Made on the Gulf Coast: Fiddle Shop

While Hurricane Frederic was brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, Eldon Bryson was busy. Not busy boarding up windows or stock piling supplies - but finishing a fiddle. While Hurricane Frederic was brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, Eldon Bryson was busy. Not busy boarding up windows or stock piling supplies - but finishing a fiddle. “This is the first one I made, just before Frederic, in 1978...no 1979," shared Bryson.

Nearly 30 years ago while I was learning to smile, Eldon Bryson was embarking on a life long love affair. One that makes him smile. “I’ve always been a cobbler and liked to piddle," added Bryson.

Now, tucked away inside his tiny workshop in western Mobile County, with the father of Blue Grass music, Bill Monroe keeping him company, Bryson looks at the framed portrait and thinks back to his youth. "I played with him when I was seven years old," said Bryson.

Bryson sands down a piece of wood - carefully crafting his latest fiddle. "This one going to be a nice instrument," said Bryson. "See that grain of wood there, it's Italian," he added.

Sometimes working into the wee hours of the morning - pouring all he has into grooming this Italian wood - drawing details - smoothing surfaces seeing past the sawdust and wood chips - to the instrument it will become.

This is Bryson's 17th handmade fiddle; it usually takes him about a month to build one. He's sold a few - but mostly he gives them to friends and fellow musicians.

But Bryson says it's not so much the wood that makes a fine fiddle - the secret is in the fine tuning. 

Today the violin virtuoso is nurturing the next generation of fiddle players...like ten year old William.  From fine tuning fiddle's and fiddle players - this cobbler turned his passion for music into his life's work....and it's all made right here on the Gulf Coast.

If you know of something unique made on the Gulf Coast - send us an email and let us know about it.