User:Steven22steven

This is the basic page for Steven22Steven.

My plan is to write pages for cigar box fiddles (cigar box violins), cigar box music, and cigar box art.

At this date Nov 18 2008, I have just begun and am trying to learn the functionality of this site.

OK, how do I create a file structure here, with sub pages?

Rough draft starter text:

Cigar box fiddles are typically violin-like instruments using a cigar box for the body.

Cigar box fiddles are generally hand made and individually unique.

History: Earliest reported Cigar Box Fiddles are mid-19th C. American. The earliest known image is of a Civil War soldier (Confederate Uniform) playing one at a camp site, apparently to entertain a younger soldier.

The impetus to create Cigar Box Fiddles may have been the desire to have a violin like instrument in the absence of the ability to obtain a ready made instrument. This condition may have resulted from poverty, inaccessability to commercial sources or civil disturbances, such as the Civil War.

The material opportunity was supplied by the appearance of wooden cigar boxes in commerce. Time frame: mid-19th C.  Commercial factors: Railroads, commercial competition among cigar makers Cigar box materials and dimensions: Solid Cedar (Spanish Cedar) an aromatic wood used to preserve the tobacco. Has good acoustic properties cf. spruce. Plywood: a later material, less expensive. Still suitable for musical instruments, but less so than solid cedar. Cardboard: Later still. A cheaper material not at all suited for musical instruments.

Design and appearance: Many examples attempt to replicate the traditional look of a violin. Points of comparison: Overall size and gross shape: Neck shape. Length and number of strings Head shape: use of pegs, curl. Body size and conformation. Accessability of bow. Body openings. Ff holes.

Strings and fittings: Strings: Screen door wire. Fittings: Home made or purchased

Diddly bow vs. violin styles. Diddly bow refers to playiong style where violin body is in lap. with neck held vertically. Violin style has violin under chin. Fiddle style: violin neck is toward center of body. Fingerboard extends downward. Palm of left hand is flat on neck, neck resting on palm. Bow is often played at an angle to the line of the strings. Violin (classical) style: Violin neck is over left shoulder. Fingerboard is level with ground. Palm of left hand is vertical, with neck resting in crook of thumb. Bow is played at right angles to line of strings.