My new fiddle

April 14, 2010 at 3:53 PM

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.

From SAM MIHAILOFF
Posted on April 14, 2010 at 5:18 PM

GO DAVE

From Jefferson Dixon
Posted on April 14, 2010 at 11:27 PM

When finding my current fiddle, one of the top contenders was a Czek violin from early 1900's (i think?) It was at 9k but had pretty similar qualities. Very smooth and focused. I ended up getting a French violin with more character to it ;)

Congrats!

From Dave Snow
Posted on April 15, 2010 at 5:28 AM

Thanks Jefferson: is that your French in your member photo? Cool photo! I was thinking about trying some Pro Arte's on it after I get it broke in more to maybe take it down a bit more, and then I read a post by Marsha Weaver who said she just put some Arte's on her "somewhat boisterous" 1900-ish German, so that clinched the Arte try-out for me (thanks Marsha)

Trouble is, strings that can sound a bit aggresive under chin can be as good or better 20 feet away to the listener, so then you have to find someone to play your strings for you. It can get to be a bit much! That could be a whole 'nother topic. Anyone else with opinions on that? I think I tend to lean toward what sounds good under chin.

From Dave Snow
Posted on April 16, 2010 at 10:30 AM

So anyways...I went ahead and put some Pro Arte's on, didn't really work exept for the D. Here's a good laugh for anyone who sees this... I've got so many sets of strings now, the Czeck is colorfully dressed out with; Tomastic titanium solo G, Pro Arte D. Tonica A, and an Infeld red pack gold E. I've probably just lost any credibility I may or may not have had on this site.

But curiously enough, they all balance with each other fairy well, sounding like I want them to, and they all feel good with the bow. I wonder if there's anyone else out there currently playing and staying with 4 different strings, or if they would admit it if they were?

The other possibility is that I've gone completely fiddle crazy and I don't know what I'm doing anymore. Are there tests for that? Anyone else been there?

From SAM MIHAILOFF
Posted on April 16, 2010 at 12:41 PM

not with strings anyway...mutes YES

strings; have used Eudoxa's and Olivs for as long as dirt has been around

From Dave Snow
Posted on April 16, 2010 at 4:41 PM

Sam; I used Eudoxa's for several years in my younger days, before there were millions of different strings on the market. Who remembers those good old days? Obviously you do (no offence intended) But I haven't revisited them for ages.

But NUTS! now the Infeld red pack gold E is whistleing where it wasn't before I tried this crazy kooky set, and I really liked that E. And it was almost working...honest! The fiddle gods are punishing me for being so outlandish. Maybe back to the drawing board...

From SAM MIHAILOFF
Posted on April 16, 2010 at 10:38 PM

Davem

I didn't say I have not tried other brands of strings...I have indeed but like the Eudoxas & Olivs the best...Unless we begin talking of electrics...that's an entirely different chat...for my 1978 Barcus Violectra I do not use gut strings...ditto for my Yamaha EV-204

From Dave Snow
Posted on April 16, 2010 at 11:15 PM

yup, I figured you've been around the string block a few times but settled on Eudoxa/Oliv's. They're nice, at least I can speak for Eudoxa's, never tried Oliv's but I imagine they're generally similar. I like talking strings. Maybe a bit of a waste of time as every set is different on every fiddle. But to my thinking, if the set up is good, the right strings can put the Crowning Glory on a violin, and I enjoy listening to other players trials & triumphs with their strings.

Thus I will continue my rant to anyone who is the least bit interested. As per my last exciting installment: the Infeld red pack gold E started to whistle so... I pulled out the biggest gun that I know of...it's big...it's bad...it's heavier gauge...it's a Westminster E! Not shrill by any means, delivers a round smooth punch, especially if you're a little thin on the high end like my little Czeck maid tends to be. On the right fiddle with the right strings, this bad boy can really sing for his supper. That's all Westminster does...make E's. Try one if you dare!

From Jefferson Dixon
Posted on April 17, 2010 at 3:04 AM

My photo is of the Frenchie. Just a little photoshop and I made my icon photo =)

Ah, I know a few people who have odd mixes of strings. Although, most people end up using D G and A from the same set and E from another choice. The Lenzer Gold Brokat E is a wonderful string that is growing tremendously in popularity. For the GDA I would just say Pirastro Obligato for warmer sound and Pirastro Evah Pirazzi for more brilliant. Or maybe you're more of a mellow, Dominant kind of person? Those 3 are by far the best and most popular. You can't go wrong with the Lenzer for the E.

I think a Czech violin would be Dominants or obligatos? I can imagine the Pirazzis being too harsh on a bright instrument. Same could happen with the Dominants.

Good luck!

From SAM MIHAILOFF
Posted on April 17, 2010 at 3:18 AM

Try one if you dare!???????????? NO NEED...I'm happy

From Dave Snow
Posted on April 17, 2010 at 8:28 AM

Hello Jefferson; speaking of photo shop, I've got to get it programed & learn it now, as I got some poster photo's taken the other night and got to add text to them.

I have a gold brokat sitting in my string drawer, but it didn't seem to have enough oomph with this lower end Czeck, or perhaps it was with the wrong G,D,A. That's why I like the westminster, it's pretty powerful but not harsh. Sometimes if you find an E you really like you have to try and match the other 3 to it. I can't abide a weak thin E, but a weak E seems problimatic on lower end fiddles, and unforunately I have lots of experience with lower end fiddles.

But you're right about Dominats/obligato's (this fiddle couldn't handle Evah's) For any Dominant fans out there I would highly recommend trying Pirastro Tonica, very like Dominants but better in many ways in my opinion. Warmer, quite a bit more character I think, not as mettallic, but they still have almost as much power and projection as Dominants. I may go back to full Tonica's. The only reason I put the heavier G,D on is I can dig my bow into them better for busking. The kooky combo still sounds pretty good, but I am suffering somewhat on real good tone quality and almost perfect balance with the full Tonica's.

All you folks out there who can afford fine instruments that don't need to be doctored should really count your blessings, yes?

Thanks for the reply Jefferson.

From Dave Snow
Posted on April 17, 2010 at 10:01 PM

I think i might be talking to myself pretty soon here, none the less I will press on with the adventures of my brand new Czeck. a miracle just happened. I admit it, I went tempoarily insane with the kooky set, what was I thinking, but I'm feeling much better now. I put the Tonica G,D, & A back on. At this point I was desperate for an E. I got 'em all out. I've tried 'em all except one, it was a D'Addario Zyex. That's when the miracle happened. Not only was the Zyex real sweet, after 10 minutes of playing it in, it turned the other 3 Tonica's sweet. Real Sweet. I could hardly beleive my ears, sweet as..as... my Mom's homemade fudge. I can't call this fiddle bright or edgy or nuthin' like that anymore. I'M DONE. Thank you Thank you Harold Lorenz and the other 6 guys who probably helped put it togther in Luba, Czech Rebublic. Special thanks to Ross Hill, Luthier extrordinaire who saved it from mediocrity or worse, might as well thank Tonica's & Zyex while I'm at it. And thank you all for bearing with me in my first (any maybe last) Blog.

From SAM MIHAILOFF
Posted on April 18, 2010 at 12:31 AM

maybe last Blog.

TOO LATE...YOU'RE HOOKED

From Joyce Lin
Posted on April 21, 2010 at 2:56 PM

Congratulations, Dave! Wish you many happy years with the new fiddle!

Do you mind me asking - was the setup change part of the deal, or did you have to pay extra for it (if so, how much)? I'd like to find out because I recently went through a similar violin shopping experience, and ended up having my luthier perform some major surgeries on my existing violin instead. I would like to know whether it's a common practice that luthiers do these works for their customers when they purchase the violin, or they were being super nice. Thanks!

Edit: I posted my question here in the discussion forum. Please respond there instead. Thanks!

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