FiddleFix Contents

 

List of Photos and Illustrations  ----------------------------------------------------------- 8

Preface  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9

Introduction--Burt Porter  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 11

Chapter 1    Luthiers--Why and When?  -------------------------------------------------- 13

Chapter 2    So, Mr. Luthier, What's it Going to Cost?  ----------------------------------- 14

Chapter 3    But I Can't Find a Local Luthier (Or, I Found One  

                      But I Think He's Too Quick with the Jackknife and Epoxy)------------------15

Chapter 4   Viddle/Fiolin  ------------------------------------------------------------------16

Chapter 5   How Good a Fiddle Do You Need? -------------------------------------------17

                  Bows  ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17

Chapter 6   Omigawd, I Own a Genuine Stradivarius!!!  ------------------------------------18

                  Telling Fibs ---------------------------------------------------------------------18

                  Fiddling in Court   --------------------------------------------------------------19

Chapter 7   Fiddle Checking  --------------------------------------------------------------- 20

                  I Got a Fiddle at a Yard Sale For Less Than They 

                      Wanted For a Toaster Oven -------------------------------------------------20        

                  Happy Fiddle Checking  --------------------------------------------------------21

                                                Scroll  ------------------------------------------------------21

                                                Peg box  ---------------------------------------------------21

                                                Pegs  ------------------------------------------------------22

                                                            Geared Machine Pegs -----------------------------22

                                                            Other Types of Pegs ------------------------------23

                                                Nut  ------------------------------------------------------23

                                                Fingerboard/neck  ----------------------------------------23

                                                            Fingerboard Too Low  ----------------------------23

                                                            Planing Fingerboard -------------------------------24

                                                       Replace Fingerboard  ---------------------------------24

                                                            Fingerboard Alignment  ----------------------------24   

                                                            Glue Loose Fingerboard  --------------------------24

                                                Bridge  ----------------------------------------------------25

                                                            Bridge Straightness  -------------------------------25

                                                            If the Bridge is Tipped  ----------------------------25

                                                            If the Bridge is not Severely Warped---------------26

                                                            String Grooves  -----------------------------------26

                                                            Other Groove Wear  ------------------------------26

                                                            Bridge Too High or Low--------------------------27

                                                            The Tale of the Too High Bass Bridge------------27

                                                            Loose or Warped Neck  -------------------------27

                                                            Low Bridge  -------------------------------------27

                                                            Bridge Foot Placement  --------------------------28

                                                            Playing String Length  ----------------------------28

                                                            Relationship of Sound Post to Bridge-------------28

                                                            Installing Sound Post  ---------------------------28

                                                            Fingerboard/Bridge Alignment -------------------29

                                                            Bridges with Self Adjusting Feet-----------------29                               

             

                                                Tailpiece------------------------------------------------30

                                                            A Word About Fine Tuners---------------------31

                                                            Tailpiece Nut  ----------------------------------31

                                                Saddle  -------------------------------------------------31

                                                End button----------------------------------------------32

                                                Violin top  ----------------------------------------------32

                                                  Common Problems ------------------------------------33

                                                            Cracks  ----------------------------------------33

                                                            Corners and Edges  ----------------------------33

                                                            Top Sinking  ------------------------------------33

Chapter 8    Wood stories  -------------------------------------------------------------35

Chapter 9   Fiddle Fussin'  -------------------------------------------------------------36

                                    Peg Lubrication  -----------------------------------------------36

                                    Nut Groove Lubrication  ---------------------------------------36

Chapter 10   Stringing Along With Strings  ---------------------------------------------37

                                    Choice of Strings  ---------------------------------------------37

                                    Cost of Strings  -----------------------------------------------37

                                    Compare Steel to Synthetic  ----------------------------------37

                                    Tuning  -------------------------------------------------------37

                                    Ease of Playing  ----------------------------------------------38

                                    Tone  --------------------------------------------------------38

                                    Our Recommendations for Strings  ---------------------------38

                                    Choosing an E String  ----------------------------------------39

                                    String Care  --------------------------------------------------39

                                    How Do You Know When to Change Your Strings----------39

                                    How to Change Strings  -------------------------------------40

                                    Bridge Tipping  ----------------------------------------------40

                                    Tail Piece Selection  ------------------------------------------41

Chapter 11   Fiddlestuff  --------------------------------------------------------------42

                                    Some Thoughts on Temperature and Humidity  ----------------42

                                    Case Humidifiers  ---------------------------------------------42

Chapter 12   Instrument Cases  -------------------------------------------------------43

                                    Case Design  --------------------------------------------------43

                                    Case Closures  ------------------------------------------------43

                                    Case Fit  ------------------------------------------------------43

                                    Shoulder Straps  ----------------------------------------------44 

Chapter 13   Accessories for Your Fiddle  --------------------------------------------45

                                    Rosin  --------------------------------------------------------45

                                    Mutes  -------------------------------------------------------45

                                    Shoulder Rests  ----------------------------------------------45

                                    Electronic Pickups  ------------------------------------------46

                                    Tuning Forks  ------------------------------------------------46

                                    Electronic Tuners  --------------------------------------------46

Chapter 14   Violin Bows  ------------------------------------------------------------47

                                    Early Bows  ---------------------------------------------------47

                                   

                                 Expense  -------------------------------------------------------47

                                    Match Bow to Fiddle  ----------------------------------------47

                                    What to Look For in a Bow  ---------------------------------48

                                                Straight Bow Stick  ----------------------------------48

                                                Noodle Stick?  ---------------------------------------48

                                                Horse Hair  ------------------------------------------48

                                                Finish  ------------------------------------------------48

                                                Winding  ---------------------------------------------48

                                                Ivory Tip  --------------------------------------------49

                                                Frog  -------------------------------------------------49

                                                Button or Nut  ----------------------------------------50

                                                Bow Stick  -------------------------------------------50

                                                Camber  ----------------------------------------------50

                                                Overall Impressions  ----------------------------------51

                                                Bow Care  -------------------------------------------52

                                                Rosin Damage  ---------------------------------------52

                                                Broken Hairs  ----------------------------------------52

                                                Other Uses for the Bow  -----------------------------53

Chapter 15    Fiddle Fables  ---------------------------------------------------------54

                                    Rattlesnake Rattles  ------------------------------------------54

                                    Violin Varnish  -----------------------------------------------54

                                    Not All Fables Harmless  ---------------------------------- -54

                                    Hanging Your Fiddle on the Wall  ---------------------------54

                                    Humidity  ---------------------------------------------------54

                                    Rosin Caked on the Instrument  -----------------------------55


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