The lower point looks lethal!
Those were part of a collection where the owner has passed and have been for sale for quite some time. Very interesting pair, would love to hear what they sound like.
THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!
The maker was Edward Hagan. I uncovered the old website on Waybakc machine. He has some true oddball instruments mostly of the violin persuasion.
A bio from his now defunct site:
You can't link to a Wayback machine page, so here is a pdf of his instrument page:Edward Hagan was born more than 60 years ago into an agricultural background and was introduced to fiddle music at an early age. He has continued to enjoy farming and fiddle music. Somewhat later, courtesy of Uncle Sam, aviation entered the picture. Combine this with a lifetime of experiences building things and when fiddle construction was started the name to go on the inside was selected to reflect these interests.
Fiddles or violins are constructed in his rooftop workshop located 5 miles north of Socorro, New Mexico, with the alfalfa fields in full view on all sides.
Also here is a pdf of some other stuff he had when the website was live:
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
I see his “Hook”...
I know, the corner!
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
Just wondering if there was something else besides alfalfa growing in the fields around his workshop.
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
I suspect Salvador Dali is behind it.
the world is better off without bad ideas, good ideas are better off without the world
The siren song of the mandolin cafe cap did it! Nice one!
What did you catch it on?
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Don't forget the squid!
Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band
All this fish talk gives me a haddock. When in cod's name are we going to stop it? It serves no porpoise that I can see.
I'm going back to practicing my (mando) bass.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
2017 Ratliff R5 Custom #1148
Several nice old Fiddles
2007 Martin 000-15S 12 fret Auditorium-slot head
Deering Classic Open Back
Too many microphones
BridgerCreekBoys.com
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
They are back and still for sale... https://www.ebay.com/itm/255441130581
...and with some more detailed photos of these two beauties. It looks like these are different from the original post here or perhaps just that someone replaced the original tailpiece. Since it is no longer 100% original I would guess the prices should go down a bit. BTW I believe that Hagan passed away in 2017. I love his wacky creativity, though he also talks a lot about each instrument having good tone or not. Lots of oddball experimentation.
From his words on his web site:
The Instruments
Care and attention to detail are built into each instrument. Patterns are made to be similar to but not exact copies of the Strad "Betts" 1704 or Amanti 1666, and respect for tradition is followed. Creativity is also exercised in various "free form" styles. Some of these have been totally acceptable and others less so.
Edward Hagan: "The traditional wood for the top is some species of spruce. I use Sitka spruce almost exclusively and have used a variety of woods for the back and sides. A good quality curly maple is hard to beat for both beauty and musical qualities. Curly Claro Walnut is equal or better than maple in musical qualities and is beautiful when finished but makes a very dark instrument.
The type wood that creates the most interest and comment is zebra wood. The picture of six fiddles shows one of these but it may not show up well enough to appreciate its total quality. Zebra wood is a bit harder to work with than some of the others and is more expensive but has good sound qualities. Another wood that shows good promise and is interesting is lacewood. It is a bit soft and appears to work best only for the back but has good musical and appearance qualities. Several other woods have been used with varying degrees of success and many more woods will be tried in the future."
What They Say About My Creations
Many of my fiddles are being played by champion players. They seem well pleased and in some cases impressed. Other comments usually are some variation of, "You build good fiddles. If I didn't already own 15, I'd have to have this one". One orchestra player in Canada indicated that the one he was playing was in every way equal to his $38,000 violin except the scroll was less perfect and that that instrument should be referred to as a violin, not a fiddle.
Several 5 string instruments have been produced. They seem to be the most often asked for instrument by the experienced player. With a "C" string as the 5th string, they provide for a deep bass tone if desired. It could be said that to have a viola, play the 4 lower toned strings and to have a violin, play the 4 higher toned strings.
I have made several 8 string fiddles. They make an interesting sound and of equal importance, they lend themselves to other string arrangements, such as 5 strings, which is of some interest around here. Four strings can be removed and they are just like a "normal" violin or fiddle except the neck is a little "fatter". Comments about these are, "This is great for Irish music". As well as, "this will take a bit of getting use to" and, "Double stops are difficult or impossible on this thing".
Last edited by Jim Garber; Mar-18-2022 at 10:55am.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Dak, Jim. Thanks!
That is simply splendid.
I'd play the bejeezus out of that.
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
I think it's time to fish or cut bait. Somebody has to love this combo.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Looks like someone bought these. Anyone here?
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.
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