Hey I'm a noob on the violin so I didn't know how much was too tight until one of the strings broke, I panicked big time and then as I was trying to fix it the bridge fell as well, luckily I didn't want to tell my parents until after I've attempted to fix it. Thanks to you're help and some other youtuber I got it back to work again, thanks sir!
Thank you! This is the 2nd time I’ve come to this video to reattach the bridge. It does get easier! The first time was terrifying. My bridge had almost folded over before it popped out (I live in a very humid climate), so I wet it and heated it in the microwave between a damp kitchen towel and it straightened up again. I’m more confident adjusting the bridge back as I tighten the strings. It makes sense about the pressure pulling it forward, so by pulling it back more it is not bending as much as I tighten the strings.
Thank you so much for this, I just about broke down when I knocked out my bridge and finding this helped because I now know how to fix it. And it worked great so thank you!
Whenever I check my bridge to see if it's straight, I always struggle because there is never a good reference point! At least I didn't know of one! So your tip about the crease line on the side of the bout was invaluable! Thanks Fiddlerman!! :)
Another trick is to use the edge of a business card or any other thing you have that has a 90° angle. Lay it against the back of the bridge and top of the violin between the bridge and the tailpiece. This will get you very close. Also, take a sharp graphite pencil and "draw" into the string grooves. This will make it easier to manipulate the bridge when you're adjusting it. Hope this helps.
It's my pleasure. Happy to hear that you guys could take care of it with my help. I think I answered one of your posts out of order somewhere else. Sorry. :)
It's the tailpiece adjuster. This is more common than one would think. Once again, they are inexpensive. You could try putting a drop of superglue on the threads, turn the thin nuts to the right place, allow to dry and tune. You may even be able to melt the end so that the nuts don't slide but the best option is getting a new one.
It does make a difference but not for tuning, only for tone quality. Tighten the tail-piece adjuster so that it is as far back, by the end button as possible. Usually you tighten is so that it stands up and just bends over when you begin to tighten the strings. Put all the strings on before trying to set up the bridge but don't tighten much at all until the bridge is set. Protect the body of the instrument under the tailpiece with a cloth until you have pressure on the bridge.
If the string breaks you'll need to replace it. These strings are inexpensive steel strings and I'd go with Prelude as a replacement. Much better but similar in sound and would match the others. Also, it's not bad to have an extra set handy just in case.
Thank you so much! This was so easy! I thought I would have to take my violin to get fixed but I figured I should check youtube and your video did the trick! It’s been broken for over a decade I should’ve checked youtube ahile ago 😂 never too late I suppose!
I usually tighten each string slowly and gradually higher and higher at different times. That reduces stress on all of the strings but if you tune the E string all the way, you risk snapping it and putting too much pressure on the E string. It’s not necessary but it’s a nice precaution. This will also help you adjust the bridge easier and will again reduce the bridges and strings ability to snap.
Good idea to tighten gradually each string. That is the way I prefer to do it too. The E string won't snap however if you don't over tighten it. If you tighten the E string all the way without the other strings on, the E string will go down in pitch when you tighten other strings because the tailpiece gets pulled forward. Problem is that it's hard to balance the bridge and the position of the bridge with just one string, especially if it's not one of the center two strings, the D or A.
Thank you so much!! I was going to cry when the bridge came out, but didn't, as I'm already emotionally down due to the stupid virus around the world! Thank you. I can play now during this lockdown. Thank you Fiddlerman!
Good info. I'm very new to this. I have a viola with a bridge that bends backwards and if I try to straighten it, it keeps its shape and lifts the feet. Thanks for the info. I'm looking at finding a Luthier to set it up just to make sure it's done right.
It scared me so much. It made such a loud sound!!! I'm wondering what could've made it come off? The violin is brand spankin new, got it yesterday. the people told me that they tuned and tightened.
The pegs are conical meaning that they are tighter if they are pushed in while turning. Strings/pegs need to be tuned and adjusted regularly. The set-up is important and you may need to use some peg compound on the peg shaft for more stability and smoother action.
Glad you figured it out and that the video was helpful. The lowest side would be the A string side. The bridge follows the fingerboard curve and lower strings vibrate wider than the higher strings so they need to be further away as to not vibrate against the fingerboard.
Fiddlerman I was working as a MM but Im partly disabled now. Please feel free to send me questions if you have them about anything. I worked on small vessels with small out boards and larger vessels with inboard or stern drives. Volvo Penta, Mercuser, Yamaha, Mercury, Johnson Evenrude . . etc . . Thanks for the advice I will look to ensure I installed the bridge correctly.
