Five-String Fiddle On the Way

[Chet Bishop]

There is still a lot of work to be done, but this is my newest--a 5-string fiddle, of local big-leaf maple and Englemann spruce. All I have on it so far is the ground/sealer coat...probably will begin varnishing tomorrow evening.









I don't really care for the long corners, and may decide to shorten them a little. Haven't decided yet. Pretty maple, though, isn't it?

As things progress-- saddle, endpin, etc. and the rest of the varnish, I will post more photos. My website is down for the time being...I hope to get it back up soon.

Thanks for looking.

Chet

[Andrew Porter]

Yes very pretty figuring... and work.

[Chet Bishop]

Thank you kindly, neighbor!

It now has one coat of propolis, and several of varnish, so it looks completely different. I will try to post photos this evening. I abandoned my original plan of "golden-brown" and went with a richer red-brown, with golden highlights. I have no idea what it will look like on a computer screen, but I will attempt to find out.

I'm hoping to set it up Saturday. Might get started on it Friday night, even.

Thanks again...glad you liked it.

Chet

[Chet Bishop]

Here's what it looks like this evening...I anticipate about three more coats before I call it quits. The front and back photos look WAY too yellow, but I don't know how to color-correct, so we are stuck with them. The scroll photo looks about right, I'd say, so... maybe that will help you imagine what the rest really looks like.







I hope to have it set up and playing by Saturday evening. Guess I already said that. Just confirming.

[Chet Bishop]

All done!
(OK...it is as done as it is going to get, today.) I discovered that I had no 5-string tailpieces, so I carved one of Osage Orange...but I think it is heavy enough that is affecting the sound a bit. The real five-string tailpiece (Wittner) will arrive Wednesday. Meanwhile, I evidently misplaced the set of five matched helicore strings I had waiting for this, so I had to use Dominants plus a Dominant C-string made for a large viola. It plays amazingly well, considering all the goofy set-up issues, but I will defer judgment until the right stuff arrives. I'll have to order more strings, I guess... Anyway, here it is.

[Jason Rodgers]

Dang, now I REALLY wish I would have stopped by your table at Marylhurst! You make some great instruments, Chet!

[Chet Bishop]

Thanks, Jason;

I wish you had stopped by, too...but you live less than an hour away from me-- why not drop by and play it? (I don't really play, so I would welcome a "test-driver".)

Chet

[Jason Rodgers]

If I stopped by your shop, you'd be wise to not let me near that beauty! I'm all thumbs when it comes to the violin family.

[Chet Bishop]

Ah.

Well, if it is fine guitars you like, you'd have to talk to my son...he also lives in Forest Grove, and has followed that persuasion.
He's also starting to build ukuleles, and mandolins, I think...fretted instruments, in short. He has an archtop that gets accolades wherever it goes.

I'll have to stick with fiddle-family instruments.

[Chet Bishop]

This fiddle sold at the Marylhurst Musical Instrument Show this weekend. it was nice to see Jason there. (He always threatened to drop in on me and see if I was as advertised.) Wish I could have met more of you all.

[Jason Rodgers]

And he actually let me hold this little beauty! Unfortunately, my violin family skills are limited to just holding... I know which way is up, but that's about it. I was able to inspect the fit and finish, though, and it was top notch. Congrats on the sale! In the two or three laps I made of the room, it seemed like there were always folks playing at your table.

[Chet Bishop]

Thanks, Jason!
Yes that turned out to be an ideal location. I wish I could get it again next year. We got a fair bit of attention, there. The guitarists all stopped to look at my son Brian's work, and the violinists made a stop for mine. Too bad there were't many cellists coming through this year. Only two people played my new cello, I think. But it was nice hearing them play.

Hope to meet you again, sometime.

Chet

[Chet Bishop]

Here is a link to some pictures of the show:
http://www.bluefiddles.com/2013/05/2013 ... kers-show/

Wish more people could have come, but we did have about 500 people per day. This show is virtually always the last weekend in April or the first weekend in May, every year. Well worth the $3 admission.