FiddlerFaddler Says:
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 @10:18:54 AM

This is a poignant reminder that I need more fiddles so that I can indulge more decadently my desire to own as many fiddles as necessary to have one in each conceivable cross tuning.  When I get a 5-stringer, I want it to have more faddle-like (viola-like) dimensions so that its resonance will favor the extra low notes.

voggy_dog Says:
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 @11:09:12 AM

Too early in my game to mess with cross tunings....

How did I end up with three fiddles?

1:  Bought the Berkeley Strings 5-String electric fiddle (center) off ebay for $85 just to have something to learn on.  Thought having a 5-stringer would be cool. The Berkeley Strings fiddle sounds nice amplified, but was not very satisfying acoustically.

2:  .  I thought to bring to old fiddles I had lying around in to get fixed (A pfretschner, and Amati copy, and what could possibly be a real Schweitzer violin with a Chanot repair tag).  Found out what the repairs would cost... and decided to buy a Stainer copy at the Shop (Right, $585).  Violin has a very sweet, clear tone on the high strings, but lacks power on the low strings.... not bad, but not really what I was hoping for.   Came with a newly refurbished Tourte bow..

3:  Wasn't completely happy with the Stainer, and started looking around.  Ran across my latest acquisition, the "franz Heisler" violin (Left) from an advertisement in the SF Bay area Craig's list.  Owner was an Irish/folk musician.  After talking with him a couple times, I decided to pick it up for $250.  It was a good decision.  Violin came with a nice case and a useable bow, but the strings were horrible.  After changing to a new set of visions, it turned out to be a real nice violin.... loud, good tone, even across all the strings.

Couldn't find any references to "Franz Heisler" on the internet, So I will assume this is a chinese instrument (construction and finish seem like some of the less expensive Chinese fiddles I've seen), but it sounds nice enough, so I'm keeping it as my primary.

Probably keep all three of them.... the cheap 5-string is good for toting around, and the other two have there unique charms (some tunes seem more suited to the Heisler, some to the Stainer... don't know why.)

annabella Says:
Monday, December 10, 2007 @10:02:50 PM

I also recently bought a Franz Heisler instrument in the Bay Area. Yours didn't happen to come from a guy named Larry out in the Sunol or Castro Valley area, did it?  Blue eyes, short dark hair?  I ask because I sort of wonder whether this guy is selling a lot of Franz Heisler instruments--the workers remodeling the coffee shop where he wanted to meet said that Larry is out there a lot.  And of course the only reference to Franz Heisler I can find on the internet is another stringed instrument sold on SF Bay Area Craigslist within the last 25 days.

voggy_dog Says:
Monday, December 10, 2007 @11:47:30 PM

Yep.  Larry Martinez, I believe his name was.  Never met him though, I set up the order by E-bay after first seeing it on Craig's list.  Aside from a few issues with the finish, I've been real happy with the violin.  Has a pretty decent tone.   Strings he shipped it with were deplorable, so they had to be changed.  Haven't heard from Larry Since the sale though.  MIne was definitely a used instrument. 

And yes, the only other reference to Franz Heisler violins are my posts.

How are you liking yours so far?

annabella Says:
Thursday, December 13, 2007 @2:45:32 AM

Thanks for responding.  You know, I am a new player, so I don't know cellos all that well.  But I have some concerns around buzzing, tone, and maintaining tuning.  So...maybe not so good.  My daughter also plays, and I don't see these issues with her (much smaller) cello.  Could be strings, I suppose.  I am actually attempting to return this Heisler cello to Mr. Martinez. 

I am happy that your experience has been a good one!

voggy_dog Says:
Thursday, December 13, 2007 @11:28:16 AM

The strings could have a lot to do with it, or not. The "D" string from the set that Larry had on the fiddle had NO TONE at all.... the windings on the strings were not even close to tight.  A nice set of strings took care of everything.

 The Chinese instruments seem to run hot and cold, even within the same "brand".  It might be worth taking the Cello to a local string shop.