random thread for fiddle people.

a starting question!

RE concerning opinions about bows, wood versus carbon/graphite.

i am in the market, and the store let us take home four for a trial week. i think that you really do get more bang for your buck with a composite bow, however a truly quality wood bow is absolutely magnificent. of the four, it just happened that two are composite. one is a Coda electric (tenchincally for electric violins, but it can work with a traditional one too), and a Cadenza prelude.  they are magnificent!

and wood purists out there?

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it's not so bad.

**before you get mad at someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Because then you will be a mile away, and you will have their shoes**

I don't know a thing about what you're explaining, but it's very edifying reading about it. I have always wanted to play the fiddle and it's next on my list, so discussions like this are going to be very helpful. Sorry I can't be of more assistance, but I do look forward to reading more posts like this!

Paula,

For the fiddle stars like Natalie MAcMaster (she's the only one I can authoritatively speak about - I actually played her fiddle!) At home she uses a composite bow with what is, I guess, synthetic strings. They were purple!

I once asked Wendy MacIssac (Natalie's cousin, Ashley's cousin and a member of Beolach) about buying an expensive bow. She said that once you get into the $500 bow range, there isn't much difference after that. She says that the only people who would notice are the concert violinists. And if you don't aspire to be a concert violinist, don't bother. I can't say for certain what she plays but sometimes, when you visit the artist's website, they say what they play - or look on the album. If it makes that much difference to you. I think I'm about ready for a more expensive fiddle now. I bought a cheap one from eBay for about $85 before I knew if I could do it well.

I do I want to continue to play, but I don't need a terrific instrument, just a decent one. Bows I had to try out before I decided what I wanted. Used the one that came with the fiddle from eBay and promptly got rid of it. The one I have now cost abour 2/3 the price of the fiddle!

*shrugs* Depends on whether it's going to be your livelihood or not, I guess. A music store owner once told me that an excellent viloinist can make a piece of crap violin sing. But a crappy violinist can make the most expensive violin sound like $.02.

Anne

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

Wood purist here. Composite schmosite. Now lets say you're playing ultra hard paganini stuff. Maybe, just maybe, that bouncy carbon bow is going to give you an edge. Not that Paganini needed one did he. For this celtic , folky, GBS stuff I think you lose the whole point by not going with a wooden bow. Get yourself a good pernambuco. Actually, get yourself two. I've broken bows in the past, but I still wouldn't go carbon.

GET THIS! apparently there are hybrid bows, a combination of composite carbon fiber and wood!

i have a new baby....

 

the way a hybrid is made is the core of the bow is made of carbon fiber, but then the outside is laminated with a wood. mine is laminated with  pernambuco wood. it plays like magic! the bow is quite literally my magic wand.

it has a mother of pearl inlay

with a silver wrap

 

and it has a great balance point.

the grip

i am a very happy fiddler!

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it's not so bad.

**before you get mad at someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Because then you will be a mile away, and you will have their shoes**

$500 for a bow?!   I'm glad I show no potential on fretless instruments!!

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http://mjbphotos.tripod.com
http://www.myspace.com/mikebirchmusic

It certainly looks like a very nice bow. Good luck with the Paganini!

 

just keeping the thread alive....

 

Anne, that is SO cool that you got to play Natailie's fiddle! Sheesh.... my teacher let me play with his blue bow once (carbon fiber, he got it specifically for out door events so that the wood wouldn't warp in our humid virginia!) and i was afraid to touch it after he told me the cost!

i have to say, it played wonderfully, it was SOOO light.

i would have to disagree on what Wendy MacIsaac said about the $500 range, my new bow is just a wee bit above that in price (we are not rich people, i went halvsies with my parents) and there is a significant diference between it and the bows that i have tried. the shop we went to had bows in the $3,000 price range (none of which i tried), however i am by no means a concert violinist, but can tell the differance between my bow, and those which my teachers use.

although, price is not everything. the first round of bows that i tried, i liked the cheapest one the best! its all about the maker, not the price tag. my fiddle is probably a fine example of that, it was $200 after we heckeld the rental shop to let us have it! and i love it's sound, very bright, and warm.

i definately agree that the instrument does not make the player. however i do believe that in the upper echelons of musicians, poor instruments can be limiting to a player's abilities. a friend of mine stpidly invested a large sum of money in a mail order instrument, and when he got it the sound posts were very distorted, making a terrible sound from the violin. the instrument had been crafted so poorly that it could not be fixed, and whenever he plays that instrument the sound is truely terrible, and he is a wonderful player!

 

and just for kicks...

this is a friend of mine from school, he is currently exploring the possibilities of electric violins. the piece he plays here is entirely self composed. the boy BETTER go to music school! *giggle* i was the camera person for this, so excuse any shaking on my part!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td5jcwehBEU 

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it's not so bad.

**before you get mad at someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Because then you will be a mile away, and you will have their shoes**

What an excellent performance!  Please pass along congratulations and encouragement for more music - a real talent imo.

here are two more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgaVJ_uIvms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyRMPayl0KI

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it's not so bad.

**before you get mad at someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Because then you will be a mile away, and you will have their shoes**

Paula - Where did you get the bow? I've been using a Premiere carbon fiber bow. I wanted to try a cf, and it was the cheapest one I could find (around $80). I like it (and it's taken a lot of use & abuse), but I'd like to go somewhere with a nice selection to try some others out.

I've been thinking about going electric, too. I've played the Fender, and it's just too heavy. I recently sat in with a band & borrowed their fiddler's Zeta SV24. I fell in love & decided I must have one...until I saw that they're over $2k. I'd love one, but I'm not ready to spend that kind of coinage!

LASHOF!!!!!

http://www.lashofviolins.com/

 they are a GREAT shop, with excellent customer service and great prices. they really take care of you, i know i am gushing but lets just say that i have found my new happy place .

i absolutely LOVE my hybrid bow, but i must say that the Coda is my choice in carbon fiber (though i admittedly haven't tried many others)

if you are looking for electric (btw Lashof also has a selection of electric) a good friend of mine SWEARS by this http://www.nedsteinberger.com/ . ALSO the best electrical that money can buy is really Wood Violins, but they are super pricey.

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it's not so bad.

**before you get mad at someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Because then you will be a mile away, and you will have their shoes**

ooo... double post, but Jefe, pray tell, what band did you sit with?

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it's not so bad.

**before you get mad at someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Because then you will be a mile away, and you will have their shoes**

ok, triple post. but really, who's couting?

i was wondering if anyone had information or an opinion concerning violin pick-ups, amps, and possibly recording equipment.

thanks!

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it's not so bad.

**before you get mad at someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Because then you will be a mile away, and you will have their shoes**

Fishman makes some really good pickups for acoustic instruments for both manufacturers and after market installations.  I'd recommend them for guitars and mandolins but I don't know how good their violin pickups are.  This link will take you to their violin pickups:

http://www.fishman.com/products/acoustic-instrument-pickups.asp

As for amps, I'd recommend going through a PA.  If you are looking for personal amplification there are many manufacturers out there who make amps specifically for acoustic instruments.  Try them out and pick one that suits your needs.

Recording equipment is a very different arguement that I won't even touch here.

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But I know I'm going to do it again!
Oh Yeah!
Robbie