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I definitely agree with Ferret, that this project has much potential to be either a truly epic fail or a total wonder.
I haven't chimed in much on the discussion, since I wanted to give the concept some time to percolate in my brain a bit.
I think the biggest "danger" at this point would be to maybe put too much weight on one fiddle/violin. There's a lot of great ideas cooking in this topic, and it might be a good idea to come to a group consensus as to ground rules and objectives as it gets rolling over the first couple of months.
I personally see some potential for more than one fiddle to eventually end up in this project. It could be good to sort some of the ideas out to different projects.
This one that is already in motion, is sort of "The Traveller". It goes to different members, gets autographed, recorded, videoed. Sort of a group artifact or touchstone that passes through many hands and gets to be played in many cool places, maybe even some famous historical locations, if members happen to be near one. But a member's backyard or kitchen or porch or whatever is always famous enough. The travel and autograph and getting to hear/see it played by each participating member is a lot of fun right there.
But if it gets upgraded too much, some members could become really hesitant about autographing it. So an "Upgrade Fiddle/Violin" should maybe be a separate project. Where each member who opts in would replace a part or fitting with something nicer or make an adjustment, so that eventually what might have started out as a "basket case" fiddle/violin would end up an instrument that is pretty good at least so far as playability is concerned. They'd each get a name as they go through that process (Like the Strads and etc have gained names over the years) and then they could become the instruments that go out to stay for a couple of months with someone who maybe doesn't have a nice instrument or wants to try learning to play.
That way a group "Lending Library" if instruments could be built up over time, to encourage new players and give them a standard of comparison so they know if a violin they think about buying is a reasonably playable instrument or "VSO". Shipping and insurance costs for each stop probably wouldn't exceed what it would cost to pay a month on a cheap rental. It would also give members who might have some interest in luthiery or adjustment opportunity to get some hands-on experience while getting the "basket case" up to a reasonable par. Then they could be sent to an experienced player like Pierre who could put them through their paces and make a recording or vid showing what that particular instrument is capable of sounding like. It could be a great learning opportunity for participants at many levels and a resource that the group can use to encourage beginners or perhaps people thinking about taking up violin again after many years. And it could rescue instruments (old or new) that were not entirely well made or that may have been mistreated or neglected to the point where most luthiers would have to charge far more than a beginner would be wise to pay.
As a bank of such instruments was built up, they might also be able to act as a hedge against disasters. If (Heaven forbid) a member had some tragedy like a house fire or natural disaster happen that resulted in them having no instrument to play, one of the upgraded lending instruments could be (by vote) permanently bestowed on that member. It isn't really possible to replace an instrument that was someone's old friend, but perhaps an instrument where many friends helped put it together and fine tune it would be enough comfort and encouragement to keep them playing.
Back to brighter notes, other than "upgrade" possibilities, some members might get together over an inexpensive "violin in the white" or even build from scratch to produce an instrument that was actually made by the community. If interested parties each donated some time or work or a material, over the span of a year or so, the result could be something really interesting and special. Sort of a "stone soup" instrument, if you are familiar with that old story.
It would also allow for some variety. One such project instrument could be set-up and fine tuned to fiddler tastes, another to more classical tastes. Lots of possibilities.
But back to the current project, "The Traveller". A celebrity, visiting assorted places and players in the group and collecting autographs and history. The idea of a notebook or journal is really cool, but.. This is the digital age and we all have computers? A USB flash drive wouldn't take up much space in the accessory compartment, and could store not only words but lots of sounds, video and pictures. When it gets filled up, maybe put it on a key ring along with a new USB drive and see how full that keyring can get as it travels? It could be backed up by folks with some hard drive space to spare that it visits? Just a thought there.
So far as insurance? Absolutely. In fact, I would propose that instrument(s) for these sorts of projects, from "The Traveller" to "Stone Soup Fiddles", should be shipped with more than enough insurance to allow for buying at least TWO brand new instruments of equal quality (at least to what they were when they started) at full ticket price from Fiddlershop. That way the project is like the hydra in the old myths. If one head is cut off, two more grow to take it's place. If an instrument is lost or ruined in transit, it becomes two instruments to carry the project on. It would even be a little extra business for Pierre. Then if a disaster happens, it would be sad, sure. But a "booster" instead of a "stopper".
Considerations like that will be more realistic to discuss once we have a better idea from The Traveller as to what shipping and insurance will actually run.
In the meantime, a moment for thanks and kudos to the geniuses that came up with this idea in the first place and have gotten it rolling!
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman


It's a wicked idea! It would be cool to have a single violin go around the world. I know that the majority of the members here are from the US, I'm curious how many people here are from the Pacific region?
Anyway, I'm from Singapore (little island in south east Asia. Here's my suggestion for the travelling violin. Besides the journal, we should include a photo album in the case. Upon receiving it, the caretaker should take a photo with the violin, at a prominent landmark of the current location. It would be nice to know who have touched the violin.

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@Daniel. The upgrades for the Traveler, for the most part, are going to be simple things that most anyone would do to their instrument to make it more playable. I.e. New strings, Make sure the sound post is right, Maybe a new bridge if it is really bad, and in the case of Fred Donating a hard Case to protect it better
I have to say that I'm loving the Idea of a "Community Build" and the "Lending Library"
Also, having a flash drive "Guest Book" could definitely be an awesome and lightweight means of adding additional stuff to the case. I also dig the idea of Insuring the Instrument for Double as opposed to single Value.
@ Dude CCK Taking pictures with the instrument at historical or Famous locations is a great Idea but they would have to be stored on a Thumb Drive/ Jump drive to save on space and weight. We may also simply create another sub thread within this one for people to post their pictures and Audio/Video files as well.
@ Fifi Where about in Canada are you so I can plan efficient Shipping. City and Region. And welcome aboard to ALL of you!!
-Dennis
The pack depends upon the wolf, and the wolf depends upon the pack. The loss of one means the destruction of the other.

