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RE: July Roll Call - 7/3/2013 10:36:36 AM

MistressDarkArt

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OMG! The beach violin is here and she's spectacular! I was up past midnight playing her in. If she sounds this good brand new, I can't imagine how she'll develop with a few months of playing <shudders>.

Here's the custom chin-rest. It's wormwood maple, so the little holes (built-in ventilation!) are natural. To me it looks like it was cut from driftwood...perfect for the beach theme.

And if that's not enough wonderful goodness, Huck's on the way so we can spend the 4th together, and he's bringing fresh dungeness for dinner tonight. Life is good!

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< Message edited by MistressDarkArt -- 7/3/2013 10:39:08 AM >

(in reply to ShaharThorne)

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RE: July Roll Call - 7/3/2013 11:41:03 AM

piccante

Posts: 52
Joined: 10/3/2012
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My violin is nothing special. It's an entry level violin my parents bought for cheap for me when I was 10 or so. They, and I, were unsure at the time if I wanted to keep on playing, despite having lessons since I was 5. They weren't willing to drop much money on a fiddle for a slightly wayward child, so my violin cost all of £20 and only sounds halfway decent with a mute on it. Without it, it sounds tinny as all get out. As it goes, I've now been playing for 20-odd years, but having only just recently graduated and left student life behind for a decent job, now is the first time I've been able to contemplate something better, much as I love and am attached to my current one. (Despite the questionable sound!)

I used to play a lot of classical music for the sake of music grades, but then I joined a trad. Scots band and started playing with them at ceilidhs, wedding dances and funerals. I've pretty much left classical music behind in favour of trad. and bluegrassy-type music, although my work has taken me away from the Highlands so I can't play with my band any more. These days, I can usually be found in my local pub, sawing away with a bunch of other enthusiastic amateurs.

< Message edited by piccante -- 7/3/2013 11:43:40 AM >

(in reply to MistressDarkArt)

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RE: July Roll Call - 7/3/2013 12:21:51 PM

MistressDarkArt

Posts: 5178
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Pic, sometimes the entry level violins can be salvaged with replaning the arching, relocating the soundpost, and restringing with something that suits that particular violin. After much expensive research with cast-off strings lying about all over the house, I've found helicores to be the most versatile on different violins. If you have a tinny/too bright sounding instrument, Larsen Tziganes can give you that gypsy jazz Stephane Grappelli sound. At $54+ a pop though, they're on the dear side and don't last as long as the helis.

Sounds to me like you're sufficiently invested in your playing that you deserve something delightful. I bought the cheap Chinese fiddles just for fun, and to take around to gigs where the American Star might get stolen or damaged. Little did I know with proper set-up/adjustment they would be excellent. I believe for well under $500 you'll be able to find something satisfying that will serve you the rest of your life.

< Message edited by MistressDarkArt -- 7/3/2013 1:02:32 PM >

(in reply to piccante)

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