Fiddlerman Im in Roanoke Virginia, a little land bound this far in from the coast, but if I could I would live closer to the coast, preferable Juneau or Ketchikan Alaska :)
If the bridge is curved enough it might be necessary to get a new one. Although, there is a possibility to steam it, or wet it and straighten with possibly some heat, or an iron. Once it is straight again, it will probably stay straight provided you keep it upright on the violin. :-)
Its pretty straight forward, but your walk through actually helped a lot. You sure have been helpful for me lately! One question though, my bridge has been collapsing more than normal even though I get it set up perfectly... Any idea why that might be??
+musicisbrilliant Actually you know what fiddlerman, your video is more than suffice. I guess I just need to pay closer attention to making it STRAIGHT like you said. Its gotta be exact! THANKS MY FRIEND, I LOVE YOU MR FIDDLERMAN!!!!!!! haha. SO helpful! You deserve your title. Youve earned it.
I just hear it. After playing for so many years I know what these pitches are the same way you recognize a color. The right note just sounds a specific way.
That makes sense to me though I never did that nor have I ever had problems with tuning other strings first. I can potentially see the bridge sliding over when starting on the E or G but especially the E since that string has more tension. When tuning my violin I always start with the A because it's tradition to tune to the oboe in an orchestra who gives us an A. :-)
I would suggest that you ship the violin back if the sound-post has fallen on a new purchase and if not, bring it to a luthier. You need a sound-post setter to fix this. It's not that easy to explain but I might make a video showing how to raise the sound-post. It too must be in the optimal position and as straight as possible. As Keith said, the post could be too short if it has fallen. I (Fiddlershop) ship violins with tension on the bridge. So far not a single complaint.
Fiddlerman, I thought if the bridge had fallen down then the pole that goes inside the violin would move from its position and fall. Doesn't that happen all the time the bridge falls then? My violin's bridge hasn't fallen down but it's tilted. Should I loosen the strings to put it back in place and then tighten the strings carefully again?
You should definitely straighten it out and keep it straight at all times. You can loosen the strings a bit and hold the top of the bridge with both hands and fingers secured to the top of the violin so that it doesn't come crashing down. Pull it back with confidant miniature nudges until it's straight or slightly back towards the end button.
Also, the sound-post should not fall if the strings are completely loose. It can and sometimes does fall from too little pressure on the top but it should not.
Oh really? That's really astonishing for me to know. Actually I'm a newbie to the violin world, but I've seen videos and read several articles in which they warned that the sound post was completely lose and would fall like "for sure" if the strings were loose. Maybe they just meant that it "may" fall, then. Anyways, it's good to know that, because now I feel more confident playing it. Because earlier I was thinking most of the time "I'm playing this instrument which seems so delicate that anything can not only take it out of tune, but also break its sound very easily". Of course I still must be careful but feel more confident now. Thanks again for your information and advice.
Hey good buddy ,I am trying to find a tutorial on where to set the strings on the bridge .When you look at the bridge and how they line up with the wholes and the little curves of the bridge .Like holding the violin in front of your face ,looking down the neck .Like looking right at the bridge and seeing how the string's set on the bridge .I don't believe anyone has done a lesson on that .I can do it ,but I just wanted to see some one else do it .Just to double check myself .Can you do a tutorial on this subject.I bought one of the Cecilia's after watching your demo . The bridge was too high so I took it down ,setting it to my taste .Thank's for all that you do .The best to you .So can you do a video on this topic ? Peace.
+Kevin Still I find it's hard to explain this to people. I am a visual guy and can immediately see if a bridge has the right height and the spacing is right between strings but getting others to understand is very different. We also use a square and measure the height off the bridge to 5 mm over the G and 3 over the E. We would do less but the fingerboards actually go up in the cold which can cause the string to vibrate against the fingerboard. The spacing on a full size violin should be 11.5 to12 mm from center to center of each string. Of course constant even distance and the radius should be 42 mm.
I know to change strings one at a time to keep tension on the instrument and avoid the sound post falling. But if the sound post is properly fit and snug, it should NOT fall even with no strings or tension. Correct?
