Hi! Newbie here...

So I recently bought my first non-beginner fiddle (squee!). It's German-made, estimated around 1900s. Named him Buck... and Buck, he's been through the ringer a time or two- or ten. His edges are worn (literally) and rough, and I'm guessing a previous owner played a lot without a shoulder rest as the varnish on lower back is pretty much completely gone. The varnish is also scuffed around the feet of the bridge.

I bought him, though, because he had a nice, mellow sound - the best of all the fiddles in my price range that I tried. (A new fiddle with a decent sound was twice the price...! I brought my instructor along for the shopping, and she was in agreement regarding his sound so I don't think I'm off-track here at least.) I've since realized he also has a narrow neck compared to many newer ones, which is nice since it's much easier to reach notes on the G string than it was on my beginner model.

I don't really mind that he looks a bit rough, but I've since started to worry about how fragile he may be since he already has so much damage.

My question is this - is there anything I can or should be doing (or should have the luthier do) to help ensure he doesn't fall apart on me? That won't mess up his tone? So far the only thing I've done to him is have fine tuners installed.

Or am I worrying for no reason?

As long as you and the instructor agree about the sound, I would be pleased.

Yes, take it to a luthier to check the seams and bridge, soundpost - the usual set-up items.

Welcome to Fiddle Hangout!

some of the early violins were made with a narrow neck were called lady violin and that is why the neck is narrow. it should be checked over by a luthier and any thing that needs to be repaired fixed at that time. ladys fingers are more narrow then most mens fingers thats about all i know from reading posts on FHO may need new strings have the luthier check things out to make sure there good

I would just set it up and play it for a few months before I made any decision on rebuilding. Doing that would bring to the surface any weaknesses no readily visible. Some folks say that a reputable builder would not recommend refinishing it. Worn out looiing fiddles are cool just look through the Strad magazine all the brand new fiddles look 200 years old! All that missing varnish is "streed creds" kind of like a worn out fray edged bible, you know it was used and not collecting dust.

If you think about it, if its made it this far its probably actually pretty sturdy. My first violin, purchased about 1974 had had the neck broken out of it at some point and seemed fragile to me (also has a slightly narrow neck) and I was afraid to put steel strings on it, so I tried learning on gut strings. I eventually set it aside for a long time, and the seams did come apart due to the old glue. I had it put back together and used it in some shows, but I always seemed finicky to tune. This winter I finally had new pegs installed, and solved that problem - its held up to steel strings for years.

I'd say you could have a luthier look at it if you're really worried or just play it and watch for cracks developing or seams opening. If you bought it from a reputable shop or dealer did you ask if they'd checked out its condition?

Edited by - DougD on 08/09/2012 15:19:28

Thank you all!

The luthier is the shop owner where I bought the fiddle, so, unless I completely misunderstood him, he'd already checked it out?

quote:

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Originally posted by richdissmore

some of the early violins were made with a narrow neck were called lady violin and that is why the neck is narrow.

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 Cool I never knew that!

My old fid has a narrow neck like that too. It works for me because I do have small hands. Congrats on getting Buck! I name my instruments, too.

Without knowing what you asked the shop owner I can't say if you misunderstood him, but if he said the instrument is sound, then it seems silly to take it back to him for a checkup. I'd just play it and keep an eye on things.

If you bought it from a luthier, then it's already been checked out.

I've got two that are each over a hundred years old, both have been around the block a bunch of times, and they both stand up to crosstuning and steel strings just fine! I'm also a somewhat aggressive player, and am known to literally "play drums with the bow" on the strings, and they both take the punishment just fine.

Now, having said that, I have another old'un I had just had set up that I put under my chin, started to play . . . and heard that sound that will stop the heart of ANY fiddler . . . .

CRACK!

And sure enough, there were two cracks on either side of the neck block on the fiddle face. Yes. I cried. What fiddler wouldn't? Older fiddles are a bit of a crapshoot, but they sound so good, and many will do you just fine.

Edited by - bj on 08/10/2012 12:01:37

And I'd say that's just about the safest person to get your fiddle from... the luthier.

When I was just a young idiotic set-uper and was restringing my fiddle I forgot to angle the bridge and POW! bridge collapsed forward. The violin was really old too, but thankfully there was no damage. Since then I have made a clever little adjustable tool that I place between the bridge and the bottom of the neck to keep that from happening while the string tension grows. Ever since that happened I hate restringing violins. I squeeze my eyes shut and look away and hope a string doesn't pop me in the face.

Terribly sorry for you bj! Shoot, my heart stopped just reading that!  What ever happened to the old fiddle after that?

It's sitting on the fiddle tree waiting for me to get good enough to fix it myself. I'm not there yet and don't yet have the tools for that repair. And I have three other fiddles that are playable, and a bunch that aren't playable now but that ARE within my skill level to fix.

Wow, BJ, that must have been horrifying!

I'd be crushed!

I wasn't a happy camper when our scrapping boys smashed up one acoustic guitar, then was rewarded later by the other son busting the neck clean off a strat clone that played well...  kids!

Haven't ever had one break on me..  knock on wood!

Hope you get 'er fixed up one of these days...

rc