Pretend it sounds just like Hilary Hahn's Strad

Thank you, Ashra! I took the fittings off to finish the varnishing and hope to have it ready to play again this week. I've been practicing with my cheap Chinese fiddle, and I have to say it's not the same.

pky said:

hi, CatMcCall, here's a website that you might be interested.

http://www.internationalviolin.....id=56#CT56

Oh, yes, I've been all around that site Bit too rich for my blood - making my own tools and sourcing local wood is more in the budget, but dang! Some of those tools would sure be nice...

myguitarnow said:

Wow Cat. Your fiddle looks and sounds wonderful!

Thank you, MGN! Can't wait to get started on the next one - building fiddles is almost as addictive as playing them

pky said:

Cat, Have you heard of or used the big red book of violin making? Is it good?

I've heard of it but have never seen a copy. It's endorsed by the Guild of American Luthiers, so likely it's a well accepted method book.

myguitarnow said:

Would you make me one? I can pay but don't have a clue on how long it takes to make one or whatever your schedule is like or if you could even do it on your time. But that six foot sure did sound beautiful on that video.

Are you asking to be my first commission? I'm not sure that any fiddle I build is really of a quality to be sold at this point...The Real Luthiers would be rolling their eyes at your suggestion  You can get a really nice professionally built fiddle for not a lot of money, comparatively speaking.

The Six Foot Fiddle is a kit fiddle, so the labor and time involved is certainly less than building from scratch - it could certainly have been built much more quickly if I had made it a top priority. It's a very worthwhile project that every fiddler who has any interest in woodworking should take a shot at.

myguitarnow said:

Yeah, I'll be your first commission Cat. I won't complain about how it turns out or anything like a pro luthier would think about it. Just so it plays and sounds alright (something like your six foot).

Okay, I'm willing I won't be able to get started until October because of other commitments.

Would a kit fiddle be okay? What color would you like the varnish?

You can email me at catmccall at gmail dot com if you prefer...