I’ve played mandolin, to greater or lesser degree, since I was 14 or 15. I’ve wanted to play fiddle, but, as a teenager I got so intimidated by the high degree of skill of some fiddlers that I have not activeluy pursued it since.
That’s a silly reason not to do something.
But it’s a reason I can identify with.
I’d love to play fiddle, but I’m a relatively recent convert to mandolin and I want to concentrate on that as my main instrument with whistle as second. After more than 30 years playing guitar, I rarely bother to touch one any more.
If I were 26 instead of 46 I’d love to learn pipes and fiddle. At my age I reckon I’d better focus a bit or I’ll never be much good at any of the many instruments I can knock a tune or two out of. I’m tired of being an average player.
Some fiddlers and pipe players sound so good, and make it look so easy while sounding good, that they scare the bejesus out of me.
Walden - I’d say try dulcimer, but I know you already have!!! 
Seriously - if you want to try it, go for it. I’m realizing (with the bowed dulcimer) that it’s NOT the fingering and intonation that’s the problem, it’s bow control! After about a month, I’m getting 8 our of 10 strokes ok - but those other 2 sound like I’m killing cats! And I’m just doing long held notes, not trying anything quick or fancy.
I taught myself to play the fiddle after I was fifty. It was my first fretless instrument. Since I was accustomed to reading music with the guitar and other instruments, that was my approach with the violin. I bought book one and began at the first page. I can tell you that it is a lot of fun to get into beginner’s mind and start learning a new skill. I think that one of the secrets of finding enjoyment in playing an instrument is to enjoy the process without concentrating so much on the music that you are able to play. With this mental attitude you can find great satisfaction in playing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”, over and over again. Holding the fiddle between your chin bone and clavicle, so that the notes vibrate your skull, and finding enjoyment in pulling the horsehair bow across the strings, that is a good reward in itself, even if your playing leaves much to be desired.
Well, the great fiddlers sounded bad at first. If you got to the point of playing slow simple tunes nicely that in itself could be rewarding. So you wouldn’t have to be playing like the greatest player in the world (there aren’t many of those) to get enjoyment I wouldn’t think. And then you could progress to however far you got.
If you can find a teacher for the style you want to play and who might be able to help you pick out a good beginner fiddle I’d say why not? But the two things people seem to emphasize on the UP forum are that getting a teacher and having a decent instrument can make a huge difference in success on the pipes, and I’d think that might apply to the fiddle too.
And if it doesn’t work out, well, okay, so you tried something out that you were interested in and you decided it wasn’t for you. That’s no big deal. It’s better for that to happen than to miss out on something you might have enjoyed.
I have it on good authority that Michael Coleman sprung forth from the
womb playing “Hag at the Churn”. The doctor wrestled the bow out of
the baby’s hand and rapped him soundly on the bottom with it, at
which point young Michael cried his first. Witnesses claimed the cry
sounded like the first bars of “Maggie in the Wood”
Don’t do it.
You’ll take up the fiddle, and the next thing you know:
-
First, you’ll begin talking endlessly about frogs.
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Next, you’ll start living in fear of banjo players.
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Then, you’ll fall madly in love with Bonnie Rideout.
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Finally, you’ll never talk to us whistlers again.
So I repeat:
DON’T DO IT!!!
Another good reason why “adult” movies are not supposed to be watched by teenagers, I guess. 
Seriously, I know many fiddlers who have started playing as adults, some older than Doug T was when he started, and not one has regretted the decision to try.
Give it go, don’t expect instant miracles, and you will suprise yourself.
Okay… this is true.
Does that sound like something I’d do?
Oh Yeah! 
Yes, she is quite a Q-T-Π.
(Maybe I should shut up before this post gets moved to “that thread”.)
Anyway, I was just joking about reasons not to take up the fiddle.
GO FOR IT!!
All my life I wanted to play fiddle but kept putting it off thinking that I was too old.Then 3 years ago I started learning.Now I can play a few tunes handy enough.Its never too late to learn and the learning is very enjoyable.
For sure, go for it.
It’s not an easy instrument, but it’s not impossible either. Since you already play mandolin you’re part of the way there.
Also, if you’re going to do it, get a good teacher (or DVD tutor, or something similar others will say)- it’ll make those first efforts much less trying and much more rewarding.
Let us know how you get on…
But Walden is a frog! 
Don’t worry, Walden, I won’t throw you against a wall.
But yay!!! You should start fiddle! Then I’ll have another addiction to chat with you about! Yes! It’s decided, you’re learning fiddle!
I want to be a machine.
That’s… that’s… that’s… that’s…umm… that’s very… that’s very reassuring.
Yeah Walden-- go for it. As a mando player you already have a feel for the finger spacing and the scales. Sure, at first you’ll suck, but you’ll get it in time. Be patient with yourself: you have the rest of your life to learn it!
Ah ha!
Yes, teenagers do become afraid of appearing uncool or inept.
What a pity when we carry that over to adulthood!
My first husband left me the day after I brought my fiddle home.
I was trying to learn how to play it from a violinist back then
and for the whole year I took lessons I never got past the sounding terrible stage
but was afraid to quit for fear that first husband might come back if I did.
20 years later and after 8 years of marriage following 5 years of courtship to my happily ever after (2nd) husband I took my fiddle out of the closet and started playing it to have fun.
This time my playing stunk bad for only the first couple of weeks.
My expectations were very different this time.
I’m not great on the fiddle but I’m having fun.
Having fun is an expectation I can live with.
Walden, let go.
Have fun.
Playing the fiddle is alot like singing. Some people are just naturals, most of us aren’t. If I stood and started singing greensleeves it wouldn’t sound too great. if I sang it again it would sound just a tiny bit better. Then again tomorrow. After a week there might be some improvement, some refinement of tone, phrasing etc. Much the same with fiddling. The main thing is to enjoy it just like you would if you were singing. If you have a sense of what sounds good you’ll get better over time. It often doesn’t even happen gradually but in spurts.