It's a little cord with two golden nuts at the tips. While trying to tune the strings, it keeps making 'cracks' sounds until one of the nuts fly off the cord and the whole thing gets loose and the bridge slaps over the wood. This is a brand new instrument, I first tried it about 2 weeks ago, and it was all good, tuning was normal, until today morning when I tried to tune and the cracks started until it breaks, over and over. I've beeing trying for hours to remount it but the nut keep flying off
ITS MY FIRST DAY AND MY BRIDGE SNAPPED MY HEART STOPPED AND I WAS SO SAAAAAD, idk why but my g string and e string is loose but if i try to tighten it up it snapps again, by snap i mean it falling lmao
That is unusual, but do these things and you will be fine. 1) apply graphite (pencil lead) to the grooves. 2) Lean the bridge back just slightly before you start tightening the strings. 3) tighten little by little checking that your bridge is not leaning forward. All this should guarantee that your bridge doesn't fall while setting it up. Keep in mind that tuning strings from 0 pulls the strings through the bridge and if the strings pull your bridge instead, this will happen. One last thing. Your bridge feet might not be shaped properly and the grooves on your bridge could be too deep. Deep grooves would hold the strings too much as you are tuning. The grooves should really be just deep enough to hold the strings in place and no more. Usually about half the string thickness deep or less.
read somewhere that if the strings were all let slack, then there was a risk of the sound post falling over as well. How would you reset the post if it slipped?
I don't get it the adjuster part. Do you have any video showing how to settle the violin parts from scratch, without any cords, or tail or anything set yet, that you could show?. I can't find a video showing the adjuster cord and nuts distance or how to avoid the cracks, in details. If you know any video, or maybe if you record one about, It would be great! Thank you for your patience! :D
oh whaaat - thanks my bridge hasn't fallen but it seemed to be tilting alot and some people said thats fine but will try and get the feet as flat as possible now Thanks loads
You probably over tightened a string or possibly had the wrong string in on the wrong peg. Strings are designed to withstand only 20 to 30% over pitch. Often a little over and they break.
If the bridge is not lined up with those little notches on either side, but is down a ways closer to the neck... can that affect the sound of your playing? I feel like I'm having a hard time not squeaking around surrounding strings... my husband also made my bridge and I'm wondering if some of the strings should be laying lower than they are, to give more clearance for the bow.
This gets loosen after a few days of use? Is that really normal? Looking closer it's a crappy nylon cord, but I'm impressed that it breaks that fast. Also, maybe I'm putting the nuts wrong? Too close or too far from the tips, is there any correct way of screwing this? I tried the nuts at the end of the tips, and put some fire on the plastic, but still I can't make the string reach the tune before it cracks and gets pulled off the cord. Maybe I'm doing it wrong? This breaks on new cords normaly?
Hmm Right, one last question :) When you fold this adjusters and stick intothe black pin, and attach to the tailpiece, the tailpiece becomes far or close, depending on the distance from tips you screw the nuts. Making it longer or shorter cord, does make any difference for reaching the tune? Because a week ago tunning was so easy and it had no stripping cracks sounds, maybe I put it too long or too short?
If the bridge falls, one should check for the sound post having fallen over as well. It's not uncommon for the bridge falling over and that causing the top to flex out siightly and the sound post falling over..... In some ways every violin player should have a sound post setter and know how to use it.
Usually the post won't fall simply because the pressure from the bridge is completely loose but it does happen. It's not going to be hard to notice without even checking because there will be a post rolling loosely in the instrument. I didn't learn to use my sound post setter until playing professionally for 10 years. None of my colleagues knew how to use one either. However, I totally agree with you. Everyone should be able to. :)
If the bridge keeps bending towards the fingerboard, is it time to buy a new bridge? I recently decided to learn but have had this violin since 2008 or so, during this time the strings came loose and I think the bridge may be permanently changed.
What is good? 90 degrees the back side or the feets of bridge touche perfect the top of the violin? Because I ve seen many videos and my result is : you canot have both of 2 adjustments in the same time....
Both. Most importantly the feet must be perfectly flat. Often the bridge is not cut well and the feet wanting to lay flat will cause the bridge to curve.
@@ΒασιληςΒαγενας-β1φ Yes, removing pressure from the bridge can cause the post to fall but usually not. You just have to be careful. Your post was probably too loose, improperly fitted, or too short. We put up peoples sound posts for free here if you live close enough.
well, when the soundpost is too short, it will fall when you unscrew the pegs, since the tension of the strings will be weaker, thus, making the bridge fall...and making the force between the top of the violin and the back weak, thus making the short soundpost fall :)
I was trying to tune my d string by the peg, which I have never done before, and for some reason it wouldn't stay in place. When I kept tightening the peg I heard a pop and I thought a string broke but my bridge had fallen off and I dont know what to do.
