Who decorates their fiddles?

Subject: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Marion
Date: 27 Apr 00 - 01:44 PM

Hello. I am from Lanark County, Ontario, and I keep a couple of hand-knotted ribbons hanging from my fiddle head. This is because the person who is my biggest influence (also from Lanark County) has a ribbon on his fiddle and he told me that lots of fiddlers tie ribbons or scarves onto their fiddle heads.

Now I live in Cape Breton, and a Quebecois fiddler I know here told me that he's seen it done in Ontario, but not in Quebec or Cape Breton.

So now I'm curious... do you decorate your fiddle, or have you seen others do so? If so, where are you or they from?

Marion

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: GUEST,JenEllen
Date: 27 Apr 00 - 02:26 PM

Marion:
I have hand knotted/beaded ribbons on the fiddle I use to play by myself. The fiddle I use to play in sessions with others has no decoration. I don't know why, probably because it tends to distract from the music a bit, but that's just how it goes..;)
My 'practice' fiddle is more for comfort than anything, and the ribbon was a gift from a friend who has died since. I can't seem to take it off, and don't really want to.
Let's see...I learned classical violin in California, Bluegrass fiddle in Indiana, and then more folk/C&W fiddle since I've moved out West. Each area has it's own flavour.
Thanks for the interesting topic, ~Elle

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Apr 00 - 02:29 PM

My "Maggie" wears a crow feather and a magpie feather wrapped together with red, white and black thread. And for holiday gigs, she wears curling ribbons in seasonal colors.

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Peg
Date: 27 Apr 00 - 04:16 PM

i know a young woman who plays stand-up bass and paints lovely designs on instruments, including her own...her partner is a percussionist and so there are many examples of her incredible work; she did one painting of a Green Man on a boudhran that has to be seen to be believed!

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: sophocleese
Date: 27 Apr 00 - 07:08 PM

Peg, what kind of paint does she use? I painted my guitar case and my husband's fiddle and banjo cases but haven't actually attempted to paint the instruments. I'd like to though but am worried about what paint to use.

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 27 Apr 00 - 09:09 PM

Painting a bass fiddle may not make much difference to the sound, but don't ever paint a violin unless it's a bad one and you're just going to use it as an electric!

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Ely
Date: 27 Apr 00 - 09:48 PM

A bunch of people I know put silk flowers, ribbons, ornaments, etc. on their dulcimers according to the season. I don't because I keep a pick bag hanging on the end (it looks like a Texas flag--I guess that could be a decoration). Got a pick bag on the guitar, too. I don't decorate it, although I do have a sentimental pick--too thin to use effectively but it's the one I used when I started learning and didn't know any better.

I painted my soft nylon guitar and dulcimer cases with the plastic-type T-shirt paint you get at hobby shops. I draw the design in white paint first and then do color over it, otherwise the color seeps into the nylon too much and won't show up (my guitar case is black). Works really well--flexible, brightly-colored, and waterproof.

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Peg
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 10:36 AM

hi; i think Violette uses acrylics cuz they dry faster...but i really am not sure, it may be oils...though i would think acrylics would affect the wood less than oil paint...

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 10:46 AM

I am definitely with Malcolm here--don't put paint on a good instrument!! Tie stuff on, sure, but leave the paint for cases, case covers, etc. Lord only knows what you would do the sound/finish of the instrument. I did once see a stand up bass that had a cowboy scene with windmills, cows, etc. wood burned into it. The whole picture wrapped all the way around the bottom of the instrument!

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 02:34 PM

When Mark O'Conner was a young kid, he used to carry around a white painted fiddle, which he decorated with autographs of famous fiddlers..I saw him get Byron Berline's, and there wasn't much space left on that instrument...I never DID see him try to play it, though....I suppose it was just a hobby thing..

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 02:39 PM

...and just on a hunch, I did a search on "white fiddle"....and back came the answer on Mark O'Conner's web site! he DID play the thing!

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: JenEllen
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 02:45 PM

I've seen the woodburning done before, it can be stunning. I only keep the beads on as decoration. It's 'Spar's' uniform anymore. A friend made the beads, and they have a tiny inscription reading:
"When I lived, I lived in the forest. When I died, I became the voice of the gods."

She needs nothing more. ~Elle

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: GUEST,Ole Bull
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 02:57 PM

I carve and decorate the Bridge, with ink, as was done in the old days. All other furnature I remove- metal tuners and neck/chin rests. Get rid of the chrome anachronisms that spoils the classic look.

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Bert
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 03:46 PM

I knew this fantastic Ud player in Bahrain and his Ud was covered with flowers, I asked for a closer look expecting to see some exquisite inlay work, but it was just some decals (transfers) that he'd stuck on it. I'll have to do that with a guitar one day.

As a matter of interest, In Bahrain the top of an Ud is often left unfinished and they clean 'em with sandpaper. Would horrify most Western Luthiers.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 04:43 PM

Ud= Oud? Like a lute? just curious.

