Purchasing Your First Fiddle

Subject: Violin Question
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2004 17:30:35 +0000

I am eighteen years old and have always wanted to learn how to play the Fiddle. I really love the sound of it; the Fiddle music in the movie Cold Mountain was absolutely wonderful! I was actually wondering...Where do I even begin with this? I've really never played a string instrument before. What do I need to look for for a good violin for beginners? Pricing? What is the best bet for me?

Anyway, thank you very much for all of your help!

Katie

Greetings Katie,

To become somewhat oriented to learning fiddle, you might start by reading through our fiddle instruction section at:

http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3.htm

For a good violin to start fiddle on, my suggestion would be to start with the SV-175 Cremona and up...some lower end models can be discouraging to learn on...make sure you find a violin that has all 4 fine tuners on the tailpiece...this will allow you an easier tuning curve...

The SV-175 only costs 125.00 discounted...and includes everything you need to get started:
bow, case, rosin, case strap...strung and ready to play.

http://www.folkofthewood.com/page680.htm

Hope this helps, Mickey

Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2003 05:51:17 +0800
Subject: Purchasing a first fiddle

Greetings Fred,

Glad to assist if I can:

I've reviewed your website and was quite impressed.

Thanks for the positive review...

I'm interested in purchasing a fiddle for my son, a twenty-three year old musician with an interest in country music. He plays guitar and banjo and recently expressed interest in trying a fiddle. He is not interested in classical type music at all, so I would want the instrument already set up (with the appropriate bride, etc. if that's necessary) for a country style sound and playing.

Most all violins will serve well for country without having to do any modifications...it's a rare occasion, where the player has particular tastes that requires construction mods such as the bridge to be flattened, or tone bars to be moved...etc. A practical modification would be making sure the chin rest fits or that the tailpiece fits the players tastes.

I'm looking to buy him an instrument to start with, but I don't necessarily want something on the lowest end. Probably intermediate would be good. Any recommendations? Thanks.

We've been endorsing the Maestro line-up for a good mid-range to high-range fiddle...however, the one modification these require, is replacement of the tailpiece with a Dr. Thomastic integrated tailpiece...so that your son would have all 4 fine tuners installed...a necessity for fiddling...in my opinion.

Another superb, professional level fiddle, would be the Gianna Wind River...

Hope something here helps...Mickey