+Austin Sansig How is that possible? In any case, you don't need very much of a notch. Just enough of a groove to keep the strings from rolling off. The strings will eventually dig in. You should space them evenly, maybe with a lead pencil then a needle file or something. Just press down hard enough to make a slight indentation. With the violin the spacing should be around 12 mm from center to center of each string.
Nice video here. You explain it very well. But I have a few questions for you please: If you are unfortunate enough to have your bridge fall down (or if you want to replace your old bridge with a new one) would this not affect the position of the soundpost? I only ask because I thought (or may have misread somewhere?) that the soundpost is only held upright by tension from the strings, going down to the bridge on the top of the Violin.Thank you very much.
+Richard Ebdon In a way this is true, however, the most common practice is to put the sound-post in lightly before putting on the strings. The sound-post will stay up over 90% of the time without strings. Even though it should not be tight at this point, it won't fall unless it gets bumped or was not fitting properly.
hey. Setting the bridge centered and aligned is okey i got it, but when i start to tune the strings, i can't set 3 of the strings in tune before I start hearing cracks, and suddenly the back blacky plastic cord that holds the bridge breaks out of the screw and loosen the whole thing again. It was okey a week ago, now this keeps happening, I've beeing trying to tune it for hours, and always happens again. I tried firing a little the plastic tips after the screws, set them close to tip and, no go.
Can't believe it, you are able to put a real link and I can't do it even on my own channel. LOL Just remove the space before com to get that link to work.
We do. I don't know why it was not listed but we are adding them today. Please do another search later. By the way, which Wittner tailpiece are you interested in? Ultra, Alloy, Ultra Rosewood???
Sorry I have another question: my violin is brand new (Gewa by the way, I'm not sure if brand has anything to do with this but just in case), however the pegs are hard to move and I'm afraid I can break a string while trying to tune it. Is there a way to soften or lubricate the pegs?
Yes but it's not the same when they are stuck. You need to get them out first. You can brace the inside of the peg box with a properly fitted block and lay the violin on a supportive backing and knock the peg out in the opposite direction with a solid strike. The trouble is that you can break more than just the peg if you don't do it right. I've heard a few luthiers say that they heat the peg box carefully and then try to turn the peg. After you get the peg out you should use Peg Compound.
Thanks for the explanation. In my Country it's quite hard to buy violin accesories. I mean I can get pegs, bridge and other stuff, but things like a shoulder rest or that Peg Compound you mentioned, are hard to find. That said, I recently watched a video in which they explained that you can use soap, I don't remember how they call that kind of soap, but here we call it "neutral" soap (it has no fragrance and neutral PH), and she rubbed the soap bar against the pegs, and removed the excess with a piece of paper (she actually removed the peg completely to do this). Do you think that could be reliable?
Hi, I've heard from a friend that the sondpost is held in place by the bridge. So if the bridge falls, does that mean that my sound post would have moved? Because of that I'm afraid to loosen all my strings at once to change the whole set. Could you advise? Thank you.
My bridge is too close to the fingerboard (doesn't line up with the notches of the f). What should i do to repositioned it? Should I loosen the strings first or just try to pull the bridge back slowly? Thanks in advance..
+nurhayati djohan How much do you need to move it. If you just reposition it slowly, you need to be careful that it doesn't fall durning the process. I would suggest that you loosen all the strings a quarter turn and carefully move it, feet then top, feet then top several times till you get it right and straight. After you retune the strings, check that it's straight or leaning back slightly. By loosening the strings you don't risk as much damage if the bridge whips down during the process..
Not good to glue the bridge because it needs to be a little flexible. Also, it's not really a big deal to resurrect the bridge. One should be able to move the bridge slightly if necessary. I guess theoretically one could reinvent the set up in a way that the bridge is more fixed. I believe pretty strongly that the conventional setup will still be better though.
I have a question. What if I accidentally placed the bridge the wrong way, instead of the tall part on G string, I accidentally put it in the E string. I'm just traumatized of tuning it again, especially the E string. Any advice?
Generally the curve is cut to fit the instrument. The E string is set to be about 3mm over the fingerboard close to the bridge and the G is around 5mm. Also, the feet should be cut to fit perfectly in the correct position. It's not likely to fit very well if you reverse it. That being said if you switched it by accident and it's working for you, perhaps don't worry about it for now. We can do it for you in a few minutes free of charge if you stop by Fiddlershop, but chances are that you don't live close to us.
