Peghead Nation Old-Time Fiddle instructor Bruce Molsky has owned several fiddles during his career, and for many years, he primarily played a fiddle made by Bruno Stefanini (check out Bruce’s demo of the instrument here). Bruce still owns and plays the Stefanini, but more recently, he’s become enamored of a fiddle built by Shetland Islands luthier Ewen Thomson. Bruce first became aware of Ewen’s instruments during a trip to the Shetlands, where he heard several of the local fiddlers. “All of their fiddles had a similarity that really attracted me,” he recalls. “There was something in the tone, some kind of depth and overtones. I thought, ‘maybe that’s Shetland fiddling, and I just need to learn more about it,’ and I’m sure there is some of that, but it turns out a lot of it was that they were all playing fiddles made by Ewen Thomson.” Bruce received his own Ewen Thomson fiddle in 2015, and it has become a favorite. “I played it very hard for a couple of years, and it woke up, as new fiddles do, and it has a really distinctive tone.”

Bruce’s fiddle is styled after a 1704 Pietro Guarneri design. He strings it with D’Addario Helicore G, D, and A strings, but has been experimenting with different E strings. “Presently, I’m using a W.E. Hill, because it has a little bit deeper texture; it’s not quite as strident.”

Besides discussing the instrument and demonstrating it by playing Bob Walter’s “Adrian’s Hornpipe” and Eck Robertson’s “Wagoner,” Bruce also talks about his CodaBow Luma carbon-fiber bow, which he likes because it’s dependable and strong, and it mimics traditional Parisian-style bows. 

Ewenthomsonviolinmaker.com

Check out Bruce’s Old-Time Fiddle course on Peghead Nation!

Two Sexauer Violins Luthier Bruce Sexauer demonstrates his latest violins. Read More

Jonathan Cooper Violin Bluegrass fiddler John Mailander demonstrates his instrument. Read More

Bruno Stefanini Fiddle Bruce Molsky discusses and demonstrates his primary fiddle. Read More

2004 Gilchrist Model 4 Mike Compton demonstrates his oval-soundhole, F-4-style Gilchrist. Read More

2009 Gilchrist Model 1 John Reischman demonstrates his round soundhole Gilchrist. Read More

Lawrence Smart A-Style Mandola John Reischman demonstrates his mandola. Read More

Riley Baugus Round Peak–Style Banjo Peghead Nation instructor Bill Evans demonstrates a special open-back banjo. Read More

Northfield Archtop Octave Mandolin Joe K. Walsh demonstrates his archtop guitar–inspired octave mandolin. Read More

Hawthorn Top Tension Banjo Peghead Nation instructor Wes Corbett demonstrates his main banjo. Read More

2000 Gilchrist F-5 Peghead Nation mandolin instructor Joe K. Walsh demonstrates his new Gilchrist mandolin, which was previously owned by Andrew Marlin and Aubrey Haynie. Read More