This butts up against my old stomping grounds. Back in High School, our idea of a good time was to hop in the truck and take a drive and we spent a lot of time out this way. Nowadays, my church choir in Rockwood is just down the road, literally and I have no doubt that some of these families impacted will be just two degrees of separation from me on the chain of friends and acquaintances. Please keep them and this community in your prayers. Thanks~
About the fiddle:
Considered to be a copy of a Vuillaume, it has been dated to about 1880. Despite the ornate flash, more likely because of it, the instrument was played as a fiddle for many years.
I think that at some point, the fiddle must have been involved in a barroom brawl, perhaps slung across a room by a jealous husband? The scroll had been smashed and pieced back together with animal fat glue, with pairs of machine pegs drilled into what was left of the peg box. Fortunately new strings and bridge were all it took - the fiddle was surprisingly playable and over the next few years various repairs were made.
My pick-up, when I use it, is a Fishman and I love it. For strings, I've experimented with everything from Dominants and Spirocores, Zyex and Eudoxas. Last year I tried out the Evah Pirazzi and I just put Corelli Alliance on about a month ago. I like the Alliance, so far, though the D has already snapped. Eudoxas were a favorite for a couple of years while I was in Atlanta, but didn't seem to handle as well here in ET. Dominants are usually good for me, but I don't like the E so much. The Pirazzis were nice, good response. It was a spare Pirazzi that I mixed in with the Corelli and it's been ok.
About the music on the player:
Home With the Girls and Drowsy Maggie were always favorites with the MCSB. The clip is from a past performance at the Laurel Theatre in Knoxville.