bosco - Posted - 10/02/2007:  06:42:27

The post officer knocked on my door this morning with a big box from Canada. Yes, it's here!!

Sorry the picture can't tell how well it's made. It's a museum piece.
I strung it up and tried to figure out how to hold it, then pull my bow. Oh,no! I couldn't make any noise out of it....I struggled with it a couple of hours. And this is what I sound like on Day 1.
Sugar in the Gourd
Bosco


Konnichiwa, arigato, sayonara

Edited by - bosco on 10/03/2007 01:25:20

fiddlebob - Posted - 10/02/2007:  09:57:23

Sounds pretty good to me. Where did you find such a thing.?

fiddlebob

I never will be real good, but, I ain't as bad as I was!

Midwest_Fiddler - Posted - 10/02/2007:  10:24:50

Now that's old-time! Good work Bosco. You should post a picture of how you have figured out how to hold this beast.
What strings did you put on it and what's the tuning? I am guessing it's lower that standard.
Congratulations on getting a really unique instrument.
Chirps

bsed - Posted - 10/02/2007:  21:22:04

Now I want to hear Jenny Get Around on that thing.
Just kidding!

Seriously, the sound you get is really something! I mean, it sounds like you're French Carpenter's Dad (was that Solly?) in early the 19th century.
You should consider coming over to the states & find a park in, say, West Virginia that does living history, and you would portray a historical fiddler figure from 1805.
(Actually, that's how I met my wife at a camp like that....I portrayed Mike Fink, a historical figure from 1805 along the Ohio River, & I played fiddle for the kids that came to see me. I doubt that Mr. Fink was a fiddler however.

But keep working on that sound! You're onto a good thing.

"I can, and do, cut my own hair."
-Dwight Shroot

BanjoBrad - Posted - 10/02/2007:  21:46:51

Really nice, Bosco - both the sound of the fiddle and your playing!


Banjo Brad
www.PricklyPearMusic.net
ezFolk Page
Tucson Old Time Music Circle on ezFolk Page

gailg64 - Posted - 10/02/2007:  22:49:16

That's really wonderful Bosco---I've heard fiddlers speak disparagingly of gourd fiddles, but this one actually sounds like a fiddle--waaaay back in the old days. Canada? Did Jeff Menzies make it?
Gail

quote:

---

Originally posted by bosco

The post officer knocked on my door this morning with a big box from Canada. Yes, it's here!!

Sorry the picture can't tell how well it's made. It's a museum piece.
I strung it up and tried to figure out how to hold it, then pull my bow. Oh,no! I couldn't make any noise out of it....I struggled with it a couple of hours. And this is what I sound like on Day 1.
Sugar in the Gourd
Bosco


Konnichiwa, arigato, sayonara

---

bosco - Posted - 10/03/2007:  02:04:34

Heeah, you guys like it?
Yes, it's made by Jeff Menzies. He is a master gourd and tackedhead banjo maker from Tronto.

I hold it against chest, which is my default position. But once it starts to rotate, greeee....I can't keep it there no more than 2 min.

The bow is a Nepari Sarangi bow. I think it looks good with gourd fiddle for the picuture
I put Pirastro Chorda on it and tune one and a half step below. I wanted to find the synthetic substitute for bare gut stirngs. I ask Aquila if they have Nylgut for baroque violin. But they said Nylgut doesn't work for bowed instruments.

bsed,
Thanks for sharing the story. I'm impressed. Do they hire oriental person for the historical fiddler? Or I should pretend the Cherokee fiddler

Speaking of old sound, are there any archaic recordings of gourd fiddle?
Bosco

Konnichiwa, arigato, sayonara

Edited by - bosco on 10/03/2007 03:09:25

ladymuse - Posted - 10/03/2007:  03:16:06

Hey! This is Jenny!
I get around! - and you send it to me and I'll play jenny get around!!! (LOL!)

Why wouldn't they hire you? They were pulling people from the ships on both coasts for labourers and help - and beginning railroads -
you can always go to California (tune - off to california)

I once saw a chest rest -(foam piece that was an over the shoulder job - (like baby spit up towel) that had a firm foam cut out at the bottom
that cradled it, yet gave it a flat surface -(very similiar stringed (3) thing.

Looks like the pancake grip for you!!!!

Jen

bosco - Posted - 10/03/2007:  07:25:56

Chest rest, that sounds nice whatever it is.
The pancake grip doesn't work for me. I have small hand.
Bosco

Konnichiwa, arigato, sayonara

jeffmenzies - Posted - 10/03/2007:  08:39:52

Sounds great Bosco!!! It was a fun and a trying piece to make..but we stood strong and I think we may have won the battle.. I was real pleased with it overall...cant wait for the next.. I have made a gourd cello and an upright gourd bass...and I gotta say the mechanics on this were far more demanding. Fiddle on Bosco!!

Jeff Menzies

www.jeffreymenzies.com