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Bert
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 05:03 PM

Yep Ud is also spelled Oud, pronounced ood as in 'food'. Actually any English spelling is only an approximation as the word is Arabic which uses different characters. Like a lute but without frets and very lightly strung.

Our word lute comes from the Arabic 'Al Ud', Arabs would never say Ud on its own, it would always be 'Al Ud', Al being 'the'.

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 09:43 PM

Bert: I haven't seen a oud since the Gulf War. My father played violin, guitar piano and banjo. The only instrument I ever saw decorated war the banjo the skin had an exquisite india ink drawing of a Gypsy musician and dancer on it. I have seen painted guitars. Don't know about the sound though. Mine in sans decoration. The case bears bumper stickers and such but I do have a nylon soft case that has all the ports I saw in the navy on it in india ink. My friend has a banjo he puts the Civil War reenacmets he's attended on much in the manner the average soldier did in those days with battles etc. Reguards, Neil

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Rex
Date: 01 May 00 - 12:23 PM

The last place I played at, a cowboy fell over a table and my fiddle was decorated with beer. I sometimes decorate it a bit with whiskey but that tends to dull the finish. I did hear of a fiddle with these words on the back.
In Silv Va Silvi
Jam Mortua Cano Canora
I the forest, I was silent
Now dead I sing, Melodious

Rex

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: The Shambles
Date: 01 May 00 - 03:30 PM

Song about a chap who painted his fiddle blue. A Bumbling Englishman.

To be found in the Mudcat Songbook.

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: GUEST,Jim Paul
Date: 01 May 00 - 04:15 PM

This is SORT OF in the same vane. I play viola in a string quartet. I also like to drink beer. I found a 6-pack of bottled Celebrator beer. Then I had a wild idea with the emblem. The thing is just a little plastic goat rampant hanging from a string. Really cool. I saved the emblem, tied it around my peg, and passed the rest of them around one day, now we call ourselves The Double Bock String Qaurtet.

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: mactheturk
Date: 02 May 00 - 12:22 AM

John Hartford decorated the back of his fiddle with a phrase coined by Captain Whey,his favorite Steamboat Pilot. It reads....

"that a boy hardly heard out, understands this best, nothing is real but the River and all else is a sham".

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 02 May 00 - 03:20 AM

A fiddler in the S.F. bay area has a rubber frog attached to the scroll. I always thought it should be on the bow, on the part where you hold it, which is called the...

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Mooh
Date: 02 May 00 - 09:33 AM

No fiddle here, just a home made electric bass with a hand painted top by my (then) 7 year old of the sun rise/set over water. 'Often hang colourful bandanas from my guitars or straps in hot weather for the practical purpose of having something with which to wipe my hands and guitar. Another daughter made some lovely braids which hang from my oldest and dearest strap. Sentimental, eh! Don't think this is a regional affectation (I'm in Ontario), just some thing that happened. Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Dale Rose
Date: 02 May 00 - 10:50 AM

Recently I posted Henry Reed Fiddle Collection/184 tunes! about the Library of Congress site detailing (and I DO mean detailing) the influence of Henry Reed on old time fiddling.

But my main reason for posting is this great photo of Henry Reed and his older brother Josh, circa 1903. As it happens, Henry, who was 19 at the time, is playing the banjo in this old photo, so he is not the point of focus. Do check brother Josh's fiddle; it has what appears to be a white, or at least light colored, ribbon hanging from it. So the practice is certainly not a recent trend.

I'll have to add this to the list of things to discuss with our local folklorist, Dr. Bill, when I see him next.

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Ely
Date: 02 May 00 - 12:49 PM

When I took violin lessons as a small child (20 years ago), I had a little plastic Mickey Mouse figuring that stood--I think on the fiddlehead? I don't even remember, it was so long ago. My mom tried everything to get me to practice. Of course, the fingerboard was "decorated" with Chart-Pak tape, too ;-).

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: selby
Date: 02 May 00 - 02:39 PM

My 12 year old son has a cheap fiddle that we stripped down to the wood then painted white and finally added coulured paintings of Denis the Menace & Nasher (cartoon characters) it had a coat of acrylic varnish and the sound was not that bad. Keith

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Marion
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 06:42 PM

I just remembered this thread. A young Cape Breton fiddler told me that it's not uncommon for people to tie a ribbon of their family's tartan onto their fiddles.

I haven't seen this done yet, but I like the idea. Since I don't have a family tartan, I bought a piece of the Cape Breton tartan for my fiddle. It looks great.

Marion

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Bagpuss
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 07:45 AM

I painted a rubbish old guitar I used to have. It may have sounded awful, but it looked pretty good.

I think it was acrylic paint I used - anyways it was the paint my little brother used for painting his fantasy role-playing figures.

