Handmade 5-string fiddle full size 2026 - Deep red

I'm a traditionally trained violin maker who has strayed to the dark side... 5-string fiddles! Though they are frowned on in many circles, I like to think of them as belonging to an older tradition, the viol consort! I love them for their rich, dark tonal resonance and extended melodic range.  There are some special considerations involved in building 5's - all five strings have to work and it still has to be small enough to be comfortable to play for long periods. I find that it helps to have a slightly longer string length and so I base my model on the dimensions of a long pattern Strad. I find it difficult to reach the C string with full standard string spacing so I slightly reduce the spacing at both bridge and nut, this keeps the C string within a manageable reach, makes string crossing a little easier and suddenly 5ths double-stops are accessible for smaller hands! I install planetary pegs so it's easier to keep all of those strings in tune and keep the peg box length from getting too unwieldy.

The tone is rich, dark and powerful.