Fiddle-related information

Buying a fiddle

Buying your first fiddle can be a daunting experience. If you’ve never played before, it’s difficult to know whether an individual fiddle is right for you. If you are an absolute beginner, and going to buy your first fiddle, we would recommend that you ask someone who plays already to help you, if possible. A fiddle player can try out fiddles for you, and give you some advice about whether the instrument is easy to play. You can also check if you like the sound the instrument produces. It’s important to ensure that the fiddle you buy is set up and ready to play, before you bring it to classes

There are several websites with helpful information about buying a fiddle. Here’s a few:
7 things to consider when buying
Buying a fiddle
Upgrading to a better fiddle

Music shops

  • Gordon Stevenson is based in Bruntsfield, and sells and repairs bows, fiddles, violas and cellos
    6 Barclay Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 4HP Tel 0131 229 2051
  • Stringers
    Based in Queen Street, in the city centre, Stingers sell and repair bows, fiddles, violas and cellos

Fiddle makers

Online shops

  • Stringzone has a huge range of strings available at reasonable prices

Repairing a fiddle

There are a number of fiddle repairers in and around Edinburgh

  • Gordon Stevenson is based in Bruntsfield, and sells and repairs bows, fiddles, violas and cellos
    6 Barclay Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 4HP Tel 0131 229 2051
  • Stringers
    Based in Queen Street, in the city centre, Stingers sell and repair bows, fiddles, violas and cellos
  • Roy Powell: Roy learned to play the fiddle through ALP classes and developed an interest in making and repairing fiddles. For more information email Roy Tel 0131 444 0618 mob. 07968 407 905

Fiddle Maintainence

We have added links here to some sites which have useful information on maintaining your fiddle. However, please remembers that every fiddle is different and what mightwork for one fiddle may not apply to another. Different styles of playing may need different setups, and what the player wants can also affect how the fiddle should be set up. If in any doubt, ask a professional fiddle repairer.

There is an excellent page here with advice on fiddle maintenance

And some more detailed information here

Fiddle discussion forums

There are loads of fiddle players out there, with all sorts of advice and experience! There are a number of lively forums where you may be able to find answers to questions, or meet other fiddle fanatics. Here’s juts a couple to get you started: