• tizzygirl said on Jan 09, 2008....

  I have always wondered if a fiddle and a violin are the same thing only with maybe different kinds of strings?  I'm not sure.  I don't have much knowledge to offer, but I would like to say that it is a beautiful instrument.  Instruments that were obviously played and loved pull on my heart strings (ha stings get it?)  I'm interested in any information anyone has though as well!

• Zayda said on Jan 09, 2008....

  A fiddle and violin are indeed the same instrument. The word violin is derived from Italian, while fiddle is English. The two word are related etymologically as they both derive from the same Germanic word.
  
  
  The term fiddle is typically used to refer to a violin when it is used in folk music or country music.
  
  Another distinction, not in the instrument but in the player is that violin players tend to be classically trained while fiddle players tend to not be.
  
  
  Most musicians, when asked the difference a fiddle and a violin will say "It's all in how you fiddle around with it".

• uniquely-ironic said on Jan 09, 2008....

  tizzy - this fiddle is the obvious "victim" of much use.  It touches my heart to know that it was possibly played by 3 generations of my family.  I may even take up the violin if rumors start to circulate that it will go to me when my dad passes.
   
  Zayda - thank you!  I had thought they were the same, but not being overly familiar with stringed instruments I wanted a more informed opinion.  I'd hazard a guess that there were no violinist in the family, just fiddlers ;)

• kruuyai said on Jan 09, 2008....

  Just marking to see what else I can learn about violins and fiddles here.  I have a couple of violins.. one here and one in the States.  I've been a beginning violin student off and on since I was about 30.  If I would have stuck with it, I'd have 18 years of playing under my belt.  As it is, I'm still a beginner.  I bought my last violin in August, and haven't started taking lessons again, but it had been so long since I played that I had to look on the internet to see how to hold the bow!  It does make a lovely room decoration, though.
  

• uniquely-ironic said on Jan 09, 2008....

  kru - LOL (room decoration)  I admit that I did pick up the fiddle and ignorantly try to get it to make some sort of noise with the bow.  I can see that if I do learn the fiddle that there will be more than a few evenings of headaches until I master it well enough to play recognizable music.

• kruuyai said on Jan 09, 2008....

  They say it's the hardest instrument to play.  That's because the frets aren't marked like they are on a guitar.  You have to have a good ear to play in tune. The same goes for vioa, cello and string bass.  But have fun with it.  I do (did...er.. will).

• uniquely-ironic said on Jan 09, 2008....

  kru - I think it will be fun to play something with strings.  We'll see if my ear for music survives the learning!

• rupert7 said on Jan 09, 2008....

  What a wonderful heirloom!  A hundred years of love, You have a real treasure there! What would you do if it turned out to be made by Antonio Stradivari! Extremely unlikely! lol  They say the violins expressive range is second only to the human voice. If you ever heard the late Yehudi Menuhin play you wouldn't doubt it!
  

• uniquely-ironic said on Jan 09, 2008....

  rupert - I am sure it's more than unlikely to be of any real monetary value.  My Dad, who played this one as a kid, said it had a sweet voice.  I'm hoping that when they do the inspection that someone will be able to play a few notes for me.

• Lucytorial said on Jan 09, 2008....

  Have you got a spot light on the inside to see if there is a label in there???? if so try see if you can read it, then you can research.... here is a photo of my fiddle!
  
  here
  
  
  Yours looks very old but you never know really, its fun to research.
  
  

• queenparanoia said on Jan 10, 2008....

  i have no idea... sorry... it looks really old though... an antique!!! =) does it worth somethig??? =)

• travelr712 said on Jan 10, 2008....

  well, i was gonna say pretty much what zayda did, but she did a great job with the etymology. i will add this link to the word 'fiddle' for anyone who is interested, it's pretty interesting. in our version, it's related to being idle, i.e. 'junior is in the house fiddling around instead of working in the field like he should be.'
   
  it's not really possible to tell the age of the instrument from a picture, but typically violins don't see that much wear unless they are old and heavily played. lucy also had a good idea. manufacturers would usually put a label inside the instrument, and normally they will include the date. it's most likely not a strad, as he stopped producing instruments in the early 1700's, but it could still be valuable. certainly it is as a family heirloom. what a wonderful story unique.

• uniquely-ironic said on Jan 10, 2008....

  Lucy - *blushes* I hadn't thought of using a flashlight to look inside the fiddle.  thanks!  I'll do that tonight.
   
  queen - I really don't know if it's worth anything financially.  Sentimental value is through the roof though.
   
  trav - I sincerely doubt it's a strad too.  While highly musical people, my family was a scrappy bunch of pioneers who doubtfully had a lot of money for instruments.  The sentimental value will do nicely though.

• soleme said on Jan 10, 2008....

