Working on "Frenchie" the Fiddle
I grabbed the bull by the horns today and took the strings, bridge, tailpiece, tailpiece post, pegs and bridge all off the fiddle and cut a new soundpost and put a new bridge on it. Whew! I tried to use the old soundpost but it was too beaten up to really firmly contact the back and the top of the fiddle completely so it got replaced.
I also used a new bridge and reshaped it and sanded it to match the contours of old "Frenchie" which I believe to be built around 1910. I worked a whole lot on the new soundpost and got it positioned in what I would call a real "sweet" spot. It sounds great!
Then I put peg drops on the pegs, put a small dab of fiddler's grease on the fine tuners, cut the bridge grooves for the strings (I kept the same strings), shaped the end pin a little better and put the whole thing back together.
Wow! What a difference in tone! I am so happy that I finally got geared up to do this job.
I had an "A" string go bad on my 1834 fiddle yesterday at band practice and that was enough for me to get going on a back up that's dependable and good sounding.
Just thought I'd share. :)
Comments
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Congrats on getting all that done, Fred! Sounds like a happy thing...almost like getting a new fiddle!
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Yes, it does sound kinda new to me. :)
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Can't wait to year you play that thing!
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Can't wait to hear it! I picked up a new fiddle this year, jury is still out!
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Howdy, Stranger!