MUSIC INSIGHT
in there that remember the music we’re
playing and we have younger people in
there that think we’re doing something
new. [laughs] It’s great to have that crosssection in the audience.
You know, the band has been together since the 90s and as time has
passed, you’ve picked up new folks,
and others have gone. Do you think
the Time Jumpers could still be a band
30 years from now, with a totally different lineup built over time? Would
you want that as a legacy?
Well, I’ve actually not thought about 30
years from now. I certainly wouldn’t mind
that. As far as I’ve thought, I would like for
my grandkids or great grandkids to listen
to this body of music and think, “Wow,
those old farts were pretty good!” [laughs]
The band itself continuing? I wouldn’t
object to that at all. When I get to the
age when I don’t want to go anymore, I’ll
gladly hand over the reins and say, “Good
luck with it.”
Something that a lot of folks may not
know is that you’re a woodworker,
and you made your own violin. How
hard is that? How did you get interested in taking the time to do it?
Well, I studied for years, reading books
and so forth. When I worked the road for
Mel Tillis, we were out there 300 dates a
year, so I had a lot of downtime. I would
go visit fiddle makers and try to learn
from them. So I probably planned on that
for 15 years before I split a log. But I knew
I didn’t just want to get a kit or something
like that. If I was going to make one I
wanted to make one. So I split the log and
took it from there. Didn’t use power tools,
and tried to make it the way they would
have back in the day. I’ve always been a
woodworker, very good with my hands
and building furniture and intricate things
as a hobby. But I had a lot to learn about
physics. You can build the prettiest fiddle
in the world but if it doesn’t sound good
you’ve just wasted about 200 hours.
Do you think you’ll want to do that
again, or was once enough?
I’ve got one half-made now!
Wow! Are you playing the one you
made when you come out on tour?
Sometimes I do. I’ve got three or four
really good fiddles that I like and they all
need to be played. The worst thing you
can do for a good fiddle is put it in the
closet. So I switch around. When I’m in the
studio I usually take in an armful, because
each one has a different personality. I just
put mine in the batch. It holds up with the
other really good instruments I have.
Is there anything you want to say to
the folks who’ll be coming to see you
and the Time Jumpers?
Just come ready to have some fun, because we have fun. And if they don’t have
fun with us, it’s their own fault! [laughs] ✽