Silakowski Project Five-String Fiddle

Back , Ribs and Neck: American Red Maple, Top: Italian Spruce

Lightly antiqued oil varnish

Body length: 359 Bouts: 175, 125, 215 Ribs+plates:38 at top block, 39 at lower block String length: 328 Stop: 195

This Five String Fiddle was made on a field trip to the Violin Shop in Nashville, TN.  The shops owner , Brandon Godman, aquired the wood collection from the estate of the late renowned five-string violinmaker, John Silakowski.  Brandon is inviting violinmakers to make a five string using John’s wood. I was proud to be one of the first contributors to the project

Read more about my visit to Nashville and the Silakowski Five String Fiddle Project.

These days I’m trying to get away from antiquing as far as possible, while still maintaining an engaging “look”. Ideally i’d like to do no antiquing at all, but a small amount of antiquing does seem to give a more attractive appearance.

On this fiddle I’ve worn the edges and wiped the varnish from them. Wiping the edges “frames” the fiddle and gives it a more 3D appearance.  I did not scratch the varnish at all, instead I left visible tool marks and tear outs.  I applied a light patina to highlight these features.  I’m quite happy with the results.  I feel that after 35 years, and some interesting detours, I’m starting to get somewhere interesting  🙂