Okay so. I literally got my violin a few hours ago. I was looking at it and the bridge just like flew out from under the strings. Please tell me that happens sometimes? I'm sure the strings on it are old so if I get new strings, can I just put it back like it was?
If it flies out when you're putting it on, just put it on and halfway tighten all the strings, then tighten them again all the way. It stops pressure building up on one side so it doesn't fly out. Wish I could help more
My friend has a violin with no fine tuners at all, and I think I've lost count at how many times her bridge has collapsed while trying to tune with pegs 😅
Every time i tune my strings they slide out of tune again. The pegs wont keep them in tune. They will stay tuned for a few seconds then the peg will slip and come out of tune again.
+Isabella Allen Like MMC418 said, loosen a bit and tighten by pushing in at the same time. Pegs are conical and the friction comes from pushing in while turning. The more you push in while turning the tighter they are. You obviously don't want to over do it though. :)
I have 3 or 4 vibrato videos and there are many others as well. Thanks for watching and good luck with vibrato. It could be tough in the beginning but once you get it, it gets easier fast.
You mean lean forward? They tend to get drawn forward as strings stretch. You need to check the position from time to time. They should really move much at all but rough transportation and such can cause it to move too.
Use graphite from a pencil in the grooves so that the strings slide easier and lean the bridge back before tightening the stings. When it's fully tuned check and see that it's straight. If it's leaning forward carefully pull the top back in a way that you can't pull it too much by accident. Brace as well as you can on the top with your hands when doing so, It's possible that you have so much rosin on the strings that they are sticky and causing the bridge to be pulled more than normal. If so, clean the strings off with rubbing alcohol by the bridge but don't let the alcohol touch the varnish.
It's not easy if you don't use the right technique. You need to have plenty of force in both directions so it can come slamming in the opposite direction if you go too far. Also, you can use small jerking movements to avoid moving too far. Good luck!
It's more like a protector for the bridge. An E string both has high tension and is very thin. They cut through bridges easily. We install a parchment to keep that string from embedding itself too deep into the groove.
I believe you are talking about the tailpiece adjuster. If it is stripped there is more or less nothing you can do. They are super cheap. fiddlershop. com/accessories/tailpieces/Violin-Tailpiece-Adjuster Just remove the space before com
Does anyone else have a crippling fear that a string could break when tuning?
You get over that fear when you have tuned instruments long enough. :) Good luck!
Yes i got soo scared
Yes 🤣 since i was 5. Im 23 and i am still terrified
Yes always my E string popped off becuase of that
I actually cried when my bridge fell.
It can be frightening.
ME TOO!! I thought one of my strings snapped or something haha
Also, fellow violinist ARMY!!
Lol same
I was crying 😢😢
Same
Hey I'm a noob on the violin so I didn't know how much was too tight until one of the strings broke, I panicked big time and then as I was trying to fix it the bridge fell as well, luckily I didn't want to tell my parents until after I've attempted to fix it. Thanks to you're help and some other youtuber I got it back to work again, thanks sir!
I FRIGGIN PANICKED WHEN IT FELL AND ACTUALLY CRIED I WAS SO AFRAID TO TELL MY PARENTS THANK YOU
😁 Did you get it taken care of without your parents finding out? You're very welcome.
Same😂
BRO SAME
Thank you for being the only person I can actually understand when explaining how to do this.
That is great to hear. :) Thanks for watching
Thank you! This is the 2nd time I’ve come to this video to reattach the bridge. It does get easier! The first time was terrifying. My bridge had almost folded over before it popped out (I live in a very humid climate), so I wet it and heated it in the microwave between a damp kitchen towel and it straightened up again. I’m more confident adjusting the bridge back as I tighten the strings. It makes sense about the pressure pulling it forward, so by pulling it back more it is not bending as much as I tighten the strings.
You're smart to heat it to straighten. That is exactly how you save your bridge. Congrats on getting it all done by yourself. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for this, I just about broke down when I knocked out my bridge and finding this helped because I now know how to fix it. And it worked great so thank you!
You are very welcome!!!
I think a violin looks funny without the bridge
Yes, we are so used to the way it looks set up. :)
I agree, the look seems strange without the bridge. 😌
@@Alt_account1234 lol
thank you! I thought I would have to travel to a violin repair shop, but your clear and calm instruction saved me a 30 minute car trip
That is fantastic. I'm glad you were able to do it. :)
Whenever I check my bridge to see if it's straight, I always struggle because there is never a good reference point! At least I didn't know of one! So your tip about the crease line on the side of the bout was invaluable! Thanks Fiddlerman!! :)
Another trick is to use the edge of a business card or any other thing you have that has a 90° angle. Lay it against the back of the bridge and top of the violin between the bridge and the tailpiece. This will get you very close. Also, take a sharp graphite pencil and "draw" into the string grooves. This will make it easier to manipulate the bridge when you're adjusting it. Hope this helps.
