reg

Bromptons are offering many 'interesting' violins, but also a 'very interesting' violin from £2000?

Some of my Chinese 'masters' look identical?

True mea culpa

HULLO PJHAM MAY i ASK (OR IS IT IMPERTINENT?) WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED IN OZ? SORRY FOR CAPS - SLIP OF THE FINGER! R

Thanks Harley I understand a bit better now. We did test a 'strong'/stark C string on a 17" viola and it tuned down happily to B and was not to sloppy Maybe others could comment please

Hullo all All very interesting, but could I digress please? Could you please look at a thread on the Fingerboard forum under 'New Helicore octave strings' and perhaps offer advice to an Irish folk fiddler. He has tuned his 5 string 17" viola with an added B on the treble but uses 1/2 cello strings ! ?

Thank you for all the contributions - I'm still learning!

Thanks for that! As a Marky fiddle do you see this one as one of the better ones? or just average?

Could I request some help please. I have here an old violin with lion head (big ears) which seemed to my ignorant eye to be a Saxon/ Schonbach fiddle, mid 19th C. But inside is a label reading William Duke Holborn Bars, London 1723 If he was the father of Richard Duke would anyone bother to fake a William Duke label? Greatly appreciate comment

Sorry wrong forum I can't find how to delete ?

Hullo pjham - are you still about? Just had a call from a 'folk' fiddler in Australia who has bought a 17" Viola which he wants to tune B G D A E but an octave lower. (??) The B is a problem as you are tuning up from A which, of course, snaps. Tuning C down to B is too floppy. Would you suggest a steel core A but with low/weich tension, and then tuned up to B or do you think a high/stark tension would cope? Can anyone comment please!

Very good So is the Viola strung as normal? I did wonder why you were using a Violin as opposed to a Viola!

Thank you Have you ever tried the 'hole in the heart' process used for small violas? Maybe your instruments are too valuable to 'wreck' them, but if you get a cheapo, it could work wonders!

Thank you all The 'Swan' was certainly superb! PJHAM Can I ask a favour - i e may I use what you have written on my blog. It goes out to many strings players!

Ok sigh! So its the dustbin? ...or maybe just a wall hanger! BTW it does have a yellow strip set in between the ebony purfling?