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Erockin - Posted - 09/03/2022: 12:54:55
I just purchased a fiddle at a flea market for $45
I am new here and new to violin.
It feels solid. There are no cracks. It seems old but not crazy old.
I play guitar, bass and mandolin so I know some scales and theory so this is going to be fun.
I'm not sure if I wasted $45 but it's worth a shot.
It's a Hans Kotschka
I can't a single thing about this online so I'll just be happy it was $45
Edited by - Erockin on 09/03/2022 13:02:23
The Violin Beautiful - Posted - 09/03/2022: 16:42:49
Can you post some pictures? They might give some clues as to its origins.
gapbob - Posted - 09/03/2022: 18:27:54
Just pretend it is a mandolin for a while, see if you like it.
NCnotes - Posted - 09/03/2022: 20:57:38
Yep Mandolin to fiddle seems to be a small step, this really surprised me!! At last session, mandolin player was teaching the tenor banjo player the notes/fingers of a tune I know, and I was idly watching...I realized, same fingers?! Sure enough, they both confirmed...GDAE. I realized that if I could learn to use a pick, I could go play my tune on the tenor banjo or mandolin! So I guess the reverse would be true...learn to use a bow, and you can play your mandolin tunes on the fiddle?
Edited by - NCnotes on 09/03/2022 20:58:44
Gallaher - Posted - 09/04/2022: 07:58:09
I did the same thing 40 years ago. Still at it.
jgarber760 - Posted - 09/05/2022: 09:30:07
Did a quick search and it looks like Hans Kotschka is probably a distributor or music store in Bohemia which is now in the Czech Republic. I found a guitar from 1900 so this store was probably around then. Most likely it was made in some other European factories and probably in Czechoslovakia or perhaps Markneukirchen in Germany which thousands of violins were made.
Have it set up properly and get some decent strings and a good bow. $45 is a steal if it plays decently. You may need to invest a few more bucks into it. Welcome to Fiddle World!
Lonesome Fiddler - Posted - 09/05/2022: 13:00:07
As jgarber750 says, chances are better than even that the fiddle was made at a factory in Central Europe somewhere around the turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries. I have one of those Markneukirchen-made fiddles. It was the second stop on my fiddling journey. It replaced an utterly miserable Chinese fiddle I bought on a lark sometime in the previous Century. Previous to this, I'd never even held a fiddle in my hands. Markneukirchen, BTW, was the hometown of C.F. Martin, founder of the famous guitar company.
In any case, my Markneukirchen fiddle was a vast improvement over the Chinese one, both in looks and sound. To be sure, that fiddle doesn't produce nearly the volume or tone quality of the fiddles I've bought since, but I still play it often. I enjoy it a bunch.
Erockin - Posted - 09/05/2022: 16:54:44
I tried posting pics but can’t seem to get them to appear…
Erockin - Posted - 09/08/2022: 07:16:13
Thanks for everyone's input. In conclusion, $45 was the right price ;)
bsed55 - Posted - 09/08/2022: 15:42:39
Get thee and thy fiddle to a professional luthier so you can have the setup checked. Very important. Could make that $45 fiddle sound 10x more valuable.
Next, get thee to a violin teacher for a few lessons. You won't regret it.
Erockin - Posted - 09/13/2022: 05:06:50
quote:
Originally posted by bsed55
Get thee and thy fiddle to a professional luthier so you can have the setup checked. Very important. Could make that $45 fiddle sound 10x more valuable.
Next, get thee to a violin teacher for a few lessons. You won't regret it.
It's at the Luthier as we speak. It's getting fine tuners, pegs, strings, cleaned, bridge sitting, re-hair bow, end pin and chin rest.
I put out an email to an Irish Fiddler in Gettysburg PA. Hoping to hear something back soon. Meanwhile, pumping the lesson videos.
Erockin - Posted - 09/26/2022: 05:43:03
Day one.
It's a different kind of beast. It's in tune and a struggle to play...lol
Only because I want to run but need to crawl with it first. I commend all of you on your talents no matter what level.
As I said in an earlier post...I'm going to journal the journey. Thanks for listening to my rambles! It's certainly better than what I'm playing so far...lol. Here it is, ready to go. New Pegs, Chin Rest, Neck Shaped and Painted, Fine Tuners, New Bow Hair and new Bridge!
DougD - Posted - 09/26/2022: 06:12:54
Did your luthier say anything about that bow? It might be just the photo, but it looks like the corner of the frog is curved, which suggests it could be a viola bow. Violin frogs have square edges, but I don't know if that's always the case. Do you have a way to weigh it? Violin bows are usually in the 60 gram range, while viola bows are more like 70 grams. If its a viola bow, the extra weight will slow your progress. Might be just an unusual frog though - I'm not an expert.
Edited by - DougD on 09/26/2022 06:13:57
Erockin - Posted - 09/26/2022: 06:17:50
quote:
Originally posted by DougD
Did your luthier say anything about that bow? It might be just the photo, but it looks like the corner of the frog is curved, which suggests it could be a viola bow. Violin frogs have square edges, but I don't know if that's always the case. Do you have a way to weigh it? Violin bows are usually in the 60 gram range, while viola bows are more like 70 grams. If its a viola bow, the extra weight will slow your progress. Might be just an unusual frog though - I'm not an expert.
Hmmm. I have no idea! I will try to figure that out. Thanks forchecking, Doug!
Erockin - Posted - 09/26/2022: 06:49:07
After some research, I see that now! Thanks for pointing that out! Now I need a bow...lol
DougD - Posted - 09/26/2022: 07:32:27
You should weigh it if possible, or post a better photo here and maybe someone with more experience will comment. It could just be an oddball frog. Also ask your luthier. They've seen it, and maybe have a violin bow they'd trade with you.
