TuneWeaver - Posted - 09/22/2025:  14:41:59

Yep.. That is what I did... I recently had a problem with my fiddle and took it to the local luthier and within ten seconds he saw the problem.. The bridge was broken. I knew it was bent a little but didn't think it was actually broken.. He showed me. Yep.. Broken. Apparently, between me putting papers under the fiddle while it was in the case and the high bridge...well, the bridge was touching the top of the case (the case showed wear where the bridge had been in contact...).... OK, I'll stop putting papers under the fiddle and just as a safety measure...get rid of the case..Live and learn.

Quincy - Posted - 09/22/2025:  16:51:50

Who would you put papers under the fiddle Lee? Will a new bridge be carved for you?

TuneWeaver - Posted - 09/22/2025:  18:00:49

quote:

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Originally posted by Quincy

Who would you put papers under the fiddle Lee? Will a new bridge be carved for you?

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I often put sheet music under the fiddle in the case and I may have just put too much of it there and that caused the bridge to hit the top of the case. Our local, great luthier removed the top, patched a  plate crack, carved a new bridge and had the instrument ready to go in about 4 days.....I'm now using a double fiddle case and using half for the fiddle and the other half for all other things.  BTW, I  finally got a VENMO qr code and have had as many as three busking  tips from it in one day.. That  is encouraging..

Quincy - Posted - 09/22/2025:  18:28:39

Very fast luthier you have there. Had to look up VENMO, it's like a Tikkie in the Netherlands.
Have to stay up to date these days with the digital world - good for you that it worked instantly :-D

I just discovered an hour ago that there is actually a Kentucky fiddle tune called Flander's Dream and I am completely going crazy listening to this 1941 recording of John Morgan Salyer. What a tune!! Can you play this one Lee? I just wonder...

It's beyond reason how many good authentic old time tunes there exist.... Slowly developing my top favorites :-D Maybe one day I'll carry them in my case as well to have a quick look at them as to remind the way they start.

TuneWeaver - Posted - 09/23/2025:  00:30:44

quote:

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Originally posted by Quincy

Very fast luthier you have there. Had to look up VENMO, it's like a Tikkie in the Netherlands.

Have to stay up to date these days with the digital world - good for you that it worked instantly :-D



I just discovered an hour ago that there is actually a Kentucky fiddle tune called Flander's Dream and I am completely going crazy listening to this 1941 recording of John Morgan Salyer. What a tune!! Can you play this one Lee? I just wonder...



It's beyond reason how many good authentic old time tunes there exist.... Slowly developing my top favorites :-D Maybe one day I'll carry them in my case as well to have a quick look at them as to remind the way they start.

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I THOUGHT I'd played Flander's Dream years ago but couldn't remember.. So, I dug out my Titon book of Kentucky tunes and see that I'd made pencil notations on the sheet music so I MUST have played it.. Kind of a squirrily tune.. Think I'll get back into it. Thanks for the reminder... BTW it is in A so you might want to cross tune your fiddle..just don't keep the sheet music in your fiddle case under your fiddle..

DougD - Posted - 09/23/2025:  00:32:47

Lee, I just looked in two of my cases, and if the instrument is not restrained in the case (or a very tight fit) the bridge will sometimes touch the top of the case and eventually leave a mark (these cases are probably at least 100 years old).
Carrying sheet music under the fiddle is a different issue. Have you considered a new case with a neck restraint and a case cover with an exterior pocket for your paperwork? I have a Bobelock violin shaped fiberglass case that I really like.
PS - This is the case I have: bobelock.com/cases/violin/b1007f.html Their "Arrow" and "Half Moon" cases are also nice.

Edited by - DougD on 09/23/2025 00:40:52

TuneWeaver - Posted - 09/23/2025:  05:34:13

THe case that I gave away had an Added leather pouch that I attached to the outside of the case to carry signs, sheet music, rosin, strings and other items..That took the pressure off of putting stuff inside.. I was still guilty of putting papers under the fiddle.......

The Violin Beautiful - Posted - 09/23/2025:  07:11:35

Putting anything underneath the violin is dangerous because it defeats the purpose of the suspension padding (if there is any), it exposes the back to damage, and it can very easily push the bridge toward the lid. It can also prevent the violin from properly fitting into the contoured dam of the case (if it’s a fitted case design), making the violin bounce around in the case much more and increasing the likelihood that it’ll strike the lid and crack the bridge if the case is jostled. Sheet music also doesn’t fare well crammed into the bottom of a case, where it will get dog-eared and deformed.

Case blankets provide a bit of extra safety, as they prevent bows from gouging the top and they absorb impact if the violin moves. Added music pouches or zipper pockets on cases protect both the music and the instrument.

A practice equally dangerous to the instrument is putting it into the case with a shoulder rest still attached. As the trend for shoulder rests heads to greater and greater heights, it’s getting such that shoulder rests are now so extreme that it isn’t possible to close the lid with the rest attached, but with some older models or with pads or sponges, cases with more room can be latched completely, luring people into a false sense of security.

pete_fiddle - Posted - 09/23/2025:  11:21:15

You're lucky you don't live in the UK, you may have been done for "Fly Tipping"...Really...lol