adderob said

I don't think anyone should try to force creativity or different for the sake of being considered unique, as that usually says nothing about skill or enjoyment, but embracing different ideas in learning, playing, studying, and implementation, especially when it comes naturally and doesn't seem forced, is where enjoyable, honest music comes from. 

Speed and skill and technicality are tools for creating. That's where the most esoteric joys are born.  

I agree, there is a line here. I didnt see that as a 14 year old, but now I am "elder" and hopefully knows better. And its not that I don't listen or read your wisdom. But rather seem to most of the time tick differently than the rest of the"world". Not that the world is against me. (I hope.)

For me the Violin and its family, (And distant cousins all over the world) evoke the sense of adventure. From the snake skinned one stringed korean one whom names escape me, to the home made cigar-box fiddle. (I do have build plans on pdf, if thats your fancy.) Ive seen Violins from really poor places made out of whatever they could slap together, and they still manage to play good music on it. Even if it was made of a pice of chair and a oilbarrel beaten into shape.

Its not that I'm against tradition either, tradition is a good thing. It maintains stability. And I'm not shure what I am ranting about now so... Back to topic.

Diversity;
Thats what I'm talking/ranting about. Its mind boggling.

I really love searching for this kind of things. It stirs my imagination. 

http://www.allmusicalinstrumen.....store.html
This design of this rare folk violin is just breathtaking, but how is it played?

http://chalumeau.wordpress.com.....uments-13/
Nykkelharpa, the sweedish(?) orgined instrument is also werry cool.

But back to the violin now, There are manny things we can to to affect the voice(volum?) and Pitch, its general sound. Different types of strings, mutes, filling the  § key things with cloth to dampen it? Yes? No? 

Traditionally tuned in G,D,A,E for classical music(?). But there got to be more ways to do it, Is the Key defined by the string or the tuning? Within the limit of the violins construction. (At the moment I think my E only tunes to a F.)

And how far can you go until the fiddle is no longer a fiddle? But something else?
Yes, I am loaded with this mind stuff. And I hope I'm not to sporadic a writer for the readers to understand, I can get quite carried away sometimes.

Fiddlerman, If I do furfil that. I'll be a happy man, Cuz its not all about taking and wanting. One should give "something" back too.

Thank you all for enduring this large post. again; Hope it made sense.