Just been playing a bit with the lay-out of the website. Still a lot of work there, and I'm not a graphic expert... This at least looks a bit better than before, but I keep playing with it.

The good news is that I will have a featured artist profile on a regular basis, starting in the near future. Keep checking!

I also took the time to check how bloggers write about electric violins. I used Technorati to check recent posts for writings on electric fiddles, and that gave me at least some nice results. I think it is good fun to mention some blogs here from time to time...

Today I'll start with Moochy Sphere. He is a producer and he writes about his Violectra 5-string, custom built by David Bruce Johnson, and about his experiences with MIDI.

I am adding links regularly. Untill now, I did not organise the link section too much, since I first want to have enough... In a few weeks I'll probably put them in categories. The manufacturer section is also expanding with new names, pictures and bits of information. Thanks for the e-mails so far!

Some of my latest plans that are under development:
- Electric Fiddler of the month: a presentation of a well -or less- known violinist.
- Dealer locator: I am collecting information about electric violin dealers allover the world right now... Looking forward to you input!
- Sheet music: It would be great to have some (free) electric-violin-ready sheet music on the site. Suggestions welcome!
- Audio clips: This is definitely one of the next additions...

You see, while fiddlers and search engines are starting to discover ElectricFiddler.com, improvements are already under way!

Related stuff:
electric violin

I put it down for anonymous users last weeks, but now it is time to fly: I am pleased to announce the launch of our first version of Electricfiddler.com!

What we offer now:
- A number of manufacturers of instruments, bows and transducers: I had e-mail contact with a lot already, some of which offered me pictures and other useful information. This is far from finished, and I will continue implementing all information I have as well as the information I receive. Please mail us at administrator@electricfiddler.com with all your information...
- A range of articles on the amplification, manipulation, recording and other treatments of electric violins and their sound. We have tried to cover diverse aspects, but this is only the beginning. Suggestions are welcome.
- A news section. I am using it to post announcements of updates on this site, but in the future it may also be used for general electric fiddle-related news, also from external providers.

I organised this content in a dynamic framework (using Drupal), that allows us to update and reorder this on a continuous basis. The lay-out is still very simple, but we are working on a new, unique design that will give Electricfiddler.com its own face. But that will takes a few more months. First the content.

You can also sign up as amember yourself. At this time, this gives you some extra features, such as the possibility to submit some content directly through us, or a permission to post comments to certain types of content. Later we will use this login to participate on the forums. So don't hesitate, your sign-up is free, it will remain free, and it will be your way to participate on this website.

I hope you like it!

Starting up a new website goes with small steps. At the time of writing this, Electricfiddler.com is in a very young stage. I succeeded to get together a short description about the work of a majority of electric luthiers (how do you call them?), and I am working at more stuff that could be of interest for any fiddler...

Furthermore, the website structure starts to get shape. I am trying to build it in such a way, that it can easily be expanded in the future, also by other people then myself. Any fiddler, luthier, dealer or whoever should be able to contribute.

Voila, I launched the first version of this website on the worldwide web. No idea where this is going to, but there is at least some up-to-date information in it right now:

- 35 manufacturers with at least a link to their website. If possible, I added some short info about who they are, what they make, and their location.

- Some informative sections about instruments, transducers, strings.

- a first set of 4 links (olé!)

At least something to start with!