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Renaissance Workshop Company
The foremost manufacturer of early musical instruments worldwide

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Fiddle

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Musician Angel playing the fiddle
Hans Memling c. 1480

 

"Fiddle" is a generic term for any chordophone played with a bow. Colloquially, "fiddle" is frequently taken for a member of the violin family as well as for the "Kit" or "Pochette". Fiddle in our time is usually taken for the violin when played as a folk instrument.

We use the term fiddle for the medieval string instrument that was know during the Middle Ages and early Renaissance as ffythele, ffidil, fiele and fithele and today is usually known as the medieval fiddle, the predecessor of the violin and a key instrument played by the minstrels.

 

[more about the Fiddle]


About the Fiddle

Finished | Kits | Plans | Fittings | Info | Buy


   
 

RWC Finished and Kit Fiddle

 

RWC Fiddle
The inspiration for our mediaeval fiddle came from the famous painting by Hans Memling (1435-1494) now in the Reliquary of St Ursula in the Hopital St Jean in Brugges.

The instrument is depicted with a very flat fretted neck and a shallow bridge.

A low string tension would therefore apply which together with the almost viola sized body gives the fiddle its characteristic timbre.

The Renaissance Workshop Company Ltd. offer a choice of two bridge shapes to suit different playing styles. The first is slightly curved allowing the strings to be bowed in chordal fashion with only the top string available for the melody line (the top two strings were often tuned in unison and bowed together).

Set up like this the instrument responds well to tunings of G d g d? d? or G d a e? e?

The alternative bridge is slightly higher with more curvature to allow individual bowing of all strings and would suit a tuning of D G d g d? or c G d a e?

Each instrument is hand built to special order in our own workshops in Toledo (Spain) and comes with 12 months warranty.

A soft padded bag or fitted hard case and a choice of bows are available as optional extras if required.


About the Fiddle

Finished | Kits | Plans | Fittings | Info | Buy


 
 
 

RWC Finished and Kit Fiddle

 

Fiddle Kit
The same fiddle is offered in kit form for home assembly.

The price includes the license to build one instrument for private use.

An important feature of our fiddle kits is the inclusion of a mould to ensure success, even for the first time builder, so assembly of the body can begin immediately.

The figured maple ribs are supplied pre-bent around the mould

The neck is cut ready for final shaping and the peg holes are reamed to eliminate the need for any special tools.

Traditional materials are used throughout including a maple back, a Swiss pine front and top quality gut strings & fretting.

A fully dimensioned plan and instruction manual take the builder through the construction of the instrument in a clear and concise manner, with 'step by step' photographs further illustrating each stage.

All the kits Include free access to our customer 'Helpline' should you need any advice on construction, setting-up or playing.


About the Fiddle

Finished | Kits | Plans | Fittings | Info | Buy


   
 

RWC Finished and Kit Fiddle

 

Fiddle Plan
You can make the same instrument from scratch, following detailed step-by-step instructions through the construction process in a clear and concise manner.

A fully dimensioned plan and a set of photographs illustrates each stage.

The price includes the license to build one instrument for private use.


About the Fiddle

Finished | Kits | Plans | Fittings | Info | Buy


 

About the Fiddle

Finished | Kits | Plans | Fittings | Info | Buy


More information

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Copyright © 1999 Renaissance Workshop Company Ltd.
Last modification: 18 de noviembre de 2009
Phone & Fax:(+34) 91 450 30 50