The MIM.

[Philstix]

I was in Phoenix last week and was able to spend a day at the Musical Instruments Museum. It is an amazing collection of instruments, some crude, some simply strange, some awesomely crafted, some famously owned, and some beyond description. My camera battery died just as I reached the Australia/New Zealand exhibit, but it was great to see some actual pieces by members of this forum, though you are not allowed to touch anything, so I still have never played one. I would name names but I don't want to leave anyone out and I didn't think to write them down. So instead I will just leave you with a question. Did you ever think of building something like this?

The picture behind is actually a video screen showing someone playing the instrument.

[Tod Gilding]

It would be an interesting build Phil ..do you have plans

I think it is a Nickel Harp or Key fiddle ....Sweedish instrument maybe

[Philstix]

Yes, it is a Swedish keyed fiddle and though it is hard to see in the picture the keys are in three rows. Four paired strings but some can play two notes at once, sort of a pianolin. In the mechanized instrument section there was a machine that played a similar instrument but the strings were bowed by self rosining wheels and they and the keys were controlled by perforated paper rolls. That one sounded surprisingly good.

[Allen]

Looks like something Graham MacDonald might build.

[christian]

Hi Phil,

Glad you enjoyed the MIM, I really hope to get over there and experience it too one day.
You probably saw a couple of my guitars hanging up there in the NZ section. The curator sent me a photo of them a while ago.

Cheers,

Christian.

[Philstix]

Yes they were there and I thought I had a couple of nice closeups of them, but as I said, the camera battery failed me. Loved the design and the execution. There were some pieces by others who post here on the forum in the Australia exhibit which is right next door.
This is another instrument at the MIM, built by one of the founders of the Robert Venn school of luthiery, which is also located in the Phoenix area.

[n~dl]

I have family in Phoenix who have been trying to get me down there to see the MIM (and them!) for some time now. Even my grandpa, who didn't think he would like this sort of thing, had a blast there.

Although Vermillion, South Dakota isn't exactly vacation spot numero uno (well hey, neither is Phoenix) there's a pretty mondo collection there at the National Music Museum, if that's the kind of thing you're looking to hit up on your travels. Man, if this slideshow doesn't make you drool...: http://orgs.usd.edu/nmm/Tours/WalkThruNMM/Tour.html The tragedy here is that unlike the MIM you'll never get to hear any of these. Tears...tears...

[n~dl]

I'll be finally checking out the museum this weekend! Can't wait. Maybe I'll add some photos here.

[graham mcdonald]

Looks like something Graham MacDonald might build.

I'm thinking about it...

[mhammond]

The MIM is a wonderful way to spend the day. Good building , good food, wonderful stuff to see!

Mikey

[Graham Long]

We saw two Key Fiddles being played at The Woodford Folk Festival, Something to behold, unfortunately i didn't get a video of them.