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James Boutilier Male Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada: Like

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Cigar Box Fiddlers

78 members
49 Comments 1 Like
CB Fiddles

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CBG wiring & electronics.

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James Boutilier's Discussions

Necks- Can you build em Sideways ?

Started this discussion. Last reply by MBliss Oct 21, 2011. 9 Replies 0 Likes

Ok, that's oddly put, but not sure how else t word it. Here's the thing, I want an angled headstock, but also want laminated sides on the neck, as they will actually form the sides of the body too.…Continue

How to- Sunburst ??

Started this discussion. Last reply by James Boutilier Jul 18, 2011. 10 Replies 0 Likes

simple as that. Trying to figure out how to do a nice sunburst on a box ?Anyone ? thanks jimContinue

BANDSAW PROBLEM-- could end my building hopes

Started this discussion. Last reply by Slowpaw Steve T Jun 28, 2011. 14 Replies 1 Like

hey all... seems i dont have a way to cut a clean, close and accurate straight line...i was going to cut a practice "A" type strummer, cut strips up the bottom , looks like a fork.. know what i…Continue

Basic Box and Reso Building Questions -- for the love of fuzzy kittens, someone help me

Started this discussion. Last reply by Mungo Park Jun 3, 2011. 5 Replies 0 Likes

Got most of the parts I need ordered !! Now waiting (and praying Canada post doesnt go on strike tomorrow !!!) While I wait.... I'm planning on making my own boxes for some projects, like a License…Continue

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James Boutilier's Page

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Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw replied to James Boutilier's discussion Shorter Bows on Full Size Violin ?? in the group Cigar Box Fiddlers

"Hi Ben. That makes a sense as the bridge on a bass if further from the players shoulder (which is pretty much what defines the optimum length). Strangely enough, violin and viola bows are the same length (give or take a mm) although a viola player…"

Oct 29, 2011

Ben replied to James Boutilier's discussion Shorter Bows on Full Size Violin ?? in the group Cigar Box Fiddlers

"https://sites.google.com/a/pgcps.org/mr-kepler-instrumental-music/video-menu/strings Here's just a quick little video that I shot for my students. The second video down talks about the bow hold. You can probably go ahead and start with your…"

Oct 29, 2011

Ben replied to James Boutilier's discussion Shorter Bows on Full Size Violin ?? in the group Cigar Box Fiddlers

"My guess is that the awkwardness came more from it being a foreign object and less about the length. As a public school instrumental music teacher, I can tell you that being comfortable with the bow is by far the hardest part of playing the violin.…"

Oct 29, 2011

Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw replied to James Boutilier's discussion Shorter Bows on Full Size Violin ?? in the group Cigar Box Fiddlers

"Hi James. The reason that a bow is a particular length is that for most people, if you have the instrument in the correct position and the bow at 90º to the strings your arm should be pretty near full stretch at the tip of the bow. This allows…"

Oct 28, 2011

James Boutilier replied to James Boutilier's discussion Shorter Bows on Full Size Violin ?? in the group Cigar Box Fiddlers

"Thanks folks I should have said, the music I want to play are mostly quick solo tunes, Irish Jigs, Scottish Airs and Hymns. Thanks (ps- the one time I had a bow in my hand, I found the length very awkward)"

Oct 28, 2011

Yellowbelly Flatt replied to James Boutilier's discussion Shorter Bows on Full Size Violin ?? in the group Cigar Box Fiddlers

"I totally agree with Ben, and I do usually use a full size bow whilst playing mt cigar box fiddle, my acoustic luthier made fiddles and my factory produced electric fiddles. The reason for this is the length of note that can be produced and one bow…"

Oct 28, 2011

Ben replied to James Boutilier's discussion Shorter Bows on Full Size Violin ?? in the group Cigar Box Fiddlers

"Longer doesn't mean better (no matter what you've heard your whole life!). Think of it this way: If the bow's size was related to the size of the instrument, then an upright bass bow would be more than 6 feet long. You can certainly…"

Oct 28, 2011

James Boutilier added a discussion to the group Cigar Box Fiddlers

Shorter Bows on Full Size Violin ??

Hey all. I'm not a fiddle player. I plan to build a box fiddle, Full Size. I also plan to learn to play. QUESTION: can you use a 1/2 size Bow on a Full Size Violin? I just find the bow really long and prefer to have a shorter stroke across the box. This screw things up ?? ThanksSee More

Oct 28, 2011

7 Comments 0 Likes

James Boutilier joined Low Budget Luthier's group

Cigar Box Fiddlers

welcome to my new group. lets talk bowed instruments.

Oct 28, 2011

49 Comments 1 Like

Yellowbelly Flatt replied to James Boutilier's discussion Fiddle Scales - Length - Postion - 4/4, 3/4 ??? Hellllp in the group CB Fiddles

"Hi there, As with most things cigar box, it is said that there are no rules. However, it's no good making things hard for yourself. Like Diane said - you want a full size fiddle. I use ready made fingerboards and they are about 10 1/2"…"

Oct 21, 2011

Diane in Chicago replied to James Boutilier's discussion Fiddle Scales - Length - Postion - 4/4, 3/4 ??? Hellllp in the group CB Fiddles

"Fractional size fiddles are generally only for young children. You'll want a full size. Some standard fiddle measurements: width at bridge: 4.5" nut to bridge: 13" bridge to tail: 6" height of box: …"

Oct 21, 2011

Tres Seaver replied to James Boutilier's discussion Fiddle Scales - Length - Postion - 4/4, 3/4 ??? Hellllp in the group CB Fiddles

"Per Wikipedia, the standard violin scale length (4/4) is 327mm (12.8 in)."

