The Bridge to New Sound

Last week I had a new bridge put on my primary fiddle. The desire was not necessarily for increased volume, but rather better tone. The original bridge was really quite short, which made the string take-off angle from the finger board so low that getting really crisp tone required too much finger pressure.

The new bridge is wonderful!! The increased string height means I can use LESS pressure to note, the D-string sounds beautiful, the G- is a little bit faster responding. And the E- is juuust a bit to loud. Have to get that tweaked in a month or so, but otherwise the new bridge is just great.

Jim, the luthier, told me that he works on the Bridger Creek Boy's fiddler's fiddle. Not an hour later I was at Heeb's, getting some groceries for dinner, and I heard from behind me "Nice machine gun case." Started chatting with the fellow and, don't you know, it was Matthew - the fiddler from The Bridger Creek Boys! Had a nice chat with him, and will try to meet with him for a drink one of these nights.

Otherwise, fiddling as much as I can manage every day. And working, ever so slowly, to relax my shoulder tension issue. Turns out that doing etudes allows enough attention capacity that I can listen to my body at the same time I listen to the fiddle, and quite often I find I'm tense. Jacquie and I are going to begin practicing yoga next week. That, too, will help.

New tunes I'm working on: Aith Rant, 250 to Vigo, Whistle o'er the Lave O't, Quiia Burn, The Curlew, and refining the bowing on Da Auld Resting Chair.