Mark O'Connor's Fiddle Has Seen It All!

[@captainkangaroo4301]

Great video. I’m sure Mark is a fan of the great David Bromberg who also has great fiddle stories. In fact David took a number of years away from performing and became arguably the preeminent expert on American made violins as well as a world class violin luthier. Being a performer at heart David “got the band back together “ a number of years ago and hit the road. Consequently, he recently donated his wonderful collection of over 250 American made violins to the Smithsonian and they are establishing an exhibit featuring them. I enjoy listening to Mark talk about instruments almost as much as I enjoy listening to him play them.

[@Oparacletos]

I LOVED THE SOUND OF THE “NASHVILLE FIDDLE”. I NEVER missed a televised show during the 80’s !

[@Oparacletos]

Absolutely fabulous sounding instrument- so rich and clear! 💖

[@Oparacletos]

Loved the combo of Jerry Douglas and Mark O’Connor!💖

[@Oparacletos]

I remember every song showcased in this video! They are pure country GOLD! 🤩🤩

[@MrMusicguyma]

Mark, you are a wonder. I have listened to you for decades. As a scratch fiddler myself, I would like where you got it, what made it great, any alterations you might have made to it (other than the pickup designs). What does your present fiddle have that this one doesn't? In the end though, we all know that the magic is the player's hands, and his or her ears. Play on.

[@Oparacletos]

Indeed, good questions and certainly, play on Mark!

[@ronaldpetrin5823]

Thanks for a whole new library of music to look into for future downloads of blue grass for all time. So glad I got to see him way back in I believe late 80 or early 81 in Chicago. I knew I had seen someone quite special indeed. Support these artists if you can...

[@mandobanjoguitar]

American Music Shop was a great show, must have been amazing playing with Stephane Grappelli.

[@sasongs]

Mark is a beast 💪👊🔥

[@SkepticalLlama]

Just ask him, he'll tell you!

[@53fiddle5]

Thanks Mark!

[@fiddlefolk]

That fiddle and Mark changed Nashville along with Jerry Douglas' and his dobro!

[@paperprincess1050]

Wow, awesome, I have just seen the movie 'Music of the Heart' which is how I come by here :) Had never heard of the Dregs either but sure glad I have now, thank you

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

He’s such a class act. I’m glAd I got to see him play as a youngster, he blew me away, and turned around and I bought a fiddle and bow.

[@nippynf4l831]

Mark, if you read this can you tell the history of this violin? Like where you found it or how it found you lol? Also what qualities it had that made you like is so much? Thank you so much!

[@theeaskey]

Just imagine if u could somehow tap into that maple wood and hear what this amazing player has produced from this instrument.

[@larrymiller4]

Mark is also killer on guitar. Serious killer.

[@rls303]

This is great.Thanks

[@AnonymousNP]

Opening tune is a great tune Choctaw. Terry Morris, and junior Marriot play Choctaw pretty nice

[@abhijitborah]

Awesome trip.

[@monsterzero1965]

This is the first time I've heard him speak

[@marciotobler7773]

Mark, grande músico! Teve o privilégio de tocar com ícones da música.

[@Mojokiss]

can you give me some of your feel and intonation

[@jonathanbrazee3846]

Cool to see it with Jerry's dobro. Both are masters of tasteful playing. Goes to show you though, it's not just the instrument, it's the player. These guys could make a rubber band sound good.

[@billlowe6883]

The maker and year of the fiddle are all top secret.

[@markoconnor]

Bill Lowe Maker and year unknown.

[@billlowe6883]

@@markoconnor Thank you sir.

[@markelovett]

That was God making that fiddle music!

[@joshuakazanovicz2054]

he's retiring his fiddle?

[@adambomb4591]

I would love to know the names of all the entertainers who signed the legendary white fiddle. Seems I vagely remember my father 'Big Joe Greene' speaking about signing it.My dad was a very proud fiddler and rarely gave complimemts but he considered Benny (Big Tige)Martin the best Bluegrass fiddller... Until he heard that young boy from Seattle play at the grandmasters.From then on he considered Marc O'Conner 'the best in the business"as do I.

[@markoconnor]

Big Joe Greene (your dad) signed the white fiddle! He was so great and an early influence too. ! Thank you so much!

[@endoalley680]

What make fiddle? And how about the iconic white fiddle?

[@markoconnor]

Endo Alley Both of them, maker unknown.

[@jeloeb]

Very cool - but what is Mark playing now if his fiddle is in the museum?

[@markoconnor]

jeloeb Jon Cooper Violin.

[@jeloeb]

@@markoconnor Thanks Mark. Found a great video of you talking about it on Jonathon's site. Here is the link so that others may enjoy as well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXKcgJR-qdFgr9E

[@bwalla50]

This should have a million likes. I don't think there has been a better fiddle player than you, Mark. I was a big fan of Jon Luc Ponty and saw him with Zappa many eons ago. He didn't have your power and feel. Your part on Freeborn Man with Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and Bela Fleck was simply amazing. You cut Sam's head and I laugh every time I see it.

[@ronellman4139]

Ponty is great in his own genre. You can't compare the two. They have totally different styles. And if you dig deep you can see that Ponty influenced Mark. And his name is Jean-Luc, not Jon, yeesh!

[@BulldoggerJK]

You need to listen to more music if you don’t think there’s a better fiddler. Maybe back in the 80’s there wasn’t but there plenty who blow him away now.

[@SkepticalLlama]

@@BulldoggerJK I wouldn't say anyone "blows him away" now. Certainly several modern equals, and I believe Stuart Duncan may be the greatest of all time, but that's kind of a really fucking stupid thing to say.

[@ramramdiramdiramram4799]

Probably the fastest violinist out there

[@crest2471]

That tail peice is beautiful

[@gregdavis531]

other musicians must feel like complete idiots when they play with him...guy's some kind of alien android from the fiddle dimension

[@JaymoJoints]

What a shame that that instrument is nailed to a wall when it could be making music. Pass it to an up and comer if you're not playing it.

[@joeseay2883]

Mark needs to lose the hats. Different dude without them.