Hallelujah i did it i was so afriad that thew bridge was gonna snap or the strings thank you soooo much ☺☺
Oh thank you so much! I just got the violin and I cried when the bridge fell thinking that I broke it. Your video was a life saver.
It really pleases me to know that I was helpful. Cheers and congratulations on both the violin and solving the collapsed bridge situation. 😁
Thank you, my son was freaking out his bridge fell, last time the peg fell as well but not this time. We walked thru this process and all is well now.
Fantastic news! Cheers
Oh my gosh, thank you so much! my sons violin bridge fell down and this helped so much! Thank You Fiddlerman!
It's my pleasure. Happy to hear that you guys could take care of it with my help. I think I answered one of your posts out of order somewhere else. Sorry. :)
It's the tailpiece adjuster. This is more common than one would think. Once again, they are inexpensive. You could try putting a drop of superglue on the threads, turn the thin nuts to the right place, allow to dry and tune. You may even be able to melt the end so that the nuts don't slide but the best option is getting a new one.
It does make a difference but not for tuning, only for tone quality. Tighten the tail-piece adjuster so that it is as far back, by the end button as possible. Usually you tighten is so that it stands up and just bends over when you begin to tighten the strings. Put all the strings on before trying to set up the bridge but don't tighten much at all until the bridge is set. Protect the body of the instrument under the tailpiece with a cloth until you have pressure on the bridge.
If the string breaks you'll need to replace it. These strings are inexpensive steel strings and I'd go with Prelude as a replacement. Much better but similar in sound and would match the others. Also, it's not bad to have an extra set handy just in case.
I absolutely hated it when that happened to me when i played the viola
MY BRIDGE JUST FELL AND MY MOM DOESN’T KNOW AHHHHHH TYSM
You are very welcome. Is mom tough?
Thank you so much! This was so easy! I thought I would have to take my violin to get fixed but I figured I should check youtube and your video did the trick! It’s been broken for over a decade I should’ve checked youtube ahile ago 😂 never too late I suppose!
I usually tighten each string slowly and gradually higher and higher at different times. That reduces stress on all of the strings but if you tune the E string all the way, you risk snapping it and putting too much pressure on the E string. It’s not necessary but it’s a nice precaution. This will also help you adjust the bridge easier and will again reduce the bridges and strings ability to snap.
Good idea to tighten gradually each string. That is the way I prefer to do it too. The E string won't snap however if you don't over tighten it. If you tighten the E string all the way without the other strings on, the E string will go down in pitch when you tighten other strings because the tailpiece gets pulled forward. Problem is that it's hard to balance the bridge and the position of the bridge with just one string, especially if it's not one of the center two strings, the D or A.
That's what I did when I first got my violin a couple years ago. (The bridge was wrapped in paper and put under the tailpiece when I got it)
@@BrettS02 Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much!! I was going to cry when the bridge came out, but didn't, as I'm already emotionally down due to the stupid virus around the world! Thank you. I can play now during this lockdown. Thank you Fiddlerman!
I'm very happy to hear it. We'll be doing projects through Fiddlershop for people that are stuck at home. UA-cam live on Fiddlershop later today.
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@@1stfiddlerman Oh that's Great! Thank YOU!
@@BongToonz fiddlerman.com/2020/03/fiddlerman-group-project-amazing-grace/
thank you so much for this. now i can play at my church today💜
I feel like a little bit of a hero in this case. 😁 Thanks for watching and letting me know!
Good info. I'm very new to this. I have a viola with a bridge that bends backwards and if I try to straighten it, it keeps its shape and lifts the feet. Thanks for the info.
I'm looking at finding a Luthier to set it up just to make sure it's done right.
Good luck with that :)
It scared me so much. It made such a loud sound!!! I'm wondering what could've made it come off? The violin is brand spankin new, got it yesterday. the people told me that they tuned and tightened.
The pegs are conical meaning that they are tighter if they are pushed in while turning. Strings/pegs need to be tuned and adjusted regularly. The set-up is important and you may need to use some peg compound on the peg shaft for more stability and smoother action.
Thanks, I just opened my Viola and found the bridge down, I wasn't sure about where and which way or the right way to set it. Thumbs up.
