From John Dally 9th Feb: There are not many fiddlers around here who are interested in playing with NSP, or SSP for that matter, but it would I like to find one who is willing to tune down the way Willie Taylor did in order play with Joe Hutton.
Mmm... Willie Taylor hated tuning down to Joe. When the turnip chopper did for Willie's left forefinger he found it easier to play with the bridge moved up towards the fingerboard. In the latter years I set up two of Willie's fiddles and he found it most comfortable to have the bridge halfway between the f-hole nicks and their top edges. This took 15 mm off the standard length of approx 330mm between nut & bridge. This of course did no favours for the tone but more importantly gave a string tension which in Willie's words "was like knicker-elastic" when tuned down to F. Salvation came when Mike Nelson made a concert G set for Joe in the late 80s. Speaking of Willie T, thanks to Francis for directing me to the Mike MacDougall material. The similarities between his story and Willie T's were so eerie it brought me close to tears. Everything from the distances travelled (less in Willie's case but then he walked) - anything up to 12 miles to a dance/session play till daybreak walk back and go straight out onto the hills to see to the sheep. Then grab an hour or so sleep at lunchtime and go back out in the afternoon. Like Mike he regarded it as important to get out there and play. Very early on in my Mount Hooley days he told me, " if you've been given a talent it's your duty to share it". Well put methinks. Anthony -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