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Hardiman the Fiddler
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 08:13 PM

My fiddle has a very unusual design that is the purfling (if I spelled it right) that was part of the origninal design that the maker of the instrument designed. I wondered about this for quite some time, and took it to a local violin maker to ask him about it. He told me that Mr. Strativarius had a competitor; his name was Gaspar de Salo. Gaspar did not like it when his violins were mistaken for his competitor, so his hallmark was a fancy design that was put into the purfling on all his violins. Of course, mine is not an original. It is an inexpensive knock off imitation of German design from between 1880-1900. It has a glorious tone, and I guess it is somewhat rare. That's the decoration on my fiddle.

Hardiman the Fiddler

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 03:24 AM

I bought a fiddle this June with a decoration already on it. The maker (Bob Childs) put at the base two angels playing fiddles; his insignia.

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 11:38 AM

We certainly decorated up the MudCat guitar with our signatures, does that count?

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: GUEST,I decorate a dozen a year-take a look
Date: 09 Jun 01 - 10:19 PM

You can take a look at http://www.angelfire.com/md2/customviolins What do you think ?

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Jun 01 - 10:58 PM

I think they are wonderful---not just sure where the line between "decorate" and "customized" is, but I sure love your stuff! Glad you found a site to carry your pics,Don.

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 01:11 AM

Today I worked on a Wild Horses violin that has stampeding horses running from lightning that disappears by just tilting the violin.

The Golden eagle is still on hold but the tall ships with the sun in the water is going to be fantastic. The grain of the wood determines what will occur either with images or scroll work.

Now how do I make a link on this forum ?

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Justa Picker
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 01:23 AM

Custom Violins

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 01:26 AM

It's an HTML forum, you have to use <a href=whatever>. Go and look at the HTML section of the FAQ--the very first thread on the main forum page (it's Teal/Green).....It explains it much better than I ever could. Links don't automatically happen like on Maestronet, you have to open and close them.......

The FAQ thread will also tell you all kinds of other neat stuff too..........I'm so glad you are here, donuel. You can actually type words like cockatiel and use sarcasm without being censored. (Well, we do expect polite, adult behavior, but I don't see that as a problem with you, my friend, LOL! We don't have the nifty little icons so we have to use shorthand--you understand most of that, I'm sure)

Also, be sure to go to the Quick Links on the top right of the Main Forum page, choose Mudcat Resources, and you can find our e mails and photos......FAQ tells you how to do that too.

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From:
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 07:58 AM

Marion, the main people I see putting ribbons on, are the Acadian fiddlers. For instance, Robert Deveaux is one who does.

Where in Cape Breton are you? Lanark, isn't that the place or near there that the Leahy family are known?

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 10:15 AM

Thank you , Justa Picker (I see you are a prolific poster) and Sorcha . I see that there are posts that included David Rubio - man I empathize with - , and other subjects regarding violin innovations so there are obviously many here that are very well informed.
At Maestronet the well heeled players were so caught up in pedigree I fear some have fallen for the "Emporers new $14,000 clothes trick". Then there are fiddlers like Henry the Fiddler who was simply too (conservative) to even try one of my best fiddles regardless of a 30 day trial period. I am still looking to equip a leading fiddler with one of my creations , be it new or vintage in origin.

Its Sunday so I'm going to put on my Strength in Numbers CD with Edgar Meyers CD and make some waffles then set up a Super RED ruby violin with a midnight tiger on the back (its eyes gleam in the dark).

Are esoteric science or ancient history posts to be proceeded by BS ?

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 10:19 AM

The most unusual violins on Earth

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 02:40 PM

the Norwegians - they decorate their Hardanger fiddles

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Marion
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 10:30 PM

George, I was in Whycocomagh, but I've moved back to Ontario. Lanark County is in Eastern Ontario, not far from Ottawa; I don't know where the Leahys are from but I don't think it's here.

Cheers, Marion

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: Jenny the T
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 10:42 AM

I've got a friend who has a wonderful antique french fiddle; on the back is inlaid a little village scene, and around the perimeter a latin motto meaning "In life was silence, in death is music"

Inspired by that one, the last fiddle I finished (the one I'm currently playing; it's the best one I've ever done, and has a great sound)I did a bit of decorating myself prior to varnishing. As I play hardly anything but trad Irish tunes, I did a trinity knot (one of those Celtic interlaced knotwork thingies) in the center of the back, and round the perimter an Irish gaelic motto meaning "Let my voice lift the floor" (a step-dancer's saying, that). It turned out beautifully, if I do say so meself.

I'm almost to the point with another fiddle where I can start thinking of a decorative motif for it, too, but I don't want to use the same one twice.

JtT

Subject: RE: Who decorates their fiddles?
From: GUEST,MJ
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 11:46 AM

I thought the reason for putting a ribbon on your fiddle was to hang it on the wall. I always assumed this was common practice. Isn't this where the title of Tom Anderson's book comes from - "Hand Me Doon Da Fiddle" ?