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Lee M - Posted - 12/22/2014: 15:13:38
I've spent a considerable amount of time searching for an UGLY fiddle.. I don't want to refinish it, but rather, want to just get it playable and hopefully, will hear how it sounded just before the last owner put it in its case.. This Bergonzi is that fiddle for me.. Show us YOUR ugly fiddle..
fiddlinsteudel - Posted - 12/22/2014: 15:26:08
I used to have a fiddle I bought for 25 bucks, left it abroad accidently ... still haven't found a replcaement ...
bandsmcnamar - Posted - 12/22/2014: 16:09:07
I don't own this one any more, a friend wanted one to hang on a wall in his tavern. This came out of an antique store, and I strung it up and honestly it didn't sound too bad. It's relegated to be something to look at these days, along with several other instruments my friend has. His business is in Afton, Ia, which is located on Hwy 34. They used to call Hwy 34 the "The Bluegrass Road", because grass seed was produced around there in mass quantities. Thus the need for acoustic instruments to hang on the walls.
Lee M - Posted - 12/22/2014: 16:30:19
quote:
Originally posted by bandsmcnamar
I don't own this one any more, a friend wanted one to hang on a wall in his tavern. This came out of an antique store, and I strung it up and honestly it didn't sound too bad. It's relegated to be something to look at these days, along with several other instruments my friend has. His business is in Afton, Ia, which is located on Hwy 34. They used to call Hwy 34 the "The Bluegrass Road", because grass seed was produced around there in mass quantities. Thus the need for acoustic instruments to hang on the walls.
Yep.. Ugly, but obviously played and loved..!!
Pantagruel7 - Posted - 12/22/2014: 18:22:51
Words barely suffice. I bought this at a junk shop in the early 1970s.
Lee M - Posted - 12/22/2014: 18:24:45
quote:
Originally posted by Pantagruel7
Words barely suffice. I bought this at a junk shop in the early 1970s.
Are you playing it? It looks like it has potential..!
ChickenMan - Posted - 12/22/2014: 21:17:31
I have two that are like late night bar hook ups - look pretty good from a distance and when the lights are low but when you're up close and personal with it YIKES
phiddlepicker - Posted - 12/23/2014: 03:30:34
Thass a uglee fiddle....none of mine can compete.
Mojohand40 - Posted - 12/23/2014: 06:52:29
This one is kind of ugly.....but the CASE...now, the case is very ugly. Faded brownish and tan canvas with bright green interior.
I got this in a trade awhile back. Put on some prims and fitted a bridge myself. It needs new pegs, or at least will one day. Label says Made in West Germany. There was some receipts in the case for strings and such, that make me think this one was made in the late 50's, possibly early 60's. I had a luthier look at it once and he said it wasn't bad, but not worth a lot.
Not a bad player, not as much volume as I would want, but a pretty good old time sound with scrunch.
Pantagruel7 - Posted - 12/23/2014: 07:47:34
quote:
Originally posted by Lee Mysliwiec
quote:
Originally posted by Pantagruel7
Words barely suffice. I bought this at a junk shop in the early 1970s.
Are you playing it? It looks like it has potential..!
I take it out of it's case on Halloween to scare away the trick-or-treaters.
Dick Hauser - Posted - 12/23/2014: 08:24:47
I once owned a physically ugly fiddle. I spent evenings sitting in front of the TV slowly rubbing Hill's cleaner in small circles. When I was done, and all the accumulated "crud" was gone, I was astonished. The fiddle did not have a blemish. Minor adjustments by a luthier and a new set of strings and everything was fine. That happened when I had just started playing fiddle, and was swapped during my search for the "magic" fiddle that would solve my playing problems.
Edited by - Dick Hauser on 12/23/2014 08:25:12
Mojohand40 - Posted - 12/23/2014: 08:50:01
I once took a weekend workshop from Andy Edmonds (great Old Time fiddler who learned from Benton Flippen, and played guitar etc in Benton's band for a few years).
His fiddle had a few cracks, and various dings, stains etc. Really looked "well loved" as my wife would say. We were talking about instruments and he remarked that to him one of the really amazing things about fiddles is they are probably the only musical instrument that "can be on the verge of exploding or falling apart and still play and sound great".
Lee M - Posted - 12/23/2014: 11:55:48
Erik, why is the Fingerboard white???
EricBluegrassFiddle - Posted - 12/23/2014: 12:24:51
quote:
Originally posted by Lee Mysliwiec
Erik, why is the Fingerboard white???
I stripped it and pulled it's britches off......
I took the black paint off of the fingerboard so my fingers would slide better.....white as a ghost underneath. I don't guess it's any kind of Ebony LOL
ChickenMan - Posted - 12/25/2014: 13:18:03
Here is my least attractive fiddle. It is a Maginni copy from some Sebastian Gouz, Note the lovely brown color and the fancy purfling. It has a great tone and prefers dry wintry atmosphere to humid summer.
Lee M - Posted - 12/25/2014: 13:51:31
Yes, Billy, that is pretty ugly.. Maybe it could use a little more rosin dust around the bridge though... I'm sure you can remedy that over time...! Double purfling is usually a good sign, isn't it?
Edited by - Lee M on 12/25/2014 13:52:40
EricBluegrassFiddle - Posted - 12/25/2014: 14:00:11
quote:
Originally posted by ChickenMan
Here is my least attractive fiddle. It is a Maginni copy from some Sebastian Gouz, Note the lovely brown color and the fancy purfling. It has a great tone and prefers dry wintry atmosphere to humid summer.
