Posted by fiddlepogo on Thursday, August 6, 2015
A lot of summers after allergy season is over my immune system is so shot that I come down with a bad infection of some kind. Not this year, thankfully, but instead, it seems the lack of exercise from staying in out of the pollen has made my back worse, and the last two weeks I've been in pretty bad pain more than not. Right now, I'm feeling surprisingly good, considering. One factor is I sit too much, and the chairs I've been sitting in really aren't up to it. I need to buy a better chair for the computer, for sure! The back being out of whack has really diminished my desire to fiddle, and shut down my desire to play drums COMPLETELY!
I also figured out that the driver's seat in the van may be a factor... I think it's so worn that the springs for the back are stretched out and go concave when I sit in it, and I might just be able to switch the passenger and driver seats... the passenger seat feels lots firmer!
I've also had a rough time getting off the allergy meds.. I started reacting to Claritin... well, the generic for it. Zyrtec works better, but I've had to start splitting the pills and taking them twice a day... when I take one, the amount spikes too high and I feel awful. Or maybe I need to do the same for Claritin too.
Carthy came with a bridge that was fitted with just a bit more tilt towards the tailpiece than it should have. This has made the strings stiffer, requires a heavier bow, which tires my bowing arm out. I've been wanting to try a bridge with a more normal tilt, but how?
I had messed up the bridge that came with Stinky, knock off the wing or curlicue or whatever it's called. It sounded terrible on Stinky that way (too shrill) , so while the now moved on violin guy was still in town, I had another bridge made for it.
The messed up bridge has a normal tilt, and I had a hunch that the bridge from Stinky would fit on Carthy... the Knilling 4KF Bucharests seem to have been made according to the same CNC router program... the top contours are identical!
I had to find the bridge however.... I succeeded. With the straight up bridge with the missing wing, Carthy's E string is more consistent, yet not as loud and clear... still, I like it better. It still is a mellower sound than Booker, still good for Irish tunes. I can now use my favorite carbon fiber bow on it, and the intonation is more like Booker's, meaning it's easier to switch back and forth.
I just may leave the damaged bridge on it... most of what it does for Carthy is just what I've felt needed doing.
(Edit one day later...)
The Tonicas I ordered came today (August 7th).... but which fiddle to put them on, and when??? both are really sounding pretty good right now.
My Scottish blood is saying WAIT! (end edit)
Oh yeah.... I had a birthday.... sisters came up for a visit. That was good- hadn't seen them for a long time. New driver's license with a new yucky picture!!!!
Be the first to comment on “Rough month... and a promising experiment with "Carthy"”
You must sign into your myHangout account before you can post comments.
Newest Posts
'Shenandoah Valley Jams' 18 hrs
'Get up early' 1 day
'First time for everything' 3 days
'dynamo strings' 4 days
