A Question of Experience

[ludditerobot]

Today marks my two-week anniversary in my life as a fiddle owner. I bought the cheapest fiddle Musician's Friend had to offer, and it could be just because I don't tend to play with my guitar and mandolin that close to my ear, but I'm blown away by the volume and resonance of this thing. But I know that it's a $80 instrument and people buy and sell

Comments

[ludditerobot]

Cheap instruments are fine to start on but the bow makes a big difference, if yours came with a bow I'd suggest spending money on a new one, my fiddle is a budget version and the difference in tone and playability when my fiance bought me a better bow as a gift was astounding, I'd not really considered it had that much effect.
I'll certainly consider that. Probably in a while, after I'm past playing "Mary Had A Little Lamb" on the five notes of the D scale the video showed me. What I'm after is a description of what that difference might be.

I'm a guitarist, and my acoustic is an inexpensive Fender. I go to the shop and pull down a Martin D-28 and I know the difference. I can hear it. The instrument is lighter. The harmonics are brighter. Notes pop out more when I play. Intonation is better. I'm hoping to get a more concrete description of that difference in tone and playability when it comes to fiddle.
I like the way a person can spend just a small amount on an instrument and learn the basics and get good technique without having to break the bank, and then trade up to something that makes that technique and practice really shine out.
That is truly a wonderful thing. What blows me awy in the field I know is the way that what I could get as a basic "get this for your teenage son who might just quit after a week" instrument today is light years ahead of what I got as a teenager 20 years ago. I'm sure it's similar for other instruments, but I have experienced it with guitar.