My sound post seems to falling quite regularly- like when I mess with my bridge slightly or change 1 string. I actually decided I was going to learn to put it up myself to avoid the 3-4 day wait for repairs (I only have 1 fiddle) and got this really evil looking tool with no directions. I actually got the post up yesterday after 2 hours of learning to get the thing out of the fiddle quickly - but then got worried- am I going to mess up the fiddle if it's in the wrong place ? Anyone do this themselves or have warnings/shortcuts? Should I get the soundpost replaced? Jennifer
The evil looking tool you refer to is probably the standard soundpost tool most shops sell to do the job. I am a fiddle maker and restorer and I would not use one of those evil tools, instead I use a home made one of simple design. It is simply a straight piece of steel rod with a bend at one end and is sharpened to a point. As a general rule aim to get the soundpost just behind the treble side of the bridge foot, closer to the f hole tends to mute the top strings whilst closer to the middle will mute the bottom strings. If as you say the soundpost falls on a regular basis you need to fit a slightly longer one, maybe only a millimetre would make the difference. Slacken the stings when fitting the post and just let it wedge its self without too much presure.Fitting the soundpost in the wrong place will not damage the fiddle but be carefull not to fit one that is too long as this may result in a crack in the belly.As a final remark I would say that once you have found a spot that makes the fiddle sound good to your ears then you have it.
Good Luck
Mikea
I think either your sound post is a fraction too small or the fiddle is coming unglued somewhere and the belly or back are moving when under pressure. Either way I think it needs a visit to your friendly, local fiddle repairer. Good luck with it.
not that this has anything to do with the price of fish but you may be interested to know that i once saw a bloke do an emergency soundpost replacement by using a fork and a spoon.
good luck with it anyway
Jennifer, In my local violin shop the other day I overheard the proprietor, an experienced repairer and maker, tell a customer that fitting a fiddle soundpost correctly was an exercise that could reduce a grown man to tears. Best of luck
Trevor
Getting the best fit for a soundpost, for a professional luthier, can be a very exacting and tedious process.
Not only does the post need to be in **exactly** the right spot for a particular fiddle (different on every one) but it also needs to be exactly the right height and have the same taper as both the insides of the front and back of the box! It should fit without falling out without any string pressure, but not be so tight that it's wedged in there and actually pushing up/down on the wood....
It can take a while and that's why pro-luthiers charge the prices they do for what seems a pretty simple process.
However, I think you really need to have a world-class violin to notice the differences that these tiny adjustments make. On a shop fiddle or mass-produced one I doubt 99% of people would notice a difference.
Just to make things a little more exciting, I think I'm right in saying that the grain of the soundpost's wood should be aligned in a specific direction with respect to the axis of the instrument
Trevor
Thanks to all. I'm thinking I'm okay to put it up on a temporary "emergency" basis- like after the first day of school with 10 kids with autism and I've GOT to play- but then to get the soundpost refitted/looked at , shortly after? Jennifer
Falling fiddle sound posts
Falling fiddle sound posts
My sound post seems to falling quite regularly- like when I mess with my bridge slightly or change 1 string. I actually decided I was going to learn to put it up myself to avoid the 3-4 day wait for repairs (I only have 1 fiddle) and got this really evil looking tool with no directions. I actually got the post up yesterday after 2 hours of learning to get the thing out of the fiddle quickly - but then got worried- am I going to mess up the fiddle if it's in the wrong place ? Anyone do this themselves or have warnings/shortcuts? Should I get the soundpost replaced? Jennifer
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by Jenthur
Re: Falling fiddle sound posts
The evil looking tool you refer to is probably the standard soundpost tool most shops sell to do the job. I am a fiddle maker and restorer and I would not use one of those evil tools, instead I use a home made one of simple design. It is simply a straight piece of steel rod with a bend at one end and is sharpened to a point. As a general rule aim to get the soundpost just behind the treble side of the bridge foot, closer to the f hole tends to mute the top strings whilst closer to the middle will mute the bottom strings. If as you say the soundpost falls on a regular basis you need to fit a slightly longer one, maybe only a millimetre would make the difference. Slacken the stings when fitting the post and just let it wedge its self without too much presure.Fitting the soundpost in the wrong place will not damage the fiddle but be carefull not to fit one that is too long as this may result in a crack in the belly.As a final remark I would say that once you have found a spot that makes the fiddle sound good to your ears then you have it.
Good Luck
Mikea
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by Mikea
Re: Falling fiddle sound posts
I think either your sound post is a fraction too small or the fiddle is coming unglued somewhere and the belly or back are moving when under pressure. Either way I think it needs a visit to your friendly, local fiddle repairer. Good luck with it.
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by Geoff Pollitt
Re: Falling fiddle sound posts
not that this has anything to do with the price of fish but you may be interested to know that i once saw a bloke do an emergency soundpost replacement by using a fork and a spoon.
good luck with it anyway
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by biggus dave
Re: Falling fiddle sound posts
Jennifer, In my local violin shop the other day I overheard the proprietor, an experienced repairer and maker, tell a customer that fitting a fiddle soundpost correctly was an exercise that could reduce a grown man to tears. Best of luck
Trevor
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Falling fiddle sound posts
Getting the best fit for a soundpost, for a professional luthier, can be a very exacting and tedious process.
Not only does the post need to be in **exactly** the right spot for a particular fiddle (different on every one) but it also needs to be exactly the right height and have the same taper as both the insides of the front and back of the box! It should fit without falling out without any string pressure, but not be so tight that it's wedged in there and actually pushing up/down on the wood....
It can take a while and that's why pro-luthiers charge the prices they do for what seems a pretty simple process.
However, I think you really need to have a world-class violin to notice the differences that these tiny adjustments make. On a shop fiddle or mass-produced one I doubt 99% of people would notice a difference.
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by KeepFiddlin'
Re: Falling fiddle sound posts
Just to make things a little more exciting, I think I'm right in saying that the grain of the soundpost's wood should be aligned in a specific direction with respect to the axis of the instrument
Trevor
# Posted on September 4th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Falling fiddle sound posts
Thanks to all. I'm thinking I'm okay to put it up on a temporary "emergency" basis- like after the first day of school with 10 kids with autism and I've GOT to play- but then to get the soundpost refitted/looked at , shortly after? Jennifer
# Posted on September 4th 2003 by Jenthur