Posted By: KCFiddles (+6) | Rate Member
$1,600 USD
This fiddle was made by one H F Martin in Eureka Sprigs, Arkansas in the 1920's. I can't find out much about the maker, but he made a darned good-sounding fiddle. The top is made of really tight-grained Spruce. I counted 28-30 summers per inch. The back, ribs, and neck have a pronounced medium curl. The varnish is a reddish oil varnish, still shows a few brush marks if you look really close. Label is hand written in ink of appropriate age, and says "H. F. Martin, Eureka Springs, Ark. Mar, 192?. Can't read the last digit.
I'd call the condition very good plus. The neck's been re-set at least once, par for the course on fiddles this old. It's got a few minor cracks, all solid. Setup's good; I didn't have to do much with it other than to fit the sound post right. Right now it has Dominants on it. Composite tailpiece with built in fine tuners, ebony fittings.
In person, the sound is round, not edgy. Volume is good, bass if fairly deep, and the treble is particularly sweet. There are fiddlers who have been looking for a long time for just this sound. Listening to it, I thought maybe the top was cedar, but I'm pretty sure it's just soft spruce. Give it a listen here:
It's best to listen to this with good headphones turned up to real-world volumes. Most computer speakers are notoriously inaccurate.
The recording is a 320 bit mp3, recorded in a practice room on a Zoom H4 by an expert fiddler, with no EQ or any other effects. The room is very flattering, and the fiddler is a very good professional. Unless you are a top player, this fiddle will NOT sound like this for you, but it CAN, if you have the skills.
Location:
United States, Shawnee, KS
Shipping:
$20 via UPD or Fedex Ground
Payment Methods:
Check/Money Order, Cash (in person), Paypal, Mastercard, Visa, Discover
Payment Option Notes:
I'll have a return label in the box. If you keep the fiddle, we won't be charged for it. If you don't like he fiddle just send it back and I'll refund all your money, less $30 shipping. I'll ship it in either a shipping case or a junk case that will give it plenty of protection, unless you want to buy a new case with your fiddle. If you pay by PayPal, I'll leave the money in the PayPal account until you give me the OK. If you pay by CC, I'll just issue a refund for all but the shipping when we receive the fiddle back.
Condition of Item(s):
Used - Very Good Condition
Category:
Make:
H. F. Martin
Ad Status:
Sold
Listing No:
2056
Page Views:
1198
