Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Sweeping up

Took the top off a fiddle today, and then used a brush to clean up some of the dust and debris that had accumulated through the f-holes over the years. This one wasn't particularly dirty, and I threw away the little hairball before I thought to take the photo.


Many players express surprise when they find out how much 'stuff' is inside their fiddles. Hair, rosin, and dust is common in normal fiddles. Sometimes if the fiddle has been neglected, you can find a wasp nest -- pretty exciting that can be!


3 comments:

  1. Wow! I can't imagine leaving my fiddle unplayed long enough for wasps to make a home in it!

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  2. Yes -- usually an instrument kept by a family with no players (the player having passed away or given up) -- so just one more thing to store. Off it goes to the attic or maybe even the barn.

    It is startling to see a wasp nest inside. Even though I know by the time I get to seeing it, I've handled the instrument enough to make any inhabitants aware, and that they would already be out defending the homestead, I still flinch expecting a swarm! :-)

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  3. Yikes! Makes me shiver even to think about finding a wasp nest in there...

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