Hi Folks,
My 1st post so I thought I would start with this and then of course looking at the different areas of FH.
I am looking for a fiddle to learn on and play along with my grandson. I do prefer a fiddle with lots of character and a deeper / darker tone -fancy and new looking not required nor needed. Not really looking for a loud one just a solid older one with the character I mentioned. I did check the classified but did not see anything I was looking for. I am looking for one on being on a budget (retired) LOL.
Any thoughts much appreciated and thank you kindly.
Update: Found the for sale instruments (must have been blind earlier)! That Royce Burt #468 sure sounds fantastic on the YouTube but might be a bit outta my current budget :(
Edited by - fiddlepapa2 on 08/28/2024 15:53:03
We have many members who have been very happy with instruments they purchased from Royce. If this one is out of your price range, contact him (he's a member here) and see if he has anything cheaper. Last time I looked I thought he had several listed. By all accounts a very nice guy.
Great that you want to play with your grandson. Good luck keeping up!
I watch all of Royce's videos and I imagine you wouldn't be disappointed. He offers a wide range and the exchange option/return is a nice feature. As for budget, I have had some REALLY good luck buying old inexpensive fiddles and paying more for a set up than the actual cost of the instrument. In the end, the set up will bring the most enjoyment. Good luck.
I hear FB Market place has many for sale. I always see them on Craigslist too. I found 2 of mine in an Antique store nearby. They are there.
Ditto EROCKIN's comment. I used to do a fair bit of trade buying fiddles for cheap at antique auctions ( the country type, not the fancy city ones), and putting them in working order, usually strings bridge pegs etc that kind of stuff and selling them to new players or school systems. Some of them had quite a bit of character. These days you can buy whole container full of fiddles from China for really cheap, and a few (very few) will be pretty good! Burts regraduated fiddles have an excellent rep in the folk circles, so a deal with him could good too.
What part of the country are you in? I know a local guy who refurbishes old factory fiddles, but I don't think he ships.
There are also a couple of under-$500 old fiddles in the classifieds that might fit the bill.
Thanks so much everyone! I have stumbled around and found Royce Burt's info and YouTube channel! A gold mine to me. Tons of great sounding fiddles and his demeanor seems very genuine and down to earth! A nice person who loves what he does so I am 100% sure I will be contacting him!
Thanks again everyone!
There is an old Schweitzer violin that I have played that meets that criterion at Judd Violins. Check out their extensive on line inventory. They will send instruments for trial. Good folks.
quote:
Originally posted by DougDWe have many members who have been very happy with instruments they purchased from Royce. If this one is out of your price range, contact him (he's a member here) and see if he has anything cheaper. Last time I looked I thought he had several listed. By all accounts a very nice guy.
Great that you want to play with your grandson. Good luck keeping up!
I have two fiddles from Royce, both very excellent with good tone and volume. I like a fiddle to have a strong lower end and both have that. I compared Royce's fiddles with instruments from the fancy violin shop that cost twice as much. Those violins sounded weak and tinny compared with Royce's. And, as noted above he's a good guy, easy to get along with and 100% responsible. Highly recommended, well worth what he charges.
My bought new Wilhelm Klier has a decidedly beautiful bassy tone, along with a good deal of volume. It's no problem getting it to sing, either. I bought it new at Thomas Metzler violins in Glendale, CA. I gotta say, though, that my twice-as-expensive Bernd Dimbath fiddle, bought new at Benning Violins in Studio City, CA, is definitely a more expressive instrument. Yeah, it may perhaps be a bit more of a haughty soprano, but what can I say? I'm a sucker for it. It's the fiddle I instinctively grab for.
Another vote for Royce. Contact him, tell him your budget, what sound you're aiming for and he'll do what he can to meet you there. In the end you'll have a fiddle that will be easy to resell if you two choose a different activity to do together.
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