April 2010

My new fiddle

April 14, 2010 08:53

Anybody wanna here about my new fiddle!? It's just a 2009 Czeck around the $1500.00 range. It seems I can never get past that $ range between mortages, raising kids and 2 divorces (oh well) but I've been thru considerable agony with it since I picked it up 6 weeks ago. I haven't had a passable accoustic for a few years, just a barcus berry and a yahma silent/electric for quiet practice that I got from a music store/guitar shop. Traded the yamaha in for the Czeck. I knew it was thin and on the bright side when I bought it, but gambled there was more in there. Fortunately, I was right. Had an excellent Luthier go to work on it. First off he shaved and shaped the finger board and had me play it before moving on to bridge and post. I couldn't beleive the difference re: the finger board, not only did it improve the sound (surprize) but what a treat to play with good intonation and easy playability. He used softer wood for the bridge to take the brightness/edge down more, cut a new sp and re-positioned it.

Then there were the strings, oh boy! I'm rather embarassed to say I went thru about $400.00 worth of strings trying to find the best set, settled on Pirastro new formula Tonica's w/ Infeld red pack gold E, at least until I get it played in.

Anyways, I can live with it now, fairly happy with it actually. I would describe it as clean and focused, easy to play, but with enough warmth and character to be listenable.

Violns eh? Drive you NUTS!

Thanks for listening.

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