TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Hello Dave, and thanks so much for giving up your time to us :D
I am thrilled :)

I am interested in what fiddles you have. Which is your favourite ( if any ) and do you have any advice for an aspiring fiddler in playing the wonderful fast fiddle tunes you are so known for . Obviously practice practice practice... but any tips?

Thank you !!

Sam x

half an hour a day every day is the secret, i play a fiddle by michael burnham look him up on the web   they are great!  swarb  the only tip i could give is to go your own way and dont be like anyone else

Thanks Swarb ... I will practice :P

Hi Swarb, great to see you doing TAW.

What's your take on electric fiddles ?  (You'll see from my avatar that I've dabbled in the past, but I've gone back to the real thing in the last few years.)  Have you played in situations where electric was necessary or preferable?

Cheers,

Doc

yes lots of times doc,apart from being able to use all the gadgets wah wah for example, one should also try the electro/accoustic fiddles and i would reccomend "Sonic" .check em on the web you get the best of both worlds. also the fiddle mikes on the market are interesting best i know of is "rim"    swarb

Thanks for that.  The Sonics look really good - must save up!  Maybe a viola as well... :)

Hi Swarb

Were you using a Wah Wah then on John the Gun on the 74 Live album?

Steve

yes

Thanks, Swarb

Sounded great by the way!

Steve

the wah wah works great on the fiddle, i love it, dont carry a lot of gear around now ,but if i did i would take a wah wah pedal. the band usd to take the piss,used to call me "shaft"

I could imagine Nigel Kennedy using a wah wah pedal... I'm seeing you in a whole new light now Mr S.  :o :)

I've never played my fiddle thru any pedals though I've got delay and flanger for my geetar and distortion in my Fender amp.

Need to get a pick-up for the fiddle first... any suggestions?

what would be yr price range?

Something at the cheaper end of the range.

Ha ha ha ha.  Oh, that's priceless.

 ;D

Jules

I am looking to electrify my lovely old stainer fiddle and have heard that fishman are good, but they are a bit pricy :(

hello there, I wouldnt electrify a Stainer, have a look at a mike system called rim. actually it would be useful to know if you intend to use an amp, or go through the sound desk and have it relayed back to you through a monitor. afishman would cost you aprox £250? i would seriously consider paying twice that for a sonic, look up sonic violins on the web. you will never regret it.

Eh up again Mr S ;)

I can get cheap musical stuff from my stateside girlfriend so never pay uk price thank god... I will look out for the rim system and research it cheers . I would be using it through an amp yes and also to plug into the input line in on my lexicon interface to record through the laptop. I know nothing of electric fiddles or mics for them although I bought the missis a nice electric fiddle for xmas :D But then she does pretend to be a rock chick ;)

At the moment I am using an nice audio technica mic to record the fiddle acoustically and it sounds so lush I wanted to see what it was like amp'd up. I would not be able to cut anything into the instrument, it is far to old and beautiful and is my dream fiddle. It is very loud and flamed :)

I had a look at the sonic... the classic is rather lovely. Out of my price range at the moment tho ... but have saved the site :)

sorry to hijack the original question, I shall go and annoy Jude in the bar

:D

Oh the fishman is just $99 here :

http://www.fermatamusic.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=20557&language=en&cPath=469&

I've just thought that the cheapest option would be to play into my shure mic plugged into my guitar amp. Those lovely people at the Jobcentre have stopped my benefit so I'm living off my savings and the wife's income and I don't think she'd appreciate me spending money on a fiddle mic.

there is loads of posses but you got to watch out for feedback  a rim is not for an amp, the fishmans would be fine, go get it, and get the pre amp for it if you can.

To hell with the feedback - that'll piss off my neighbour who regularly annoys us with his moped.

I've always been inspired by John Cale's minimalist approach where the fiddle (or viola) just fills out the sound rather than acts as a lead instrument. And you don't have to practise so much if you just play long notes!

BTW I'm in a trio just now with a guitarist and my missus on cello. We played Crazy Man Michael the other night and I just kept it simple not taking any solos. Sounded ok. If we record a version I'll send you a copy.