Latest Projects - Fall 2010
In September, Frank completed his #180 fiddle just before heading to the Arizona Violin Maker’s Convention and Competition in Tucson, Arizona. Frank used Idaho Engelmann spruce that he had cut near McCall, Idaho for the top. The back, sides and neck wood came from the Carolina poplar tree that Frank cut down near Shoshone, Idaho in 1999.
Frank entered two fiddles in the steel string competition, #179 and #180. In first round tone #180 tied for fourth place and #179 placed sixth. In second round tone, #180 placed third and #179 placed seventh. Only the top five instruments went on to the third round where #180 placed fifth.
After the competition in Tucson Frank vended at the Tucson Bluegrass Festival where Justen Haynes, the fiddler for Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out, asked to play #180 on stage and afterward worked with Frank to acquire the instrument and to endorse Frank’s Fiddles. Justen recently e-mailed saying “I LOVE your fiddle -- I have played it at every show.” “We always recognize our endorsements at the end of the show, and I have had several people come look at and play the fiddle – all like what they see and hear.”
Since returning to Idaho in November, Frank has completed #181 and #182. He used his Idaho Engelmann spruce for both tops. The back, sides and neck of #181 were made from a beautiful piece of coastal quilted maple that Frank acquired from a good friend in Arizona. The back, sides and neck of #182 were made from a piece of silver maple that Frank’s Father had harvested 40-50 years ago.
Daniel Foulks, fiddler for the IIIrd Generation Bluegrass Band got his Frank's fiddle #181 at the Bullhead City Arizona Bluegrass Festival. Daniel has tried out Frank's instruments for a number of years at festivals and decided that #181 was a great fit for the various types of music he enjoys playing. Daniel began playing classical music at age four and has a Bachelors of Music Education degree from OU. When not playing with the band, Daniel teaches orchestra and also teaches various instruments to a number of private students.
The Grandfather of one of the Junior Jammers, a large group of talented fiddlers here in Idaho, just bought #182 for his Granddaughter, Ludi. Ludi is an amazing young lady who has now recorded two CDs with her favorite fiddle tunes and all of the proceeds are going to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness.
Previous Projects
March 2010
Mikayla -- Fiddle #175
January 2010
Wood from a Tree Planted in 1891 Used for Latest Violin Project
Winter 2009
Instruments #166, #167, #168, #169
February 2008
Instruments #151, #153, #154
December 2007
Instruments #152 -- Annie's Fiddle - Bigleaf Maple
October 2007
Instruments #147, #149, #150 -- Fiddles Made From Beautiful Quilted Maple