Mandolins and Fiddles........ 

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How Did I Start?

Mandolin......

     I got the urge to take up mandolin in the early-mid 1990's. I wanted an easy to take along instrument that was very versatile in the range of genres that could be played on it.  in 2003, I purchased a Kentucky mandolin off eBay. Sadly, the seller wasn't honest in telling me it needed a set up. I couldn't figure out why I had sporadic fret buzz. Four years later, my Dad insisted on going to a folk music store in Long Beach where it got a truss rod adjustment. It's my best mandolin for "serious performing".  My fave styles to play are bluegrass, blues, and classic country.   

Fiddle.........

      I don't think there are any mandolinists out there that don't at least think about playing fiddle. The instruments are tuned the same, strings in the same order. However the challenge is holding it, and handling the bow.  I took up teaching myself fiddle in 2008. I found out that due to being petite, a 3/4 size was the proper size for me! My great grandfather was a hoe down fiddler and high up in the Masons. So I'm continuing the fiddle tradition by playing Old Time and bluegrass.