Five-String Fiddles Are on the Rise
Five-string violins are meeting the challenge, raising the bar
WHEN BLUEGRASS FIDDLE LEGEND BOBBY HICKS decided he had to have a five-string violin, he sat down right there in the dressing room of the Golden Nugget in Vegas and drilled another hole in the pegbox and tailpiece of the fiddle he was using, and stuck a peg in there. That must have been about 1963. Most players and makers are not so bold. But the attraction of having a single instrument that can serve as a combination viola and violin in one's hand is considerable and, for some, irresistible. Orchestra teachers are discovering the convenience of not having to juggle a violin and a viola during class.
These days, an increasing number of fiddlers, jazz, and pop players in every style are discovering uses for the tremendous sonorities possible with the extra string.
Indeed, acoustic five-string violins have gone from being a rarity to a viable option for many string players. Until recently, the instrument had a reputation for being awkward to play, due to the tight string spacing, or for having a generally uneven sound with a weak C or E string, depending on the design. Most luthiers have shied away from investing time in a project that might use up months of work only to fail, but as interest and demand have increased, a few pioneering luthiers have solved the challenges of constructing a five-string acoustic instrument that sounds good.
With all the current experimentation and even larger manufacturers offering a five-string option, it seems the idea has caught on and is likely here to stay. People who play five-string instruments seem to love them and don't want to go back.
Though not all fives are successful instruments, it's phenomenal to play those that are. We're sure to see more of them as makers discover reliable designs.
Only time will tell how large a slice of the market five-strings will command. There are several innovative and noteworthy luthiers advancing the cause.
This article, "Five-String Fiddles Are on the Rise," is part of the Strings Archive, which you can access with a paid site subscription.
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