Doesnt look ugly at all to me, looks purty nice!
bandsmcnamar - Posted - 12/25/2014: 15:26:52
Billy,
Your Maginni and the mouse hole Stainer will have to have a go at twinning something one of these days.
I have to say, I'm kind of like the American Pickers on TV. I like things(especially fiddles) that have been well used and look it. I have a couple of fairly pristine fiddles and they look great, but they are not the ones I play all the time.
ChickenMan - Posted - 12/25/2014: 16:15:18
I guess the purfling comment was to direct your eyes to the classy finish there. Don't get me wrong, I've played her every day this month, she's been my 'calico'girl.
Lee, my rosin does not seem leave much dust.
Edited by - ChickenMan on 12/25/2014 16:17:19
Lee M - Posted - 12/25/2014: 16:31:23
quote:
Originally posted by ChickenMan
I guess the purfling comment was to direct your eyes to the classy finish there. Don't get me wrong, I've played her every day this month, she's been my 'calico'girl.
Lee, my rosin does not seem leave much dust.
Listen, let's get this straight... if you want you fiddle to look ugly and aged, the you'll have to switch to a rosin-residue rosin... and maybe put some coal dust on your hands so that the neck begins to get that black, coal dust patina...! Just saying....
Lee M - Posted - 12/27/2014: 13:51:30
OK.. The Perfection Pegs came in the mail yesterday, a full week before I expected them to arrive.. Today, they are installed and the Ugly fiddle sounds Beautiful.. I have successfully turn a frog into a prince...I had to put a piece of walnut veneer over about two inches of the fingerboard to make it playable.. Also, four cleats were installed to bolster the repaired crack, a vintage chin rest was added as was a new tailpiece which I 'aged' with a little sandpaper and ebony dust...I went through great pains to NOT clean up the fiddle....There was the temptation to repair the broken F hole but I was persuaded to leave it alone..I tied a 'recovery' string to the sound post when I installed it (as was done in many old fiddle). It is my current pride and joy.
This is where HANGOUT MEMBERS come in.. What shall I name this fiddle????
Lee M - Posted - 12/27/2014: 13:55:20
OK.. The Perfection Pegs came in the mail yesterday, a full week before I expected them to arrive.. Today, they are installed and the Ugly fiddle sounds Beautiful.. I have successfully turn a frog into a prince...I had to put a piece of walnut veneer over about two inches of the fingerboard to make it playable.. Also, four cleats were installed to bolster the repaired crack, a vintage chin rest was added as was a new tailpiece which I 'aged' with a little sandpaper and ebony dust...I went through great pains to NOT clean up the fiddle....There was the temptation to repair the broken F hole but I was persuaded to leave it alone..I tied a 'recovery' string to the sound post when I installed it (as was done in many old fiddle). It is my current pride and joy.
This is where HANGOUT MEMBERS come in.. What shall I name this fiddle???? PS>. My luthier friend says that it is from about 1880...gettin' up there..
fujers - Posted - 12/28/2014: 14:26:25
Billy, You win! That's about one ugly fiddle son
My fiddle was made in the 1890's and it don't look a day over 70 years old.
Lee's going to send you some tickets to go on you Dream Vacation. But don't wait for em
Lee M - Posted - 12/28/2014: 14:35:02
quote:
Originally posted by fujers
Billy, You win! That's about one ugly fiddle son
My fiddle was made in the 1890's and it don't look a day over 70 years old.
Lee's going to send you some tickets to go on you Dream Vacation. But don't wait for em
Hey, those tickets cost me a lot of money and they are IN THE MAIL..
Lee M - Posted - 01/18/2015: 13:48:50
I took "black Betty" to a jam last night.. The group agreed that she is louder than I think and that she has her own sweet unique sound.. You know that 'voice' that a heavy smoker has? Well, Black Betty has that voice.. I LOVE this fiddle..
Lee M - Posted - 01/20/2015: 05:00:43
quote:
Originally posted by Humbled by this instrument
You beslubbering, beef-witted barnacle!
Yeah, I hear that a lot around here...
cornfed - Posted - 01/20/2015: 09:10:10
i don't know. Lee. I think I understand what you are saying,but, based on MY esthetic, I have never seen a truly ugly fiddle. Even the vso's share a degree of the grace and symmetry that continue to enchant me with their lovely utility as a delight to the eye and ear and heart. I guess my eyes are heavily influenced by the other two.
Lee M - Posted - 01/20/2015: 09:41:44
Wayne, I have accuse myself of having another "woman" in my life.. One who is short, has dark skin, sings when I stroke her, reflects my moods, has a tight waist, and large bottom, a long neck and a curly top..I have to keep her under control by adjusting her brain (peg box)...She has never left me, loves me more than a dog could, and my wife is not jealous of her as long as I keep here locked up in a coffin shaped box.. I love my fiddle...
Lee M - Posted - 01/20/2015: 10:12:31
quote:
Originally posted by Lee Mysliwiec
Wayne, I have accuse myself of having another "woman" in my life.. One who is short, has dark skin, sings when I stroke her, reflects my moods, has a tight waist, and large bottom, a long neck and a curly top..I have to keep her under control by adjusting her brain (peg box)...She has never left me, loves me more than a dog could, and my wife is not jealous of her as long as I keep here locked up in a coffin shaped box.. I love my fiddle...
And.. she is OLD,, very old..
