I inherited an old violin many years ago. this thread has me pulling it out of the closet. mice case, but the violin has stuck to the felt lining. I slowly peeled it out of the case and it is fuzzy on one side. the bow is really nice. has a pearl inlay on the end.
I can play a scratchy 'Twinkle Little Star' on it.
should I try and remove the fuzz? should I refinish this fiddle?
you can buy French polishing supplies at Stew-Mac. might make you feel like an old master to put a fresh rubbed finish on that violin, dogbite.
-=tension & release=-
ooh, French polish. great idea.
I've been working on and off for weeks French polishing a lap steel. Still haven't gotten it to a presentable point. Takes practice.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
hmmm -- patient rejecting the treatment.
-=tension & release=-
Don't we still consider the varnishes from Guanieri and Strativarius times pretty weird? Haven't sussed the formulas out even with today's technology.
Cat
"Feel what you play...play what you feel!"
Time to update "weird". So how's this...
Maybe a dozen years ago I found myself in Shanghai as I tagged along on a government junket. Big cattle-talk seminar, then over dinner asking the inevitable "what can we do for a night in Shanghai". A stranger at another table said we HAD to catch this jazz band somewhere on The Bund. We found the place. There were four TRADITIONAL Chinese musicians...I can't even begin to describe what they were playing on...but also traditional instruments. The YOUNGEST dude was into his 70's, too.
Then...they freakin' came up with 'Purple Haze', 'Foxy Lady' followed by 'Whole Lotta Love'...on god-knows what kind of instruments. THEY WERE PERFECT. I mean, intricate, perfectly performed freakin' PERFECT!!!
Hey? Does this qualify as weird???
Cat
"Feel what you play...play what you feel!"
Been trying to think of a few good songs that feature violins
Or perhaps an Aerosmith cover
I wrapped a newspaper ’round my head
So I looked like I was deep
