Learner Fiddle: What to look for...

Subject: Learner Fiddle: What to look for...
From: Fortunato
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 11:09 AM

I'm thinking of taking up fiddling. I could use some advice.
As a guitar player I know the challenge of learning on a cheap guitar.
I don't know what a fiddle or bow needs to be to aid or at least, not confound learning.

Can anyone tell me what to look for in an "adequate" fiddle and bow.

thanks in advance
chance

Subject: RE: Learner Fiddle: What to look for...
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 11:47 AM

Hi Chance,

It's hard to sing and play the fiddle (at least at the same time).

I should bring one of my fiddles when I get up in the area for you to try. They're not the best but you could use one until you buy a better one.

I'm not an expert on fiddles but I like a horse-hair bow.

Take care say hi to Bob and Sue for me.

Richie

Subject: RE: Learner Fiddle: What to look for...
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 11:58 AM

Too much stuff. Get a fiddle player to go with you. I 'think' Pauline L is 'close' to you. Or snag Jeri when she comes down. Bridge, nut, pegs, sound post, tail piece fit and gut loop, ALL of it!

Bow...whole diff. game. Needs to tighten/loosen properly, have decent 'action' which you can't know about unless you've seen/felt it....balance, straight stick....

Subject: RE: Learner Fiddle: What to look for...
From: Grab
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 01:15 PM

Can anyone tell me what to look for in an "adequate" fiddle and bow.

Probably one that says "Rental: $10 per month" on the tag, unless you're well flush with cash...

Graham.

Subject: RE: Learner Fiddle: What to look for...
From: Mooh
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 01:16 PM

Get a copy of the Fiddler's Fake Book and other fiddle titles, subscribe to Fiddler and Strings magazines, listen to as much fiddle music as you can, and pay someone reputable respectable money to teach you at least the basics. A sympathetic accompanist, especially if they also play fiddle, is helpful.

PM me and I will email you some instrument basics, ie what to look for in the instrument and bow themselves...it's too much to retype!

Good luck!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Learner Fiddle: What to look for...
From: Mooh
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 01:18 PM

Oops, forgot to mention also that Sing Out Magazine has a regular fiddle column...

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Learner Fiddle: What to look for...
From: Mooh
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 01:57 PM

www.thesoundpost.com has a sort of "care and feeding" article designed for the player which might be helpful.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Learner Fiddle: What to look for...
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 02:09 PM

Chance old friend, let me tell you exactly what you need. Get a fiddle with no strings and a bow with no hair. Wrap a towel around the fiddle then just commence sawing away while little pink digits fly over the fingerboard. If you like the sound it will be the last one you ever have to buy! If you think it isn't loud enough, think again. Sounds good to me!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Learner Fiddle: What to look for...
From: Fortunato
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 03:12 PM

thanks, all

Ritchie, thanks for the offer, if you get up this way let me know. Say we bought a house in Asheville, so maybe we'll see you? I'll say hey to the Hitchcocks.

Sorcha, thanks, I'll chat with Pauline or Jeri.

Grab, yeah but I was hoping to borrow one for free (not that I'm cheap or anything...)

Mooh, I'll pm you, thanks.

"Spaw" old gas bag. are you still extant? good to see your typing.
Yeah I was thinking of getting a picture of one and pasting it on the front of my J45, probably as close as I'll come to playing one.

Subject: RE: Learner Fiddle: What to look for...
From: Mooh
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 11:28 PM

See also www.gregdahms.ca ...he's the guy who set up my Eastman bow to sound so much better than more expensive bows.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Learner Fiddle: What to look for...
From: GUEST,Calum
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 09:35 AM

As a music teacher (not fiddle) and a learner (of fiddle) this is one of the hardest questions to give advice on. Of course, you don't want an instrument that isn't well made and easy to play. On the other hand, you don't want to spend money that you wouldn't get any benefit from.

I went with a starter instrument from Stringers in Edinburgh (they are mainly about classical string players, but with the number of folkies in Edinburgh they know what they are talking about there too). For about £80 plus postage, IIRC, I got a Chinese built fiddle with a decent case and a bow. Bow and fiddle were set up and the chap I was taking advice from was pleasantly surprised at the quality (and that is what he had advised me to go for). The violin itself is pretty decent, well set up and the original strings lasted for ever (sadly, no-one knew what they were!). The bow is probably the weakest link and I'm thinking of a better one, but a slightly better bow isn't a major expense.

Cheers,
Calum

Subject: RE: Learner Fiddle: What to look for...
From: Bernard
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 08:11 PM

One advantage in buying a more expensive instrument is that you're more likely to be able to get back nearly what you paid for it if you end up having to sell... assuming you looked after it properly, of course!

It's usually better buying second hand rather than new for much the same reason.

Simple rules for buying if you can't find someone experienced enough to help you... and this applies to 'new' and used alike.

Look for obvious signs of damage, excessive wear, or evidence of repairs. The latter is usually obvious from a change in colour of the finish, or a tell-tale line where a new piece of wood has been spliced in.

Check the neck isn't warped by looking carefully along it from both ends - though an experienced eye is more likely to spot problems, you can judge reasonably well by looking at how the end profiles compare.

Unless you understand sound posts, seek advice from one who knows (unless it's obviously rattling around inside!),

Good bows tend to be expensive, so a cheap one is probably false economy. Like Sorcha said, 'balance, straight stick'...

Whilst strings are relatively straightforward to change, they aren't all that cheap. You would normally expect a seller to have re-strung a used instrument prior to offering it for sale.

Subject: RE: Learner Fiddle: What to look for...
From: Mooh
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 10:19 PM

Never thought I'd say this, but there are some decent fiddles coming out of China under the Eastman name. Many have been pretty good quality, sound, and price.

I'm still partial towards my Wolff Bros. (1888, Germany) left by my grandfather.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Learner Fiddle: What to look for...
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 10:56 PM

I have an old German one my father was bought second hand in the 1920s.

Subject: RE: Learner Fiddle: What to look for...
From: Peter T.
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 10:42 AM

Check out: http://www.stringsmagazine.com/issues/strings96/coverstory.html

They seem to have the straight dope.

yours,

Peter T.