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Building the "Stumpwater" fiddle

Hey Gang,

So, I've got most of the parts together to start building what I am going to call the "Stumpwater" fiddle. It ain't done yet, but I'm already working on the "Stumpwater Blues" song, "...Oh, I've got the blues...Got the Stumpwater blues...".

I have 5 cigar boxes now, trying to decide which is the best one for a first fiddle build. Local tobacconist, B&B Cigars sells the empty boxes for $3.00 each and donates all proceeds to the local animal rescue folks.

I bought the tailpiece off Ebay for $3.99. Uke pegs off Ebay for $3.99. I think I will use the poplar for the neck. I am thinking I will glue two pieces together and use it against the grain for strength. I am going to use the red oak for the fingerboard.

If I use the thicker cigar box, the "Nicks" box, it will be narrower, but I will need to put the poplar through the cigar box, I think. If I use the a thinner box, I can float it similar to what Steve does with Carolina fiddles.

My thoughts were to build my own bridge, because all of them I've found are for a curved body surface. However, I am open to feedback if the consensus is the storebought bridge is better (otherwise, anybody ever build their own bridge before?)

Any and all feedback, suggestions, ideas, or nitpicking is welcome!

Thanks, AL.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Al Lyons on February 25, 2013 at 5:58am

Hi Gang,

Here we are gluing the ebony fingerboard to the neck.

I'll keep you posted!

AL in Asheville

Permalink Reply by Al Lyons on February 25, 2013 at 7:59am

...And here we're gluing the neck into the box.

AL.

Permalink Reply by Al Lyons on March 1, 2013 at 5:45pm

Hey Gang,

Here's progress:

End Pin

I'll keep you posted.

Permalink Reply by Al Lyons on July 27, 2013 at 6:37pm

Hey gang,

RE: Tuning pegs:

I learned a long time ago, when I'm making sawdust...Sometimes you are able to complete parts of the construction with beauty and grace...Other times, well, there are no mistakes, just those steps that show character and home-made authenticity,,,That said, the tuning pegs are on my home-made fiddle...

Keep on sawin'! I'll keep ya' posted!

Permalink Reply by Gipson Fat Fingers Shoemaker on February 7, 2014 at 6:13pm

Just stumbled upon this thread and was eagerly following progress and saddened that there aren't any finished pics. Can you update and let us know how things turned out? Would love to see a video to hear this bad boy as well. Love the name of the fiddle too!