Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

My big fat bush fiddle, 15 1/2 in Viola. I built this over 1 year ago and only just started playing it again. My playing is probably as
good as it will ever get, it sounds much better with guitar and double bass.

I plan on another Viola, more finished than this one. I have six fiddles ( 1 a 15yr old Roth I really like ) so I won't be building those.

neck..........Maple
top............Surrian Cedar
back...........PNG Rosewood
ribs............PNG Rosewood
fb...............Solomon Blackwood
nut/bridge...Bubinga
tone bar......Oregon















The music is accompaniment I made up for Lonnie Irvine's "Pinball Machines".


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4oFqKUbXRw

How is it possible that it sounds so good if it does not look exactly like "all" other fiddles?



The "rough" carving might not be everyone's taste, but I really like this groovy look which leaves no doubt which style of music the fiddle expects to be played on itself. I also love this very warm and "deep" sound. Who knows what classical orchestra viola (and violin) players are missing when not considering picking up different looking fiddles...

Congrats Bill, keep it rocking!

Hi Bill
Nice work i do not know much about fiddles but i do like the way it looks and sounds.
Regards Steve

Ditto. I know nothing about them, but I dig that one.....

Cool Bill, thanks for the tune. Maybe ample rather than fat, you don't want to give it a complex.

Jim

That fiddle is absolutely fantastic! The 'folky' sound is exactly how I reckon a hand-made instrument should sound. As soon as the clip started I was tasting whiskey, smelling tobacco and wanting for an open fire.
Well done, Bill!

I remember the one we got to see last year when Micheal and I stopped by your place Bill. All rustically carved, and without a doubt the first violin that I would pick up given a choice amongst others. I absolutely love it.

Cheers fellas, kind words indeed. The poor old Viola is the butt of all the string jokes but really is just the crusty but loveable old sheriff.

As others, I like it. That rough hewn look makes a great change from the smooth polished lines of mass produced stuff and as Dekka mentioned, the folky sound conjures images of early gold diggers, tobbacco and homemade liquor. When an instrument paints an image just from a few notes, I'd say you've cracked it Bill.