I recently purchased a beautifully carved tailpiece for my fiddle. My friend was looking at it and mentioned that it was a bit narrower than the one presently on the fiddle although it is exactly the same length.
My fiddle is a full size Guarneri copy and is a little wider then the strad copies I have. The new tailpeice is exactly the same size as is on all of my Strad copies. I know it is a "full size" tailpiece but I didn't know they came in widths. I feel it will look good on the fiddle but any thoughts on the functionality?
I've read all the previous posts regarding tailpieces and none address the width.
It's so beautifully carved I'll be very disappointed it I can't use it.
I've a feeling that that carved tailpiece isn't intended for use with micro adjusters (apart from the E) - if nothing else they would spoil the appearance - so steel-cored strings would be out. It would be either synthetic core or gut, and you'd tune from the pegs - which is a chance to check that the pegs are doing their job properly. Being narrower, that tailpiece would also be lighter, which seems to be generally a good thing for fiddles and bows.
Any comments from the real experts here?
I forgot to mention that every component of a fiddle, from the tail-gut to the pegs, contributes in some way to the overall performance of this extremely complex device for converting mechanical energy into sound.
I could be wrong, but I don't think that the width of the tailpiece would matter much as long as the difference isn't extreme. The bridge will space the strings to where they need to be even if the tailpiece is a bit narrower than previous one.
I've heard it said many times that the tailpiece does affect the tone of the instrument, and I have no reason to doubt it. It vibrates after all, so I'm sure it has some effect on the tone. But I kind of doubt that it makes enough difference to lose sleep over.
In any case, I don't think that have a tailpiece that is a bit narrower is going to cause any problems. The fiddle might sound different with the new tailpeice, but I see no reason to think it will sound worse.
Are you going to have it fitted by a fiddle bloke? (What I believe is known as a 'luthier' in the States). I only mention this because the length/adjustment of the tailgut is important to how well it will function, and I for one wouldn't be putting it on myself.
From my own observation of fiddles and cellos in orchestras it seems that the tailgut is usually adjusted to be very short, provided the end of the tailpiece doesn't actually touch the wood of the instrument. But the exact preferred length may depend on other factors which only a luthier would know about.
Although many experienced players are able to successfully fit a tailpiece to their instrument I'd certainly go along with Ben's advice about getting a luthier to do the job if you're not 100% confident that the soundpost isn't going to fall over or move when you take the bridge down (which you have to do during the process).
I think you'll find that there are threads on this site regarding adjusting the tailpiece to bridge and bridge to nut length ratio. The ratio 1:6 springs to mind.
a good starting point for tailpiece placement is to get teh afterlength of the string to be adjusted to 2 octaves and a perfect 5th of the string when plucked...many think that this will give the best resonance to the string as the afterlength is "tuned" (by the 1/6th measurement already noted) to the string.
However this is only a starting point...want a more open sound?...lengthen the afterlength (shortening the tailpiece adjuster)...
I jsu changed out the tailpiece adjuster on one of my violins from those cheapo plastic things to one that is more resonant and the difference (under my ear) is noticeable.
but to the original question...check the string spacing...you may find that the string spacing is the same on the ornamented tailpiece even though it is narrower...i.e. there is not as much material on the outer sides of the tailpiece.
Look up the 1:6 ratio theory as cited by 'Ron P'. I believe this
was originally profered by 'Lazyhound' about 6 mos. ago.
Now, to answer your question--it will not make any noticeable
difference---put it on and enjoy.
Fiddle Tailpiece advice
Fiddle Tailpiece advice
I'm back again for your advice.
I recently purchased a beautifully carved tailpiece for my fiddle. My friend was looking at it and mentioned that it was a bit narrower than the one presently on the fiddle although it is exactly the same length.
My fiddle is a full size Guarneri copy and is a little wider then the strad copies I have. The new tailpeice is exactly the same size as is on all of my Strad copies. I know it is a "full size" tailpiece but I didn't know they came in widths. I feel it will look good on the fiddle but any thoughts on the functionality?
I've read all the previous posts regarding tailpieces and none address the width.
It's so beautifully carved I'll be very disappointed it I can't use it.
Thanks
Mary
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by Antikhntr
Re: Fiddle Tailpiece advice
I've a feeling that that carved tailpiece isn't intended for use with micro adjusters (apart from the E) - if nothing else they would spoil the appearance - so steel-cored strings would be out. It would be either synthetic core or gut, and you'd tune from the pegs - which is a chance to check that the pegs are doing their job properly. Being narrower, that tailpiece would also be lighter, which seems to be generally a good thing for fiddles and bows.
Any comments from the real experts here?
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Fiddle Tailpiece advice
I forgot to mention that every component of a fiddle, from the tail-gut to the pegs, contributes in some way to the overall performance of this extremely complex device for converting mechanical energy into sound.
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Fiddle Tailpiece advice
I could be wrong, but I don't think that the width of the tailpiece would matter much as long as the difference isn't extreme. The bridge will space the strings to where they need to be even if the tailpiece is a bit narrower than previous one.
I've heard it said many times that the tailpiece does affect the tone of the instrument, and I have no reason to doubt it. It vibrates after all, so I'm sure it has some effect on the tone. But I kind of doubt that it makes enough difference to lose sleep over.
In any case, I don't think that have a tailpiece that is a bit narrower is going to cause any problems. The fiddle might sound different with the new tailpeice, but I see no reason to think it will sound worse.
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by Marklar
Re: Fiddle Tailpiece advice
Are you going to have it fitted by a fiddle bloke? (What I believe is known as a 'luthier' in the States). I only mention this because the length/adjustment of the tailgut is important to how well it will function, and I for one wouldn't be putting it on myself.
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by ethical blend
Re: Fiddle Tailpiece advice
From my own observation of fiddles and cellos in orchestras it seems that the tailgut is usually adjusted to be very short, provided the end of the tailpiece doesn't actually touch the wood of the instrument. But the exact preferred length may depend on other factors which only a luthier would know about.
Although many experienced players are able to successfully fit a tailpiece to their instrument I'd certainly go along with Ben's advice about getting a luthier to do the job if you're not 100% confident that the soundpost isn't going to fall over or move when you take the bridge down (which you have to do during the process).
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Fiddle Tailpiece advice
I think you'll find that there are threads on this site regarding adjusting the tailpiece to bridge and bridge to nut length ratio. The ratio 1:6 springs to mind.
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by Ron P
Re: Fiddle Tailpiece advice
a good starting point for tailpiece placement is to get teh afterlength of the string to be adjusted to 2 octaves and a perfect 5th of the string when plucked...many think that this will give the best resonance to the string as the afterlength is "tuned" (by the 1/6th measurement already noted) to the string.
However this is only a starting point...want a more open sound?...lengthen the afterlength (shortening the tailpiece adjuster)...
I jsu changed out the tailpiece adjuster on one of my violins from those cheapo plastic things to one that is more resonant and the difference (under my ear) is noticeable.
but to the original question...check the string spacing...you may find that the string spacing is the same on the ornamented tailpiece even though it is narrower...i.e. there is not as much material on the outer sides of the tailpiece.
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by Sunnybear
Re: Fiddle Tailpiece advice
"the" and "just"
need more coffee
# Posted on April 17th 2008 by Sunnybear
Re: Fiddle Tailpiece advice
Look up the 1:6 ratio theory as cited by 'Ron P'. I believe this
was originally profered by 'Lazyhound' about 6 mos. ago.
Now, to answer your question--it will not make any noticeable
difference---put it on and enjoy.
# Posted on April 21st 2008 by hauke