Renaissance Workshop Company
The foremost manufacturer of early musical instruments worldwide

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Fiddle

	Musician Angel playing the fiddle Hans Memling c. 1480

"Fiddle" is a generic term for any chordophone played with a bow. Colloquially, "fiddle" is frequently taken for a member of the violin family as well as for the "Kit" or "Pochette". Fiddle in our time is usually taken for the violin when played as a folk instrument.

We use the term fiddle for the medieval string instrument that was know during the Middle Ages and early Renaissance as ffythele, ffidil, fiele and fithele and today is usually known as the medieval fiddle, the predecessor of the violin and a key instrument played by the minstrels.

The fiddle was the most respected instrument of the Middle Ages and, along with the harp, the most common. It was described as being able to play all types of music from the highest art music to popluar dance music.

[more about the Fiddle]

RWC Fiddle

	RWC Finished and Kit Fiddle

The inspiration for our mediaeval fiddle came from the famous painting by Hans Memling (1435-1494) now in the Reliquary of St Ursula in the Hopital St Jean in Brugges.

The instrument is depicted with a very flat fretted neck and a shallow bridge.

A low string tension would therefore apply which together with the almost viola sized body gives the fiddle its characteristic timbre.

The Renaissance Workshop Company Ltd. offer a choice of two bridge shapes to suit different playing styles. The first is slightly curved allowing the strings to be bowed in chordal fashion with only the top string available for the melody line (the top two strings were often tuned in unison and bowed together).

Set up like this the instrument responds well to tunings of G d g d? d? or G d a e? e?

The alternative bridge is slightly higher with more curvature to allow individual bowing of all strings and would suit a tuning of D G d g d? or c G d a e?

Each instrument is entirely hand built by 'in-house' experienced craftsmen to special order in our own workshops in Toledo (Spain) to the highest standard of craftsmanship. They come with 12 months warranty and 12 months free access to our 'helpline' for advice on setting up, playing and maintenance.

A soft padded bag or fitted hard case and a choice of bows are available as optional extras if required.

Fiddle Kit

	RWC Finished and Kit Fiddle

The same fiddle is offered in kit form for home assembly.

The price includes the license to build one instrument for private use and 12 months free access to our 'helpline' for advice on construction, setting up, playing and maintenance.

To ensure success, even for the first time builder, each kit includes:
A fully dimensioned life-size drawing and working template,
A manual with clear and concise step-by-step full assembly instructions.
A set of photographs illustrating further each stage.

An important feature of our fiddle kits is the inclusion of a mould to ensure success, even for the first time builder, so assembly of the body can begin immediately.

The figured maple ribs are supplied pre-bent around the mould

The neck is cut ready for final shaping and the peg holes are reamed to eliminate the need for any special tools.

Traditional materials are used throughout including a maple back, a Swiss pine front and top quality gut strings & fretting.

Fiddle Technical Plan

	RWC Finished and Kit Fiddle

You can make the same Fiddle from scratch, following detailed step-by-step instructions through the construction process in a clear and concise manner.

A fully dimensioned life-size drawing with templates and a set of photographs illustrate each stage.

The price includes the license to build one instrument for private use and 12 months free access to our 'helpline' for advice on construction, setting up, playing and maintenance.

This icon indicates that you can choose between the hard copy of the documents sent by postal mail, or the downloadable electronic files, in pdf format to your computer. In order to view and print the pdf files, you need the free 'Acrobat Reader' program installed in your computer. Life-size drawings require large printers. Electronic documents have a reduced price, don't have shipping costs, but are non-refundable.

Fiddle Accessories and Spare Parts

Fiddle Availability and delivery time

Not all of the items listed on our site are available immediately. Products without a reference nor a price are rarely available for quick dispatch. If you are interested in them, please contact us.

We publish standard availability, which means that this product usually ships in that time since it has been ordered. But at the specific time of your order, that interval can be longer or smaller depending on many production factors.  In addition, you still will have to wait for your product to arrive (delivery time). [More info about availability & delivery dates]

Fiddle Configuration, References and Prices

			Check the offers: In April up to 25% Off
			Ref.				Price [1]
	Fiddle - Medieval 5 string (Memling)
	Finished Instrument
	Fiddle - Medieval 5 string (Memling)		FFIM		Finished		636.55	RWC
	Fiddle - Medieval bow		FFIMB		Finished		43.45	RWC
	Kit + drawing + instructions + license
	Fiddle - Medieval 5 string (Memling)		KFIM		Kit		279.11	RWC
	Fiddle - Medieval bow		KFIMB		Kit		22.09	RWC
	Drawing + instructions + license
	Fiddle - Medieval 5 string (Memling)		PFIM		Plan		47.62
	Accessories and Spares
	Padded transportation cover for Fiddle - Medieval 5 string (Memling)		SCFIM		Finished			RWC

Prices and Exchange rates
All published prices are exclusive of VAT and shipping costs. They are shown in RWC.
The following exchange rates are valid on April 28th, 2020. See other conditions

Exchange rates 1 RWC= 1.585 GBP 1.725 EUR 1.973 USD 210.4 JPY 2.744 CAD 3.017 AUD 1.925 CHF 144.3 RUB 13.97 CNY 35.84 ZAR 46.99 MXN

Promotions
Some temporary offers and discounts might apply: In April up to 25% Off

Ordering
For security and service quality, we need your order to be in writing and cannot take it by phone.
If you want to buy, please, fill and send the ORDER FORM. Should you have any difficulty, please contact us.

More Info
For more information about buying our products, you should consult the following pages:

Currency exchange Shipping Cost

Discounts: In April up to 25% Off VAT or Sales Taxes

Methods of Payment Customs Duties

Customer Service Availability & delivery dates

Copyright © 1999 Renaissance Workshop Company Ltd.
Last modification: 03 de mayo de 2019

Phone:(+34) 91 450 30 50