After all the amazing work done on this fiddle, I was really disappointed that it wasn't played. I would have loved to hear it's sound.

And to think I watched it all! Seeing skilled hands at work--incredibly moving. With no annoying narration, either, but useful subtitling. Win-win.

This is the most amazing thing I've ever seen. To know that an instrument like this can be repaired and restored, as opposed to discarded, is truly a miracle. I held my breath during the dismantling, but watched in wonder as it all came back together. Thanks for a truly inspirational video!

The Hardanger fiddle is a traditional stringed instrument considered to be the national instrument of Norway. It is very similar to the violin, though with eight or nine strings (rather than four as on a standard violin) and thinner wood. Four of the strings are strung and played like a violin, while the rest, named understrings or sympathetic strings, resonate under the influence of the other four 1. The understrings are tuned to vibrate according to the main tuning. For example, when the main strings are tuned A-D-A-E, the understrings are tuned B-D-E-F♯-A 1. The tuning largely depends on the region in which the instrument is being played, or the requirements of a particular tune

Fascinating to watch this. My dad was a music teacher and knew how to restore instruments he passed when I was 5..now 65.....watching this I couldn't help but think on him restoring that violin... I have my mother's father banjo that I had repaired years ago... Was missing parts like pegs, and head ties.. And skin had shrank... I don't know how to play one but he was self taught from what a cousin told me... Grandpa died when I was 2......so I would imagine the owner of this violin was quite pleased having it back to its original self..

Aww! After all that reconstruction I wanted to see it played. Excellent craftsmanship and video though.

You are just as much as a craftsman as the original guy who made it. I hope you've been able to pass on your skills. It's this type of dedication to craftsmanship that our modern society is lacking.

Wonderful! Tremendous work, especially the inlays and bridge. What craftsmanship!

What a great luthier video! I thoroughly enjoyed watching your skill and patience.

Mesmerized! Watching the precision and craftsmanship used to bring this old world instrument back to life was a privilege'. Thank you for sharing with us. .

You did a good job saving this old Fiddle (Folk Violin) from the Dump, this is common with old Pianos but it should become more common with old Fiddles.

The original owner is in heaven smiling down and thinking about owning that fiddle! You do fantastic work!

The mouse living in the fiddle is the best part. What a life it must be to live in a fiddle. Looks like the luthier's own left arm has been put back together at some point.

I have an old fiddle, (violin), that my great grandfather, John Benedict played. I restored it, as there were cracks in the sound board. I removed the top and repaired the cracks with hot, hide glue. It is really loud and plays very well. Great grandpa John had huge hands and played it as the violinist that he was. It was made overseas in the 1700’s. By who, is not known. Subscribed! I cleated the cracks, replaced the bass bar and the sound post.

He probably came back as a mouse to look over his masterpiece again :o) . Great job , wow , thanks you !

What a pleasure to watch such incredible craftsmanship. The patina on that instrument is off the charts.

A masterpiece violin, and a very fine work. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Hats off to you for bringing this beautiful instrument back to life.❤🌹👍🙏

The Hardanger Fiddle is basically a Standard Violin (or Fiddle) w/ Sympathetic Strings added to it like a Sitar so that it's really resonant.

Thank you so much for sharing your time with me I have learned so much that I could have learned no other way and I will miss you loving passionate work. The Pleiadian Golden Harbinger Compass

I know nothing about fiddles or violins, but I do know something about art, and I knew this was a thing of beauty from the starr!

It’s so inspiring to watch a craftsman who as the patient of Job ,repairing this old violin to eventually bring it back to life “superb” 👍

Looks like the hardest part is putting strings on the fiddle!!! LOL Nice job restoringing the fiddle!!

So nice to see the violin brought back to life to be used and loved again thank you for filming your work wonderful work 👍

Wulffenstejn Hardanger Fiddles It's basically a Violin w/ Sympathetic Strings that act as a reverb pedal

Seeing is believing, thank you for sharing your time and patience with all the people who attended your wonderful video 🕊 💖 💯 🌻 🐞 📹 🕊 💖 Have a awesome day.

Considering the massive crushing injury to your forearm and hand your manual dexterity is amazzing as is the surgeons repair's appearance.