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I raise a question on insuring the Traveller. How many of you have actually tried to get insurance refund on something sent through the mail or UPS/FedEx? My experience, one time, was dismal. It took several months of jumping through hoops, much paperwork, and I still eventually got nothing for reimbursement. You have to prove the value of the insurance amount you took out. A used student instrument would have very little value for insurance purposes, most likely, and how could you prove its value. So let this be a pessimistic submission, considering that insurance would only drive up the shipping cost. You can insure for any amount you want, but whether you are ever going to get anything back in case the item gets lost or broken--I would say that's a very different proposition. I personally rarely insure an item I send unless the buyer insists.

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You make a good point, Steve. If Fred is going to donate a hard case for it, there's probably no reason to spend the extra money insuring it, as the shipping Co's. are generally pretty carefull with their package's.
If a "Fragile", sticker is put on the box, they take even greater care as not to damage the package.
Another question I have is, if this instrument is going all over the globe and each member add's a little something to improve it, when it come's to the last several members, what's left to do ?, unless they just submit a video to post here to show that they've had it and played it.
There is only so much one can do to the instrument, less removing the top and doing something on the inside, which I find it would be next to impossible for most of the member's here, with one exception of KevinM, who is quite capable of doing that.
Just my thought's.

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I was going to say exactly what Steve had said,,, insurance is almost useless, and you can't just declare the value of something put in a box and expect to receive that stated value in a settlement.
Also, the only REAL value of this instrument is it's emotional/sentimental/experimental value, which in my mind is invaluable; say we insured it for $500,,, first of all we could never support that claim, and secondly, the loss of this instrument is MUCH greater than a freakin $500 bill. I think I vote, no insurance.
Pierre, if you're thinking of the Tonarelli, no, I wanted to use something with even more esthetic/historical value. Several months ago I purchased a really decent violin that came in a vintage (1940s) Roth case with alligator embossed leather in pristine condition worth about $400. Everyone will LOVE it and it will easily accept stickers on the outside. I didn't thought I would never sell it, I love it that much, but I think it's perfect for this project and I'm happy to donate it. I love this community and I have NO doubts that everyone entrusted with this instrument will treat it as preciously as it deserves to be treated.
Dennis, you said you're going to include a page of instructions right,,, wait, you probably couldn't do that because you never had it.... how about if you send me a Word or Pdf file and I'll print it and include it. Do I also need to get a memory stick to include??? I personally like the notebook idea of Diane's except for the weight. The stick is a great idea, however it's very "sanitary".
Scotty sent the violin to me this morning, so some of these things need to be clarified shortly, because I won't keep it more than a week.
Also, just to be sure,,, we can sign anywhere ON the instrument? Please not the case, lol.




I suppose we can leave it up to each member to decide if they insure it or not. Perhaps some other members who may have experience with Shipping insurance and collections could give us a better Idea.
As far as the upgrades and adjustments go: This is strictly voluntary. no one HAS to do anything to the instrument itself other than play it, record it, Sign it, and send along a postcard/Sticker/etc. with it. The Option is there for people to make improvements but no one is required to make those improvements. This instrument could make its full run and have the only physical change to it, be Sharpie Signatures all over it
Which would still be Fun.
Steve I reckon since you are in Oregon you will probably be one of the first members to receive the violin since she is starting out on the west coast.
-Dennis
The pack depends upon the wolf, and the wolf depends upon the pack. The loss of one means the destruction of the other.




Will post an attached file with the "Rules" on here as soon as I type them all up in one place and if you wouldn't mind adding a Jump Drive to the case it would greatly be appreciated.
Yes you may sign anywhere on the instrument but I suggest against signing the bridge given that it may or may not be replaced at some point.
-Dennis
The pack depends upon the wolf, and the wolf depends upon the pack. The loss of one means the destruction of the other.



Regulars



Hi Dennis,
There are a number of fairly active list members in California, so I'd guess the Traveller will be going to them first, logically, before it leaves the state,then perhaps to Oregon (where there are also at least several fairly active list members.)
(Wow, I see I've passed 50 posts; I originally started hoping I could make 10 to meet Barry's contest minimum.)




Well Steve I need all of the members who want to have the Violin delivered to Send me their information including Shipping addresses now that the program is already underway. If you have a way of contacting any of these members directly to let them know I need their info please do so. Fred says he is only going to keep the violin for about a week so we have to move fast at this point
-Dennis
The pack depends upon the wolf, and the wolf depends upon the pack. The loss of one means the destruction of the other.






Fiddlerman said
I want to attach a globe on the main page with pins where the fiddle has been and where it is going as well. Who has an idea on how to best do that?Here is the page but I have not included any information as of yet:
https://fiddlerman.com/traveling-fiddle/
Please send all information that you guys would like to give and pictures to [email protected]
I researched about that and I found this software that looks just right for this, and you can easily work it into your website. It is pininthemap.com
You have to pay but its cheap. Like $19.95 per year.

Regulars
This is probably the best idea anyone's ever had on this forum! I love that everyone is on board and that you've already gotten it started. No procrastination there!
I approve the crazy idea of autographing the violin, and I also think a USB stick for pics and movies sounds like a good idea -- although they should also be posted on the forum for everyone to see straight away, of course.
~ Once you've ruled out the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be true. ~
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