Glad you figured it out and that the video was helpful. The lowest side would be the A string side. The bridge follows the fingerboard curve and lower strings vibrate wider than the higher strings so they need to be further away as to not vibrate against the fingerboard.
Fiddlerman
Are you working as a marine mechanic? What kind of vessels do you work on?
Fiddlerman
I was working as a MM but Im partly disabled now. Please feel free to send me questions if you have them about anything. I worked on small vessels with small out boards and larger vessels with inboard or stern drives. Volvo Penta, Mercuser, Yamaha, Mercury, Johnson Evenrude . . etc . . Thanks for the advice I will look to ensure I installed the bridge correctly.
Llathrum Marine Mechanic
Thanks, same for you.
Always looking for a good mechanic. :)
We have an IP31 sailing vessel. Where do you live?
Fiddlerman
Im in Roanoke Virginia, a little land bound this far in from the coast, but if I could I would live closer to the coast, preferable Juneau or Ketchikan Alaska :)
If the bridge is curved enough it might be necessary to get a new one. Although, there is a possibility to steam it, or wet it and straighten with possibly some heat, or an iron. Once it is straight again, it will probably stay straight provided you keep it upright on the violin. :-)
thank you so much for this video I have been struggling with this problem for so long .
Glad to have been of help. 😁
Its pretty straight forward, but your walk through actually helped a lot. You sure have been helpful for me lately! One question though, my bridge has been collapsing more than normal even though I get it set up perfectly... Any idea why that might be??
+musicisbrilliant Actually you know what fiddlerman, your video is more than suffice. I guess I just need to pay closer attention to making it STRAIGHT like you said. Its gotta be exact! THANKS MY FRIEND, I LOVE YOU MR FIDDLERMAN!!!!!!! haha. SO helpful! You deserve your title. Youve earned it.
+musicisbrilliant Thanks :)
My bridge just flew across the room. I thought I broke the whole thing. Thank you!!
You are very welcome. Glad it was helpful.
I just hear it. After playing for so many years I know what these pitches are the same way you recognize a color. The right note just sounds a specific way.
My son is almost 13 and has been playing for about 7 years!
So he was very astonished and mad and sad when it broke
@@carliedavis2715 What broke exactly? Can we help?
That makes sense to me though I never did that nor have I ever had problems with tuning other strings first. I can potentially see the bridge sliding over when starting on the E or G but especially the E since that string has more tension. When tuning my violin I always start with the A because it's tradition to tune to the oboe in an orchestra who gives us an A. :-)
I would suggest that you ship the violin back if the sound-post has fallen on a new purchase and if not, bring it to a luthier. You need a sound-post setter to fix this. It's not that easy to explain but I might make a video showing how to raise the sound-post. It too must be in the optimal position and as straight as possible. As Keith said, the post could be too short if it has fallen. I (Fiddlershop) ship violins with tension on the bridge. So far not a single complaint.
Fiddlerman, I thought if the bridge had fallen down then the pole that goes inside the violin would move from its position and fall. Doesn't that happen all the time the bridge falls then? My violin's bridge hasn't fallen down but it's tilted. Should I loosen the strings to put it back in place and then tighten the strings carefully again?
You should definitely straighten it out and keep it straight at all times. You can loosen the strings a bit and hold the top of the bridge with both hands and fingers secured to the top of the violin so that it doesn't come crashing down. Pull it back with confidant miniature nudges until it's straight or slightly back towards the end button.
yaguarete79 the pole that is inside the violin is called a soundpost
BrettS01 thank you for explaining that. Regards
Also, the sound-post should not fall if the strings are completely loose. It can and sometimes does fall from too little pressure on the top but it should not.
Oh really? That's really astonishing for me to know. Actually I'm a newbie to the violin world, but I've seen videos and read several articles in which they warned that the sound post was completely lose and would fall like "for sure" if the strings were loose. Maybe they just meant that it "may" fall, then. Anyways, it's good to know that, because now I feel more confident playing it. Because earlier I was thinking most of the time "I'm playing this instrument which seems so delicate that anything can not only take it out of tune, but also break its sound very easily". Of course I still must be careful but feel more confident now. Thanks again for your information and advice.
Hey good buddy ,I am trying to find a tutorial on where to set the strings on the bridge .When you look at the bridge and how they line up with the wholes and the little curves of the bridge .Like holding the violin in front of your face ,looking down the neck .Like looking right at the bridge and seeing how the string's set on the bridge .I don't believe anyone has done a lesson on that .I can do it ,but I just wanted to see some one else do it .Just to double check myself .Can you do a tutorial on this subject.I bought one of the Cecilia's after watching your demo . The bridge was too high so I took it down ,setting it to my taste .Thank's for all that you do .The best to you .So can you do a video on this topic ? Peace.
