On Feb 8, 11:15 am, Lyle Lofgren <lylelofg...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
> The most im****tant thing: try to find someone who already plays fiddle
> to go with you when you go shopping. There are a whole lot of
> playability and sound quality factors that are hard to describe in
> words. The bow is as im****tant as the fiddle --
<snip>
Even more so, and virtually impossible for a novice to evaluate! I
like to tell students "You should spend more for your first bow than
for your first fiddle," but really bows (and fiddlers!) are so
individually variable that price doesn't always relate well to playing
quality.
The LaSalle LB-20 carbon-fiber bow (traditional shape, unlike the
Incredibow) lists for $89.00 (im****ted by Saga), and IMO is quite
decent. It's way better than the cheaper fiberglass bows, and there
isn't a wood bow at twice the price that is worth bothering with (at
least not until you have enough experience to try a bunch of them out
and choose).
In new beginner fiddles, just make sure to get one with an ebony
fingerboard, and not the "dyed hardwood" which is actually coated with
some kind of thick black plastic paint. All new cheap violins need to
have the fingerboard surface trued as part of setting them up, and all
that plastic must be scraped off-- not something a luthier wants to
mess with.
If you watch ebay you might be able to find an ebony-fitted fiddle
outfit for $111.00 (assume the bow will be useless!).
***BUT*** you're also going to have to get some better strings
($25+), and get the instrument set up (at least fit the bridge, nut,
soundpost and pegs, and true the fingerboard). There's the rub-- the
work could possibly cost you more than the fiddle and bow combined!
Look for any fiddlers in your area and ask questions!
Good luck
Dan
|
