Mike Lease

My Tatem fiddle is an absolute joy to play. It has a beautiful sweet tone, a deep mellow bass and a lovely bright treble register. The balance is perfect for my style of playing, whether it be projecting a slow Welsh air, a mesmeric, “dark” reel from West Clare or a no-holds-barred polka, hanging on to the coat-tails of the musicians of County Kerry… I first acquired my fiddle in the early 1980s, soon after setting out on the fiddling path, and it hasn’t left my side since. I would never sell it, despite numerous offers, for it is irreplaceable. I would unreservedly recommend a Tatem instrument to anyone who asked my preference.