  When my daughter was 5 yrs old, I would take her to the library, weekly for story time.  That is when I found out that a fiddle and violin are the same instrument, just played a little differently.  This was only 4 yrs ago.

  Zayda, answered your question, but I just had to share what I had learned at an old age.

• uniquely-ironic said on Jan 10, 2008....

  soleme - thank you.  I guess we learn something new all the time.  I know I sure do!

• EvilTwin said on Jan 10, 2008....

  I used to play classical violin many (too many to count) years ago, but since I severed some tendons and nerves in my left index finger, I have been unable to play.  I donated my violin to a school about ten years ago. 
   
  Lucytorial already mentioned looking inside for a label.  As she said, the easiest way is to shine a light into one of the f-holes and look through the other (usually the mark will be viewable through the left hole if the neck is up). 
   
  If a label is not present, look for a maker's mark inside.  These can be stamped into the wood or even burned in prior to assembly.  Very rarely is a mark on the outside of the instrument.  And don't be mislead by any markings on the outside such as on the bridge, the chin rest, or the tailpiece, as these can and often are replaced. 
   
  Antique violins can be worth thousands of dollars.  You should have it appraised by an expert.  Actually, you should have it appraised by a couple of different experts.  It's not just the fact that it is old that gives it worth.  The body must be intact and free of cracks or splitting at the seams.  And the quality of sound definitely increases its value.  I wonder if the sound post and bass bar are intact inside...
   
  Good luck with it.  =)

• uniquely-ironic said on Jan 10, 2008....

  ET - Wow, I'm impressed with your knowledge of violins!  Thank you for the information.  Now I can hardly wait to go home and have a look.  I have one place lined up to do an informal appraisal, I'm sure they can steer me in the direction of a couple of reputable appraisers.  From a novice perspective I can say that the body of the violin seems to be intact with no obvious cracks or flaws, just wear to the finish, which given it's estimated age, seems reasonable.  I hope someone at the music shop can play it for me so that I can hear it's voice.

• uniquely-ironic said on Jan 11, 2008....

  Okay, taking ETs suggestion I went home and looked inside the fiddle.  There was one small strip of very ancient paper that said "made in czecho-slowakia" on it.  I guess it confirms that it is a very old fiddle, but there was no makers name.

• EvilTwin said on Jan 11, 2008....

  Credit where credit is due; that was Lucytorial's advice. 
   
  Nothing else on it?  That's odd...  Did you perhaps Google the label info?  If it is a Czech made violin, it may still be worth quite a lot.

• uniquely-ironic said on Jan 11, 2008....

  ET - Oops, yes credit where it's due.  I didn't see anything, but those little holes are quite small.  I would think that a european made violin of that age might be well made.  I will have to get it appraised for kicks and giggles.
   
  Lucy - I guess I confused who to credit for suggesting the inside of the violin.  Thanks for that info, it seems to have given me another bit of information.

• kruuyai said on Jan 11, 2008....

  Hey, my violin is Czech, too!  But it's brand new and only cost about $150... lol   It's been fun reading all this stuff about old violins.  Has anyone ever seen the film "The Red Violin?"  If not, I highly recommend it to all you violin aficionados.  

• uniquely-ironic said on Jan 11, 2008....

  
   
  Well, here's the best shot I could take of the little sticker.
   
  Kru - I haven't seen that movie, but it may be a good choice for the weekend.

• Lucytorial said on Jan 12, 2008....

  Okay so are there any tiny initials on that label??? really check it out, also check the other F hole for a burnt insignia! then well get thee to a valuer... and also a proper case - a good case will save you so much worry and drama moisture ruins violins, it deteriorates the sound quality of the wood because the wood opens up so the pitch changes... believe me living in the tropics my violin is kept in air con pernenantly at the advice of my valuer.
  
  Mine is an original Glotz from pre war immigration to Japan (alot of european violin makes went there to keep making their instruments, we're talking around 1910 - 1912) its in perfect nick and worth approx $12k - $18k thats Aussie dollars not too bad but its grans and she taught me on it so its more than the money...
  
  Quick question though and evil twin did say this already even with the label on the inside you still need to get it checked by a professional valuer, sometimes people took labels off and put others on, other times like mine the name was spelt differently because of the period it was made, it meant that taxes were not as high and the instrument could easily be transported because it was (worth nothing) not a strad!
  
  I love solving mysteries like these....
  

• kruuyai said on Jan 12, 2008....

  I find it interesting that "Made in" is written in English, although the violin was made in Czechoslovakia.  What does anyone make of that? 
  
  Yes, do see the Red Violin, uniquely.  It's so full of music and history and language, and even a bit of suspense and romance.  The violin was red, because the violin maker's wife died in childbirth while he was making it, so he painted it with her blood.  There's an old woman reading tarot cards at various points throughout the movie which takes place on at least five continents in at least five different languages.  It's beautifully done.
  

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