Oct 21, 2011

James Boutilier added a discussion to the group CB Fiddles

Fiddle Scales - Length - Postion - 4/4, 3/4 ??? Hellllp

Hey all, man I wish the A.D.D would stop kicking in , hahaha, now I see these fiddles and it's like, what was I thinking about building yesterday? First THANKS to Diane for the beginner helps, but thought I'd try a post here to give the poor lady a breather (grin). I want to build one of these guys, and have much of the stuff, and a line on the parts I don't. The BIG 2 QUESTIONS: 1. Size : 4/4, 3/4 1/2 ??? Whats the big diff, and what do folks prefer ??? (best sound?) 2. Scale Length : so,…See More

Oct 21, 2011

3 Comments 0 Likes

James Boutilier joined Diane in Chicago's group

CB Fiddles

Idea trading post for bowed instruments. Share photos and tips of fiddles and whatnot that you've built, acquired or seen.See More

Oct 20, 2011

69 Comments 3 Likes

Mr.C replied to James Boutilier's discussion Necks- Can you build em Sideways ?

"Hear one example"

Oct 20, 2011

Mr.C replied to James Boutilier's discussion Necks- Can you build em Sideways ?

"What you want to do is glue up two three by 3/4. Then cut out your neck profile"

Oct 20, 2011

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James Boutilier's Blog

People Can Suck Sometimes

Posted on June 3, 2011 at 6:49pm 1 Comment 0 Likes

Could pretty much leave it there - but I shall go on...

Yesterday my brother comes home. There is a woman at the end of our road (we are a little hidden off the main road). Trunk is open and she has a box. Knowing our street is a "pet dumping ground" my brother goes over and warns her the area as not safe to be walking in as people "releave" themselves in there (also true... sad isn't it).

She explains she is a paramedic working in the city and found a…

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String Crazy and Postal Waits

Posted on June 3, 2011 at 4:49pm 0 Comments 0 Likes

Ever feel the cosmos conspires against you ?

Well, at least a few salespeople and Canada post.

Now on strike. Oh man. And I still have thin wood and string to buy before I can start building.

On a positive note - my how-to book arrived after 2 months and a paypal refund (yes, I repaid him) -- unfortunately, everyone in here already answered all the info covered in the book pretty much, haha.

Ok, on a real positive…

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Entering this crazy Poor-Man's Music world !

Posted on May 9, 2011 at 5:37pm 8 Comments 0 Likes

Hey everyone (anyone who might be reading),

Loving this CBNation site !

I'm a terribly musically challenged individual. You could set me out in the wilderness and although I could find a way to make a knife, build a hut, tell me my supper depended on contributing something musical and I guess I'd starve.

Thank goodness I discovered the 3 String instruments.

I currently have a very pretty (I mean manly) 3 String Stick Dulcimer…

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Comment Wall (6 comments)

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At 1:17pm on October 21, 2011, MBliss said…: Hey James

You posted a question on bowed dulcimer vs fiddle?

Unfortunatly since you posted it as a "message to all members" of a group, there is no route to respond. Try reposting it as a discussion topic in the apprpriate group, then there is a way to get responses.

Hope that helps!

Mark

At 4:56pm on June 24, 2011, Rand Moore said…: Hi James.

Sorry about the broken link. Try this one: new link

-Rand.

At 11:45am on June 24, 2011, Rand Moore said…: Hi James.

Here's an update to the thread about how to squeeze a small tuna can resonator into a short cigar box using a neck thru design. Here's the link.

-Rand.

At 3:26pm on May 26, 2011, bairfoot cajun said…: howdy james on the neck angle question of how---i cut the neck thru piece in 2 pieces and then added another piece under those 2 pieces so this allowed me to tilt the part in front that goes to the tuners by wedging just a sliver of wood under it then i just shaved off the part of it that would not allow the lid to fit flush--shaved about the same amount as the sliver of wood i put underneath it and used a block plane to do the shaving of it for proper fit.

At 9:58pm on May 22, 2011, Wichita Sam said…: thanks for friending me.... contact me anytime you think I can help... the best, Sam

At 5:49pm on May 16, 2011, bairfoot cajun said…: howdy james,just dropped in to answer a few questions for ya.about the biscuits,they are the cutouts that a hole-saw bit makes therefore that is why they have that lil hole in the center of them. sometimes i screw them onto whatever i may use for the resonator but not always,most of the time they are free floating and the string pressure holds them in place.thanks for the comments.lots of times when i cut out a hole for a resonator i use the same exact piece i cut out for the biscuit,just might have to add another cutout of the same diameter but only thinner to make the original biscuit just a lil taller for proper string action. hope these ideas helps ya.thanks again for the comments and questions.