Instrument Maker James Morris: Where History and Creativity Meet

I first came upon James (Jim) Morris' musical creations on the Facebook group Fiddle Tune Video Library.

- Mary Larsen

I watched in delight as he ably played old-time tunes on his own fiddles made from cigar boxes, gourds, a whiskey tin, and more. It turns out he has also made banjos, ukuleles, guitars, basses, "plus some that I'm not sure what to call." I recently got in touch with him to learn about his craft.

Morris grew up in the Washington, D.C., suburbs and worked in government until retiring and moving with his wife to West Virginia 21 years ago. Having previously played electric guitar in rock and pop cover bands, it was in the Mountain State that he "became interested in acoustic, traditional Appalachian music." He now plays acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, and bass. "I play with a couple of different groups and at local jams whenever I can."

On to the instrument-making...

How did you get started making fiddles? Are you self-taught?

I had already made some banjos and ukuleles when I came across an etching by Edwin Forbes of a Civil War soldier in front of his camp playing a cigar box fiddle and I was curious about how it might have sounded. That etching got me going on making them and researching other homemade fiddles.

Tell me a little about the instruments I've seen you play on the Fiddle Tune Video Library.

Most of these instruments came about through researching homemade fiddles. Plus, I have a friend named Shane Speal who collects these things and finds old photos he sends me if he comes across something interesting.

The "Faux Stroh":