Great to have info for Deeper understanding. Skilled, knowledgeable and caring repair and restoration before our very eyes. Thank you for sharing. Betcha Nels would love what you've done. ❤🎉😊

I love watching skilled craftsmen restoring a piece of history and yes I watch the whole thing.👍

Fascinating rebuild of an unusual instrument! Thank you for demonstrating the delicate and very patient work needed. Those spool clamps are ingenious, yet simple! Beautiful result which must give great pleasure to the customer and their family.

I heard this type of violin when I was visiting Norway when I was 12 years old. There were a normal violin and this model. I still remember this.

Thank you, Bevan. Plenty of good shots in there. I liked your spool-clamp management (up/down). Cheers, Ken

Absolutely stunning work. Thank you for sharing. Lovely violin brought back to life.

I don't know what to say but I try to express my feeling regarding to your super , wonderful and beautiful reconstruction of the old violin . You are a unique good artist in this field of work . You are a big treasure for this Job . Hope, the world of music will give you remarkable gift .

Magnificent workmanship. Very well done!!!

2:09 There's a Row of Cleats running up the center of the back to help patch of a crack that was previously there.

This is stunning. I've just had some work carried out on my violin, and I love it that people invest so much in this wonderful craft to keep the story of beautiful instruments going. Thank you 😁👏👍❤️

Absolutely beautiful work! The hands of a master! Thanks!

How wonderful! I had no idea!! What a beautiful job of restoration. We only got a glimpse above your workbench where you had a line of beautiful hardangers.

I am jealous of you keep shop so organizes with thousands of clamps, scrapers, and grinding tools. An economical source of scraper material is the spring steel banding used to coil up steel in metal stamping automotive plants. The wider it is the thicker it is. The one inch wide material is good for big jobs and the 1/2 inch wide material for detail work and if you ask they will give you used banding for free. Heavy duty tin snips will cut it easily it also rolls a cutting burr very quickly and lasts a reasonable amount of time and the wide heavy banding grinds nicely into forms for scraping a form on edging or repaiting just do not overheat the material and take the temper out. The coil stock rolls out flat naturally because of how it is made and heat treated. Scraping creates a minimal amount of dust unlike sandpaper, healthy bonus.

Wow , what a fantastic job ! It doesn't even look like it was broken, simply amazing craftsmanship bravo 😎👍

Congratulations ! A very special job by the best profissional dedicated person !

Watching good craftsman is very relaxing to me.

Amazing techniques and skill. I never heard of a hardanger violin before!

Enjoyed the video would have loved to hear someone play it 🎻 🇬🇧

This guy has the patience of a saint

Luvly jubly! Like a watchmaker only with wood, shell and wire. Strange how our hobbies outlive us...

I have played violin for over 50 years and I have never seen one of these. I have seen many violin rebuild vids so usually don’t watch them but the 8 pegs caught my eye. I apparently don’t hang out with right people. The tension and therefore pressure on the top must be enormous with eight strings. I was surprised that it didn’t have a sound post. I’ll have to find out if any folk music people around me use one.

1:18:27 The tuning of this instrument is B, E, B, F#, basically A, D, A, E but transpose up a step. You could also tune it down a step to ADAE (or G, D, A, E) like a Normal Violin but you might need slightly heavier strings.

Brilliant restoration.

Bringing back this Violin Fiddle is a masterpiece.

Your skill and patience are truly amazing!!! Fantastic job repairing that fiddle!!

That Boxwood Tailpeice is amazing because Ebony is becoming really scarce.

Great restoration /repair, I was wondering why the neck went back on before the top and bottom were glued first. but the explanation solved that mystery fo rme. thanks for sharing

A job well done for future fiddle lovers to enjoy.

21:26 The company who made this Hardanger Violin didn't use a neck block but they put the ribs into a notch in the neck & anchored them in place w/ wedges.

Great workmanship, what a piece of art!!

Beautiful work and dedication. Love the workshop layout.

Perfectly worth watching. Thank you😊

Gives me hope for my family,s fiddle. Not a hardanger, just a simple german violin. Need to find a local luthier

Would have been nice to hear that violin play - I'd NEVER seen an 8-string Violin before - and never heard one! Beautiful restoration, though!

