Rue

OT (sorta)... I have been listening to various podcasts (or similar) lately, while I work, and I tend to skim the comments afterwards (which I shouldn't ) ... and it seems like almost every comment starts with "I am xx years old, and I think...". Like, why? How is it relevant (with occasional exceptions)? Is this a sign of our own inherent ageism? Are we preemptively making excuses for our imperfections? Or are we virtue-signaling our experience? I've been busy learning a new skill this past year too. I never think to introduce myself by age. Just thinking out loud...

If that's your first violin, well, colour me impressed! It looks great! ...and just a little math: 3 violins per year × 30 years = a LOT of violins

If it doesn't bother you, or potentially cause physical problems, I wouldn't worry about it. Highly likely you're the only person who "sees" it! ...like the double chin I have when I play...

...just gotta squint a bit and use your imagination...

FWIW, both Canadian sunrises and sunsets can be spectacular! ...and Jacob didn't answer my question .

Was the sunburst also popular in German instruments? For some reason I keep thinking Czechoslovakia.

Personally? I love it! It's a beauty mark! I also love how it squiggles. It's part of the history of the tree - and now part of the patina, as far as I'm concerned.

Good grief. Just replace it with a similar violin and call it a day. They'll never notice! BTW, JK.

...still working from home! Never see the neighbours though...

**giggle**

Hmm...a lot more cracks than the initial photos suggested there were...

These are 'nicknames'. Not sure how you have come to the conclusion that an accomplished violinist considers themselves 'more' special by using the nickname. If anything, and I'm stretching here, it would be an attempt to be inclusive..."we're all fiddle players here!". While I mostly play classical, I tend to spend the summer fiddling. I call my violin a violin. Never called it a fiddle, since that's not my main interest, but I do refer to fiddle music...but that's just me...

Take pictures (er, the proper kind for ID) of the bow too!

Hmm. Or is a Hardanger simply a variation on a theme, rather than a different animal? What are the other instruments called fiddles?

...hence the TLC!