Red Horse Horner

This is a 2008 Charles Horner violin using a 1985 red spruce log from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park sourced by the late tone-wood supplier Ted Davis. The red maple is from the Cumberland Plateau sourced by sawyer, Danny Fucral

The reason for the designation "Red Horse" comes from the stain in the top right bout on the front of the instrument. It was more noticeable in the white. This staining is a natural consequence of limb decay. The tree was over 300 years old when it fell.

The tuning pegs are Brazilan rosewood legally sourced many decades ago from the Martin guitar company. The matching chin rest and tailpiece are dark stained maple. The strings are synthetic gut and hence the use of only a gold Hill fine tuner on the Pirastro Gold E string.

The violin has mellowed over the past year. I use it for traditional fiddling and to play in a church ensemble because of how it blends.

Click the photos to enlarge.