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Five String Fiddle completed
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Chet Bishop
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Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 678
Location: Forest Grove, Oregon

PostPosted: Thu Oct 01, 2015 10:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm anxious to hear it myself. This is my first time making an instrument of wood other than maple and spruce. I was told right up front that other woods were frowned upon, so I steered clear until now.

Barry Dudley has been doing well with exotic hardwoods, so I know it can be done. He also makes his instruments a good deal larger than a "standard" 4/4 violin, and I have stayed to the "footprint" of a violin, so it will fit in a fiddle case. So far, that has worked.

We'll see how it works with Koa. Smile
This is how it looks tonight:

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kjb
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 8:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

i think jezzupe on MN also uses exotice woods quite a bit. looks great , 5 strings are uncharted territory it seems with lots of experimenting, not sure if even people are looking for a certain sound . They want the lows for sure , but as to the overall sound , I not sure there is a consensus on what a 5 string should sound like. I am guessing the players are looking for a unique to start with , so more of a personal taste than a comparison?
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Chet Bishop
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Location: Forest Grove, Oregon

PostPosted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 12:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

And here it is with the fittings added:
http://www.bluefiddles.com/2015/10/5-string-report-16-adding-the-fittings/
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Chet Bishop
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Location: Forest Grove, Oregon

PostPosted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nothing to show, for now, but, last night I did dress the fingerboard, install the nut, and file it to final shape (including string grooves).

I then polished the nut, saddle, endpin and fingerboard, and installed the soundpost. Once the ends of the nut were faired to the end of the fingerboard, I also polished the "handle" portion of the neck one last time, and rubbed it down with about two drops of shellac...just enough to seal it and polish it.

This evening, I hope to fit the bridge and tailpiece, install the strings and chinrest, and have it playing.
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Chet Bishop
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Chet Bishop
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Location: Forest Grove, Oregon

PostPosted: Sat Oct 10, 2015 2:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

All done, folks!
http://www.bluefiddles.com/2015/10/5-string-progress-report-17-finally-done/
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rs
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Joined: 14 Jan 2009
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Location: Holland, Michigan

PostPosted: Sat Oct 10, 2015 3:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's a very nice violin, Chet. I hope that whoever plays it remembers how much work went into it!
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Chet Bishop
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Location: Forest Grove, Oregon

PostPosted: Sat Oct 10, 2015 5:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

They (the customer who commissioned it) have been following the build on my website and on facebook, so I expect they will be cognizant of what went into it. I hope to deliver it later this week.

It is significantly louder than some of my previous five-string instruments, which may be due to arching (experimented with slightly differnt arching on this one) or the harder, denser wood of the back, sides and neck. I will try another maple five-string, using similar arching, to ascertain whether the arching made the difference, but if the dense hardwood is the key to getting that sound, I may start frequenting the local exotic woods market. Smile

Glad you like it.

Chet
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Dave Chandler
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Joined: 31 Oct 2007
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Location: Mt Mitchell in North Carolina

PostPosted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 6:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Loud under the ear can be disconcerting. How does it sound to others? You can probably tame that loudness with lighter strings, maybe a little soundpost adjustment. Rather to deal with loud than too soft.
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Chet Bishop
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Location: Forest Grove, Oregon

PostPosted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 10:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is not loud enough to be problematic; it is usually difficult to get a really good, solid C string on acoustic 5-string fiddles, if one insists on maintaining the violin "footprint" (same outline as a 4/4 violin). This one nails it. That and the fact that it is very well balanced across all five, makes it a winner, to me, but if the owner wants it "dumbed down" a bit, I can do that, as you say.

My guess is that he will like it the way it is. But I will give him the option, if he feels it is too loud. Thanks.

Chet
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Last edited by Chet Bishop on Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:46 am; edited 2 times in total
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ollieken
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Joined: 26 Mar 2007
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Location: New Brunswick Canada

PostPosted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 5:38 am    Post subject: Five string Fiddle Reply with quote

Beautiful work Chet Thanks for posting your Progress Ken
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Chet Bishop
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Joined: 23 Mar 2007
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Location: Forest Grove, Oregon

PostPosted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks, Ken! I'm glad you enjoyed the "ride".

I will start a new thread in a few days, as I begin building another upright bass. (nothing exotic, this time, just big leaf maple and spruce...probably Sitka spruce.) Could take me a while...I am working a lot of overtime.
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Chet Bishop
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Location: Forest Grove, Oregon

PostPosted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 10:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here are the final photos from the day we delivered the five-string fiddle:
http://www.bluefiddles.com/2015/10/5-string-commission-delivered/
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Joseph Leahy
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Joined: 23 Mar 2008
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Location: Ontario, Canada

PostPosted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 1:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Chet Bishop wrote:
Here are the final photos


Hi Chet, Thanks for taking the time to document the process. It's been a fun read.

Can you comment on what the fiddle is likely to be used for? Bluegrass? Country? Other? in a band or just for private enjoyment?

Joe
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Chet Bishop
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Location: Forest Grove, Oregon

PostPosted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 2:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, ironically (and sadly) the man who ordered the fiddle doesn't actually play. (!!) But he is taking lessons. Very perplexing, to me, but he bought the wood over thirty years ago, and that is what he wanted, so... that's what I made.

It has a very strong voice and could have been used for any sort of purpose...but, I have no control over that. Perhaps someday I will sell one to a famous player. (and maybe pigs really do have wings...)
Smile
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Joseph Leahy
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Location: Ontario, Canada

PostPosted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 3:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Chet,

It's a good story and as long as he enjoys the fiddle, that's the main thing.

Here's a sign that your big break may be imminent. We had a fat fluorescent red cardinal at the feeder this morning. He was making a pig of himself! That's pretty close. Smile

Have fun with the bass.

Joe
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