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doneinstyle.com
Playing Since: 2007
Experience Level: Purty Good
bj has made 97 recent additions to Fiddle Hangout 
Interests:
[Jamming] [Socializing] [Helping]
Occupation: Web Developer
Gender: Female
Age: 57
My Instruments:
My main fiddle is a hard used but wonderfully sounding D. Salzard that's about 130 years old, with a one piece back to die for, and appears handmade. My second fiddle is a very early Suzuki Nippon that looks like it was repaired by a backyard body mechanic with Bondo and epoxy, but manages to sing quite nicely. And I have an early 20th c. German Strad which is plain-plain-plain until you put the bow to her, when she turns into Cinderella at the Ball, with Dark Rich Tone. And I've got a 4th fiddle that's a german trade fiddle, a project I am currently working on, and a 5th that's a german trade, probably a Mittenwald, that needs work that I picked up recently at the flea market. I've also got a couple basket cases that came in recently. One's repairable, an amateur made fiddle from New York, but it needs the whole pegbox/scroll grafted. The other is for parts.
Favorite Bands/Musicians:
First and Foremost, the Gypsy King himself, Stefane Grapelli,
Stuff Smith,
John Hartford,
April Verch,
Regina Carter,
Joe Venuti,
Buddy Thomas,
Chubby Wise,
Owen Chapman,
Dwight Lamb,
Liz Carroll,
Tommy Jarrell,
Lester McCumbers,
Elmer Rich.
Snake Chapman,
Ed Haley,
Jehile Kirkhuff
Classified Rating: +1
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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 4/13/2008
Last Visit 2/3/2012
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Monday, September 26, 2011 @5:05:19 AM
I've really been wanting to get the tension out of my left hand and finally figured out a way to do it. Instead of grasping the neck with the contact point on my thumb near the joint, I've moved the contact point so it's at the very tip of my thumb.
The result is amazing.
I can't GRASP the neck, not in the same way. I have enough of a hold so that the fiddle doesn't move, but now my neck hold is much more relaxed. And because there's no tension in the thumb, there is now no tension in my other fingers. I've already found that playing fast is easier. I imagine that once I get this ingrained as a habit (that's what I'm now working on) that I'll be able to play for longer periods and not experience as much fatigue and cramping.
In other news, I bought another instrument yesterday. It isn't a keeper, though some might argue it should be. It's an amazing german violin with a delicately carved scroll, a u shaped ebony inset on the button, masterful purfling, a ribbed e peg, and lovely, lovely wood with a really attractive golden blonde finish that's mellowed to the color of honey. This one was obviously made by a top craftsperson. Why isn't it a keeper? It's already told me it's a violin, not a fiddle, and in no uncertain terms. It doesn't sing my song.
If it doesn't sell at the market within a couple days, I'll most likely be posting it in a classified ad here on the hangout. The only thing it needs is a bass side saddle crack repair, and the setup done since the bridge that came with it is inappropriate, and the tailgut looks like it's a guitar string.
Recent Forum Posts
Scolding Wife, Hoof It, Little River Stomp, Brazos Bottom Rag (4 days ago)
Left Hand Position (4 days ago)
Wound E or not? (4 days ago)
New Tune Game (Part 4) (4 days ago)
Combating Frustration (4 days ago)
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Oldtime Crosstuners of the Northeast
Middle Appalachian Fiddlers
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Jean Tabary
Prism (Carbon Fiber Bow)
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