Cool Stuff Being Made - Bluett Brothers Violins

[PastYourEyesed]

That's my fiddle Mark borrowed for the show. I just bought a Bluett violin for my son, who graduated into a full-sized. I also lucked out and found one of his first few violins -- it's great too. Mark plays a bunch of instruments, sings, reads music, and never claimed to be a great violinist. He's able to demonstrate his work. But his stuff sells itself. I have not yet found a better instrument... at any price!

[kiowa473]

I see some folks need to learn the difference between a violinist and a fiddler. Why don't you go meet the man and get a lesson on fiddling.

[CheetahLuver12]

eh. the dude plays like he's in 6th or seventh grade.... at least he can play tho... but not that good.... probably took lessons for maybe 4 years then quit and wanted to be a luthier....

[caldewell]

Wonderful-what a generous and non-conceited chap, and a seriously good luthier! OK, NO overhead router-more power to his elbow, he's right!..one wonders how many luthiers can actually PLAY their own fiddles...

[samisyosam]

I don't think what he's doing counts as playing...

Most luthiers I've met are amazing violinists. They have to be. There are so many sounds that a bad violinist can't make. You need a delicate touch in order to test the limits and bring out the true sound of an instrument.

You want overtones and undertones and all sorts of tasty things going on in your violin. You want the responsiveness to reflect accurately the pressure you apply with the bow.

That's why he doesn't sell 5-6 figure violins.

[kiowa473]

Mark never claimed to be a world class violinist. He is, however, a world class Luthier. He could sell 5 and 6 figure products. Because of his generous heart he preferred to build great affordable instruments for us of the unwashed masses.

Perhaps someday you will learn the same lessons that Mark has. Money isn't everything nor the only thing in life. A generous, giving soul enriches themselves far more than mere money can achieve.

Before you judge him, go meet the man in person!

[samisyosam]

That doesn't make any sense. If he was making the "money isn't everything" argument, he'd be making world-class violins and selling them for cheap. Instead, he's making crap violins and selling them for crap prices.

Besides, everyone who plays the violin knows that they'll inevitably have to spend something like 5-10k on a violin just to sound relatively decent. It's like investing in a car if you drive a taxi. You don't buy shitty beater cars and make them taxis.

[ItzhakRoxMySox]

Yeah i go to this place for my instrument work, he's good, he's good

[anatin7]

what state does he live in if hes close to me i might pay him a visit im trying to upgrade to a new violin

[ItzhakRoxMySox]

Pennsylvania, in York. It's in the southern part of the state, about 30 minutes from the Maryland state line.

[anatin7]

ahh thats a little to far for me lol i live in cali