CB Fiddles

Comment

Comment by Tim LaFave on April 27, 2013 at 10:16pm

Just finished my second cb fiddle; I call it "Room 101 Limitado". It went together perfectly and plays beautifully. It is a 4/4 build, with hand-worked scroll volute on a custom length neck. I've posted pictures for those who might be curious.

Comment by Ron Page on April 27, 2013 at 9:28pm

Hey, I appreciate all the nice comments. Thanks.

Comment by Tim LaFave on April 27, 2013 at 6:03pm

Great work on your fiddle, Ron ... she's a beauty! I find also that new strings tend to need a break in period, they stretch until they're just right!

Comment by MBliss on April 27, 2013 at 9:11am

Ron, that came out really nice!

You obviously did your research and payed attention, avoiding many common first time fiddle pitfalls.

I wouldnt rule out tuner slippage, even if they are hard to turn. This is a common problem on all fiddle tuners in my experience. They just tend to be "sticky," hard to get into tune and hard to keep in tune by my reckoning. It could also be the tailpiece as Diane mentions, or the entire assembly, neck and top settling a bit may be a factor.

Either way, tune it up and practice some scales. Way cool peice of work!

Comment by Diane in Chicago on April 27, 2013 at 12:27am

Maybe the cord on the tailpiece is slipping.  Those plastic threads can easily fail.  I've had that happen on two tailpieces.  I had to get one from International Violin in the end.

Comment by Ron Page on April 26, 2013 at 10:27pm

Strings are steel. The pegs are so hard to turn I'd be surprised if they were slipping.  Still, something's happening and that's the logical thing, especially since I hand tapered the holes. Really difficult to turn them tho'.

Comment by Diane in Chicago on April 26, 2013 at 9:10pm

Are the pegs slipping? If so, you can put some peg dope on them.  It is sort of waxy and comes like a ChapStik.

If you are using steel strings, they will not stretch very much, but the synthetics take several days to really settle down.

Comment by Ron Page on April 26, 2013 at 8:41pm

Diane,

Thank you very much. I must admit I looked your stuff over pretty closely while I was working on this.  You do good work.

I'd love for anyone who CAN play to try it out and give me some feedback.  I'm amazed at the volume.  Matter of fact, the only thing I'm disappointed in so far is the lack of holding tune.  I'm hoping it settles in.

Comment by Diane in Chicago on April 26, 2013 at 7:31pm

That is really beautiful!  Wish I was closer, I'd give it a play!

Comment by Ron Page on April 26, 2013 at 6:27pm

Just finished my first violin.  Since I can't play I have no idea if it sounds correct.  It does have good volume, and I've tuned it with my little digital tuner.  It's gradually settling in to where it will stay more or less in tune - at least for awhile.  Heh...

The "cigar" box is custom made using some quarter-sawn fir I had in the shop.  No spruce but I hoped the fir would work since it's close (at least in the forest). I planed it down to violin specs in thickness, then used box joints on the corners to look more like a real CB.  It's 14"L x 4.5"W x 1.875"T.  Just thin enough for the chin rest to work. I added a bass bar and soundpost but who knows whether they are sized and placed correctly for this little box.

The fingerboard is Bois d' Arc from an old fence post I had at the farm.  The "pyro-art" is supposed to be poison ivy (since PI and bois d' arc are quite often found together).

Anyway, I enjoyed building it and it gives me another weapon to drive the wifey nuts...

Now let's see if I can add the pictures from my page.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• …
• 7
• Next ›
• Page