Cloddhopper Holland - Posted - 12/25/2024:  15:41:55

I just started playing the fiddle a couple months ago in a Morris side, I mainly do English tunes but I'll learn some American stuff like old time and bluegrass in the future as well. I just use a cheap European fiddle from the 1920s or 30s that my great grandad bought for less than a quid or something. I plan to get a "better" one at some point (not that there is anything wrong with the one I use now and I probably won't get a new one until i get better enough to need it) however I know that how the instrument sounds and plays is far more important than how it looks, excuse me french but these fiddles that are one colour look a bit crap in my opinion compared to what you could make them look like, would I be able to get a unfinished fiddle that I could put some different coloured staines on and make a picture of something cool on it like a pheasant with wood stains and still have a fiddle that will sound and play good and last me?

Lonesome Fiddler - Posted - 12/25/2024:  18:08:00

If you trust your artistic ability, or that of the person who actually does the job, go ahead and go for it. But if it doesn't work out right, you could be stuck with it. In any case, it's the sound the instrument produces that ultimately matters. In any event, have fun.

martyjoe - Posted - 12/26/2024:  00:06:01

I was looking through the Yita Music eBay shop last night and noticed that they have one fiddle in white for sale right now and it isn’t expensive. It could turn out to be a pretty reasonable fiddle. Yita are one of the better Chinese makers.

The Violin Beautiful - Posted - 12/26/2024:  08:13:25

quote:

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Originally posted by Clodhoppers

...would I be able to get a unfinished fiddle that I could put some different coloured staines on and make a picture of something cool on it like a pheasant with wood stains and still have a fiddle that will sound and play good and last me?

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Varnishing violins is one of the most difficult aspects of lutherie. There are all kinds of stains and finishes that look very impressive on various woods but will ruin a violin. The compounds that make many lacquers or varnishes durable and strong for use on furniture will choke a violin's tone and clog the wood.

If you're interested in varnishing, do some serious reading before you order anything. Become familiar with the basics of coloring wood, filling pores, sealing, coloring varnish, and applying varnish. Understand the medium with which you're working and know the dangers--varnish making as an individual was outlawed in many places historically because the chances of injury, fire, and death were so high. Even just using commercial products straight out of the container, be mindful of the hazards of the solvents and the need for ventilation. 

 

If you're just going for an art piece, buy something cheap online and don't even think about tone. If you want something that sounds good, do yourself a favor by reading up on the finishes that produce the best results. Ugly DIY varnished violins are in abundance, but it's sadly common to see violins varnished by DIY methods by people with a little experience in wood finishing that look fairly pretty but are dead as a doornail when played. Even using the best materials, varnishing is challenging and there are pitfalls to avoid. There is a very steep learning curve. 

 

Be extremely careful with stains, especially on spruce. Because of their complex arching, violins have lots of spots where endgrain is exposed, and endgrain soaks up color much faster. If you're not familiar with endgrain, take some time to learn. Also be aware of the damage that can be done to wood by using anything that will penetrate too deeply. Read up on methods of preparing wood for varnishing (e.g. torrefying, UV tanning, natural sunlight, chemical processing). This also includes getting the wood ready by  smoothing it and removing dirt or dust.

Keep in mind that the purposes of a violin varnish are to protect the wood from contaminants, enhance the natural beauty of the wood itself, and promote the sound production of the instrument.