Violin bridges (was The Soundboard according to McFerrin)

[Murray Seminuk]

Hi John
These are not just "decorative" incisions.The manner in which the wood is
carved ,the amount of wood removed and where it is removed from does have an
effect on the tone of the instrument.The hardness,density of the wood,grain
direction,weight,fit to the top of instrument,shape of the front and
back,curvature of the top,thickness of the bottom to the top,depth of the
string notches, position over the sound post and bass bridge,etc all have a
bearing on the tone of the instrument.This is not just a simple little piece
of wood between the strings and top of a violin.The part that I have a hard
time understanding is that very limited discussion is directed at these
aspects on a piano bridge.I have enjoy your posts to this list.
Regards
Murray




----- Original Message -----
From: "John Delacour" <JD@Pianomaker.co.uk>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2002 12:55 AM
Subject: Re: Violin bridges (was The Soundboard according to McFerrin)


> At 7:57 PM -0500 1/5/02, Allegrofinemusic@AOL.COM wrote:
> >Hi List,
> >I was lucky to work with a violin maker who apprenticed in Mittinwald.
> >I asked this question once and got this reply.
> >The cuts help keep the strings at the correct spacing and stops em
> >from slipping out of plumb.
> >This is an obvious thing to do in the development from a flat bridge
> >to a curved one.
>
> It is not these grooves we are talking about but the "decorative"
incisions.
>
> JD
>
>