First, thanks for leaving the captions up long enough for us oldies to read. Second... great work. Very impressive. The only thing I didn't understand, not being familiar with the instrument, was the under-strings. Is this what makes a fiddle different from a violin?

I must happily add to all your kudos here following. I too, very much enjoy this type of fine, detailed work. Only thing is, I don't do it well. You are clearly a master!! I have just made a solid page of notes regarding your specialized tools. I learned so much just in this all-too brief hour. I have some of your tools, and plan immediately to make, and/or purchase others I saw you using. I MUST add a compliment and comment as to the wonderful, beautiful SILENCE!!!! The images and written commentary say all that needs be said, perfectly!! THANK YOU for your kindness and courtesy in allowing us all to see how a master works. (One additional 'thank you'!! In addition to all the other wealth of information you provided, I had NO idea Titebond made real hyde glue!!!!) Lastly, I love the sound, the music this instrument provides. Thanks for also for 'showcasing' the sounds there at the end. It is beautiful!!!

Great craftsmanship. If only the camera was mounted top down or facing you, it would have been more enjoyable.

I love the rotary tool index at the top of the bench.

This is what an ideal video should be like, absolute silence with only the hand tools doing the talking.

I have been looking for an in depth hardanger video and this really helped Alot thank you so much

The A String (Kvart which is 2nd String) can be steel for better tuning stability, the D String here is Open Wound Silver but a Close Wound Aluminum D might hold tune better. Geared Pegs would improve the tuning stability a lot. Hardanger Fiddle Strings are typically Gut & Steel, but Flatwound Steel strings might improve the tuning stability & playability alot.

A lot of time and work finding things that needed to be put right. A victory !

Great job. Wish we could hear it played.

Good job, but I had hoped someone could have played a bit on the fiddle at the end.......

Los restauradores son magos...los constructores son genios...... abundancia, prosperidad, amor, salud, alegría, armonía,...para todos uds y sus familias....y por supuesto...para toda la humanidad....hare Krishna

I saw someone who knows what he is doing - and he is doing it very well...

Your skill and craftsmanship are amazing. Enjoyed watching this. It's 8-11-23, so it has been out a couple of years, and it shows with all the views. Very good ! I do wish you would think about changing your camera angle. Was looking forward to see exactly what you were doing, but could only see your hand or wrist. Thank you.

Outstanding,beautiful,great craftsmanship!

Magnífico trabajo y excelente vídeo. Enhorabuena y gracias por compartirlo

Some Hardanger Fiddles have 10 strings with a 5th playing string

Bravo to the master. He picked up an instrument from the ruins. I'm curious to know if the sound has deteriorated. Привет из России!

Very nice work sir. I wish someone would have played it for us.

Beautiful job!❤

Wow 8 strings who knew!! Its super beautiful though!!!! 😍 such skills!!!

That ,SIR, was FANTASTIC !

or the whole process for 1 hour of video? but that's great thank you! no one shows the whole process without speeding up, without making stupid cuts. The whole work is really an amazing gift, I'm signing up now.

Found this to be incredibly moving, thank you

Young boy , brilliant work .

After all that, you aren't even going to show it being played? Beautiful violin and restoration.

Très beau travail de restauration !! Félicitations ...

for those wondering, the song at the end is "Leaning on The Everlasting Arms"

Incredibly impressive! Thank you. :-)

Such delicate work is needed for this repair. The tiny saw blade looks kind of scary. It's a wonder he hasn't lost any finger tips.😮

1:12:24 We're ready to put on some Fresh strings. The 4 Main Strings are attached like Standard Violin strings & there's alot of videos on how to restring a Violin which should help us.

Very beautiful job

beautiful work and music

Nice work...good to see great craftmanship!

Oh my! Utterly beyond words...

Is it common for the tailpiece to use a different wood other than ebony? Watching the love and care you put into the fingerboard and tailpiece alone was worth it.

Beautiful work!

alot of great information for a budding luthier, thank you for passing on the information. stupendous I say simply fascinating.

1st time seeing (sympathetic ?) strings of this design. Aug.16-2023. ✝️

Very nice work. Cheers from an instrument maker in Vienna, Scott

Think about how long it would take to make one with no power tools to help with filing the fine details. Even with the tools the craftsmanship to fix one is extraordinary