgar no more violins.

Although it would be a mortal sin,
We'll do the little fiddler in,
Don't sell our Edgar no more violins.


Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Which Starter Fiddle To Buy
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 11:29 PM

Delight-full little bit of parental love there, S.! LOL! Wonder if my parents felt that way when I took it up at 8 years old.

Subject: RE: Which Starter Fiddle To Buy
From: Stewart
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 12:07 AM

Yes, my dear sister takes great delight in telling me
that she couldn't bear to listen to me play
when I took up the violin at age 8.

Hopefully, I've improved since then.

Cheers, S. in Seattle