Chiff and Fipple Forums

Belgarth 16" bodhran (I know, it ain't got strings), J Bovier Tradition mandolin, Troubadour octave mando/short scale bouzouki (at 23" scale it's kind of right there on the fence) and Gliga Romanian fiddle with Codabow Diamond NX bow and Incredibow. The Incredibow deserves its name. Amazing thing - light as a feather but nigh on indestructible.



Not shown - another four mandolins, two ukuleles and a guitar...

Here is my 1921 made by Karl Muller in Germany. It has a dark, rich tone that when played by a talented fiddler (not I) sounds great.

Here's a picture of "The Harpy Boys":



Clockwise from Front:

My latest acquisition: "Aodhán," a Dreamsinger "Bard." 26 brass wire strings, narrow spacing no levers. We're going as historical as possible with this guy (and there's quite a learning curve!)! Played with the fingernails. Has a gorgeous, bell-like, sound.

My travel harp: "Fírinne," a maple Harpsicle. 26 light-tension nylon strings, no levers, only weighs about 4 pounds, tops. Has a soft voice, as you might imagine from the size of the soundbox, but it's a very pleasant little voice. These harps were originally designed for harp therapists.

My main squeeze: "Sonas," a Dusty Strings "Ravenna 26." 26 nylon strings with concert spacing and tension. Loveland levers on F, C, B and G. Has a big, bright, round voice for such a small harp.

Oh...and we can't forget "Frankie"!



Aka "Frankenharp." My hubby made him out of PVC pipe. 22 light-tension nylon strings (tuned in G), with guitar tuning pegs. Makes a great conversation piece!

Redwolf

My instruments...they look nice all lined up. Pity I can't actually play any single one of them very well.

The fiddle...don't know much about it, other than what the tag inside it says "Copy of Antonius Stradivarius, made in Czechoslovakia." Cost all of $50 at a secondhand music shop.

Johnson MF-370 mandolin

The banjo is a Kay, don't know what model or anything. All I know is my dad picked it up dirt cheap at an antique fair, and it's pretty much a piece of crap

Regal RD-52 Black Lightning resonator guitar

34 String Dusty Strings Ravenna - Great sound for the price from a top notch maker. The Zouk is a short scale (Romanian) that I pimped out black/gold to match my other toys. I was really surprised how good it is for the money.

Here's my new Ozark Tenor:



-Brett

emmline wrote: I am most fond of its low-lustre, nut-brown color.

Rightfully so; it's a handsome fiddle. The now-antique faked antiquity story has charm, as well.

Thomaston wrote:I'll start, sort of, since my wife is out of town with the camera and I can't figure out how to transfer a picture from my phone to the computer. I got this Gold Tone IT-250 about 3 months ago, and love it.



Mine came with a Renaissance head and a no-knot tailpiece, which I've since swapped out for a regular mylar head and a Waverly style tailpiece. I've also got a lovely Sampson bridge on it made of koa and tipped with bloodwood.

Edit to say, some may scoff at an openback tenor, but I've found it has perfect volume this way. I'm heard in a session, but I'm not a "cannon," overpowering and aggravating others.

Regular mylar? How did you get the 'shamrock shake' colour? Or is that a trick of the light?

s1m0n wrote:

Thomaston wrote:I'll start, sort of, since my wife is out of town with the camera and I can't figure out how to transfer a picture from my phone to the computer. I got this Gold Tone IT-250 about 3 months ago, and love it.



Mine came with a Renaissance head and a no-knot tailpiece, which I've since swapped out for a regular mylar head and a Waverly style tailpiece. I've also got a lovely Sampson bridge on it made of koa and tipped with bloodwood.

Edit to say, some may scoff at an openback tenor, but I've found it has perfect volume this way. I'm heard in a session, but I'm not a "cannon," overpowering and aggravating others.

Regular mylar? How did you get the 'shamrock shake' colour? Or is that a trick of the light?

That was just a stock photo from the Gold Tone site... it was likely just a trick of the light.

Ketida - your 'cittern/mando mix' is SSSSIIIICCCKKK!!!! Wow, that is a beautiful instrument!

Best,
Trout

Left to Right:
1. Viola, 1938, Kurt Gutter
2. Viola, 2004, S. Hamann
3. Violin, 2007, S. Hamann
4. Violin, 1978, Guildan
5. 5 string Violin, 2000
6. Electric 5 string violin, 2000
7. Octave violin, 1921


Backs of #1 and #4


Scroll and Pegbox of #1


Scroll and Pegbox of #7




From Left to Right (on Futon)
1. Bowl back Mandolin, 1920s
2. Resophonic Bouzouki, Tyler Mountain
3. 17 fret Tenor Banjo, Washburn, 1925
4. 19 fret Kay tenor Banjo, 1950's (heavily modified by moi)
5. Violin 3 from above
6. Violin 6 from above
7. Violin 5 from above
Floor
1. F Mandolin, Espanola, 2000


A handful of instruments from the local school district I repaired over Christmas.
Please pardon the non-stringed things

I've never seen a resophonic bouzouki before. That's neat.

Thomaston wrote:I've never seen a resophonic bouzouki before. That's neat.

Agreed. That is one of the best series of photos
I've seen in a while. I even like the steampunk
keyboard postscript in your sig.

emmline wrote:

A bit off topic, but that's also a really nice chair.

Here's mine: a demonic Romanian left-handed fiddle made by Gliga.

Caj wrote:A bit off topic, but that's also a really nice chair.

You aren"t the only one admiring that quarter-sawn oak A&C chair.

I've got a mandolin and guitar round here, but this my only stringed instrument that gets constant play time