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