A famous fiddler recounts: "We used to challenge our audience - we would tell them that anyone who could tell us the difference between a fiddle and a violin would get a free CD. You would not believe the kinds of answers we would get, things like 'Well, the fiddle has more strings.'"

When settlers first traveled to the New World, the fiddle was both an instrument of high art and an instrument of folk music. The earliest violins played popular music and music for dances. The violin was eventually absorbed into art music or classical music, but it has always remembered its folk roots: fiddling.

The fiddle was played butt against the fiddler’s chest, rather than up against the chin. Its rosined scream could cut through the sound of any rowdy crowd and call all to a dance. Many people know that George Washington loved dancing. But how many are aware that our third president, Thomas Jefferson, was a fine fiddler?

The fiddle was not always a respectable instrument. Many a preacher has wagged his finger at his congregation, promising eternal damnation for the "fiddling and dancing crowd" if they did not give up fooling with Satan’s business. The fiddle was considered the devil’s instrument, and to learn to play it was to sell your soul to Old Nick himself.

So what is a fiddle exactly? What is it that makes an instrument a fiddle and not a violin?

The major differences are in how they are learned to play and how they are played. One usually learns to play the violin from trained teachers. The fiddle is historically learned from neighbors, peers, dances, from anyone or anyplace with a new tune. The violin is typically played a note at a time, while multiple strings and harmonies may be called into play on a fiddle. Or maybe it’s just the spirit of the instrument itself, the same instrument played for different audiences with different purposes. It is basically the exact same instrument; just the styles of music are different.

2. Fiddles at Gainesville Violins

Gainesville Violins encourages and supports fiddling. We are a sponsor of the Sawgrass Fiddle Association's annual young people's Fiddling Contest held in March at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Gainesville, Florida. Check also our advertisement in Florida Fiddler, the newsletter of the Florida State Fiddlers Association. (See our "Links" page.)

We are expert at cutting and fitting a fiddling bridge, which is flatter than a regular bridge, and can supply special fiddling strings such as the famous "Old Fiddler Line". If you buy a set from us, we'll fit them for free and at the same time adjust and fine-tune your fiddle for optimum sound at no extra charge. Click on our "Electric" button to read about our electric fiddles.

The great "Gypsy
Baron" fiddle [SOLD].

SMALL WORLD: "I am the original owner of the Indian 'Viva' violin which you picture on your site. It was bought for me by some well-meaning relatives about 8 or 9 years ago when I was in school. When I moved to Gainesville about a year ago and started jamming with Casey, who was then getting interested in fiddling, I let him borrow it and eventually just gave it to him in return for mandolin lessons. What a nice surprise to see my old violin on the web! - Varsha Aditya." (Email May 2005.)

LEFT: Varsha with her current 1880's LP Schuster antique German violin (photo taken 2005).

Sawgrass Fiddle Contest, March 2005

FAR LEFT: The event drew a large and appreciative audience on a beautiful cool sunshine day at Paynes Prairie State Preserve near Gainesville, FL.

Gainesville Violins was one of the sponsors and displayed some fine fiddles and bows.

Many of the prizewinners were GViolins customers.

LEFT: Fiddlers rehearsing on the parking lot.

Fiddle and cello: a great combination. Backup artists were also eligible for prizes
and awards.

Cameron trying out Jan's bows. The services of "Gainesville Bow Works" were also introduced.

Ana C trying out GViolins's electric fiddle and
a CodaBow "Electric". (See
the "Electric Violin" page.)

Liking Gainesville Violins's
copy of the decorated
"Hellier" Stradivarius.

Tickled pink!

Gainesville Violins's little pink violin is always much loved by kids and gets played on a great deal.

Trying out Jan's bows. On display were fine pernambuco as well as carbon-graphite bows. The fun colored bows drew a lot of attention.
( Available on special order.)

A visit by a great artist

On March 15 2005 the great Key West artist, K FORD, visited Gainesville Violins.
A professional Dobro steel guitarist since he was 15 years old, he is now
taking up the fiddle as well. He is here pictured with a rare antique Russian
violin and with his beloved steel guitar. He is also a carver and a silversmith.
He treated Anna, Jan and Evan to a wonderful concert in the shop!

LEFT: JIM MARKS, Gainesville fiddler and recording artist, with the fine CodaBow he bought from Gainesville Violins. See our "Links" page re Jim's "ThisBigStringBand". (In ever-increasing numbers, fiddlers are buying CodaBows. See our "Bows" and "CodaBows" pages.)

JIM WROTE (email 2005):

"Thanks for adding ThisBigStringBand to your Links page! I hope you liked the CD. I am still loving my CodaBow; in fact I can hardly put the fiddle down now. Take care, Jim Marks."

COMMENT RECEIVED MAY 2005 (HEHEHE): "ThisBigStringBand would like to thank Jan van Rooyen at Gainesville Violins for hooking TBSB guitarist Jim Marks up with a new CodaBow which has helped his fiddle playing immeasurably. 'Since he bought that new bow at Gainesville Violins, Jim's fiddle playing is a lot easier on the ears', TBSB fiddler David Smith confirmed. 'Used to be his playing sounded like a gnarly old tomcat being stretched out across a hot iron; now, 't ain't half as bad as all that', he said."