I am Michael from Northern Ca.
I began playing at 8 in a school music program. Studied classically for 10 years . This was in the late 60s early 70s.
My first aha moment came from listening to Sugar Cane Harris on "Hot Ratz" .Mind blowing... and Gerry Goodman from the Flock.
I've been a semi-pro player for 55+ years. I try to play as many styles of fiddle as I can (not necessarilly at the same time)
Currently I play in an original Americana band, a Country Western band and a original/cover rock band.
My first amp was a Twin with D120's. Currently I play a Quiltar Tone Block 200. I built a 12" combo and put a Celestion Creamback in it. The Quiltar's head room is great for fiddles, for that clean sound.
And then there are the toyz:
Shure GLXD16 wireless
Boss Volume pedal
MXR Carbon copy delux
Strymon Blue Sky
JHS Harmonic Trem.
MXR Analog Chorus
JHS Flanger series 3
EH Mel9
EH NanoPog
JHS Octave Rev.
2 Wampler EQuator EQs one for thee fiddle one for the mandolin.

My current fiddle is a Claude Boivin (1731) with a Baggs bridge transducer.
My current mandolin is a Stewart McDonald kit I built. It also has a Baggs bridge transducer.

Good on all of you for playing fiddle music... Cheeers