Memorable Violins & Fiddles
This page will be dedicated to the topic of fiddles, mandolins, banjos, guitars, etc., I've owned, (or not owned but had the privilege of playing) throughout the many years I've been involved with making music.
The Berlin New Hampshire Fiddle
Years ago on my way back from Dick Pelletier's Picking Party up in Kent's Hill, Maine, I stopped over to one of my favorite music stores of all times which was located on the road between Gorman and Berlin, New Hampshire. The music store was owned by an elderly gentleman who used to play tenor banjo with Eddy Peabody. His name was Louis Catello. He had a fiddle marked $1,500.00 and after I'd played it awhile and visited with him about his family and how he loved going to his camp and some other small talk, he surprised me by saying I could have the fiddle for $500.00. I nearly fell over getting the money out of my pocket and into his hands! I played that fiddle for quite a few years before turning it over to a friend to have and to keep. It was a reddish brown copy of a Guerneri violin and it sounded magnificent. The top was old world spruce (probably Engelmann) and the back was highly figured maple, two-piece. Louis had it set up perfectly and it played like a dream. I've often thought about the "fiddle from Berlin, New Hampshire".
Memorable Banjos
I once bought a Gibson banjo from Louis Catello from Berlin, New Hampshire that's worth remembering. It was a 1929 rim/pot/ring assembly with a 1966 RB250 "Bowtie" neck. This banjo was set up by Louis and it just popped so great, I'll never forget it. If it wasn't the best banjo I've ever picked, it was real close!
I've played some interesting banjos in the last few days (March17-20th, 2012) that are worth mentioning while they're fresh in my memory. Recently I set up a banjo that was an early 70s Sigma banjo made in Japan. It was numbered 00017. After setting it up, it came alive and turned out to be a real nice banjo, especially for the price point. Another one I set up the other day was an early 70s Gold Star. It, too, was all original. It was made by Saga Musical Company and was in great shape. It had a wonderful tone; sharp and clear up and down the neck. Then, I set up an early 70s Gibson RB250 with what looked like a Granada tone ring in it. This banjo really came alive after the setup. Later, I adjusted a Morgan Monroe arch top 40-hole tone ring and was quite impressed with its' tone, too. It's a lot of fun setting up different banjos and watching them come alive. Each one has it's own personality and distinct sound signature. Sometimes it's difficult to differentiate between the tone rings because they're so close in their manufacture, but critical listening usually reveals subtle differences in the wooden rims.
I've played some interesting banjos in the last few days (March17-20th, 2012) that are worth mentioning while they're fresh in my memory. Recently I set up a banjo that was an early 70s Sigma banjo made in Japan. It was numbered 00017. After setting it up, it came alive and turned out to be a real nice banjo, especially for the price point. Another one I set up the other day was an early 70s Gold Star. It, too, was all original. It was made by Saga Musical Company and was in great shape. It had a wonderful tone; sharp and clear up and down the neck. Then, I set up an early 70s Gibson RB250 with what looked like a Granada tone ring in it. This banjo really came alive after the setup. Later, I adjusted a Morgan Monroe arch top 40-hole tone ring and was quite impressed with its' tone, too. It's a lot of fun setting up different banjos and watching them come alive. Each one has it's own personality and distinct sound signature. Sometimes it's difficult to differentiate between the tone rings because they're so close in their manufacture, but critical listening usually reveals subtle differences in the wooden rims.