+Kevin Still I find it's hard to explain this to people. I am a visual guy and can immediately see if a bridge has the right height and the spacing is right between strings but getting others to understand is very different.
We also use a square and measure the height off the bridge to 5 mm over the G and 3 over the E.
We would do less but the fingerboards actually go up in the cold which can cause the string to vibrate against the fingerboard. The spacing on a full size violin should be 11.5 to12 mm from center to center of each string. Of course constant even distance and the radius should be 42 mm.
I know to change strings one at a time to keep tension on the instrument and avoid the sound post falling. But if the sound post is properly fit and snug, it should NOT fall even with no strings or tension. Correct?
It's a little cord with two golden nuts at the tips. While trying to tune the strings, it keeps making 'cracks' sounds until one of the nuts fly off the cord and the whole thing gets loose and the bridge slaps over the wood.
This is a brand new instrument, I first tried it about 2 weeks ago, and it was all good, tuning was normal, until today morning when I tried to tune and the cracks started until it breaks, over and over. I've beeing trying for hours to remount it but the nut keep flying off
ITS MY FIRST DAY AND MY BRIDGE SNAPPED MY HEART STOPPED AND I WAS SO SAAAAAD, idk why but my g string and e string is loose but if i try to tighten it up it snapps again, by snap i mean it falling lmao
That is unusual, but do these things and you will be fine.
1) apply graphite (pencil lead) to the grooves.
2) Lean the bridge back just slightly before you start tightening the strings.
3) tighten little by little checking that your bridge is not leaning forward.
All this should guarantee that your bridge doesn't fall while setting it up. Keep in mind that tuning strings from 0 pulls the strings through the bridge and if the strings pull your bridge instead, this will happen.
One last thing. Your bridge feet might not be shaped properly and the grooves on your bridge could be too deep. Deep grooves would hold the strings too much as you are tuning. The grooves should really be just deep enough to hold the strings in place and no more. Usually about half the string thickness deep or less.
@@1stfiddlerman Thanks so much!
@@1stfiddlerman Oh and do i have to do it in order? Because last i did the a string first then when i tried the g stirng and this is where it fell
@@umbramortis8310 You don't have to do it in that order. I just gave you a bunch of solutions since I don't know exactly what happened. :) Cheers!
@@1stfiddlerman alright thanks!
read somewhere that if the strings were all let slack, then there was a risk of the sound post falling over as well. How would you reset the post if it slipped?
I don't get it the adjuster part. Do you have any video showing how to settle the violin parts from scratch, without any cords, or tail or anything set yet, that you could show?. I can't find a video showing the adjuster cord and nuts distance or how to avoid the cracks, in details. If you know any video, or maybe if you record one about, It would be great! Thank you for your patience! :D
oh whaaat - thanks my bridge hasn't fallen but it seemed to be tilting alot and some people said thats fine but will try and get the feet as flat as possible now
Thanks loads
Good idea. It will warp eventually if you don't.
I’m about to do this & im scared I’ll snap everything 😬
I finally fixed I got soo scared bc it’s not mine
Tysm!✨
Congrats on the fix. 😁
While I was going it, one of my string broke I don't know what I was doing wrong
You probably over tightened a string or possibly had the wrong string in on the wrong peg. Strings are designed to withstand only 20 to 30% over pitch. Often a little over and they break.
Yes, it can happen on a brand new violin. Could be a cheap quality one and you might just have had some bad luck.
If the bridge is not lined up with those little notches on either side, but is down a ways closer to the neck... can that affect the sound of your playing? I feel like I'm having a hard time not squeaking around surrounding strings... my husband also made my bridge and I'm wondering if some of the strings should be laying lower than they are, to give more clearance for the bow.
This gets loosen after a few days of use? Is that really normal? Looking closer it's a crappy nylon cord, but I'm impressed that it breaks that fast. Also, maybe I'm putting the nuts wrong? Too close or too far from the tips, is there any correct way of screwing this? I tried the nuts at the end of the tips, and put some fire on the plastic, but still I can't make the string reach the tune before it cracks and gets pulled off the cord. Maybe I'm doing it wrong? This breaks on new cords normaly?
Hmm Right, one last question :) When you fold this adjusters and stick intothe black pin, and attach to the tailpiece, the tailpiece becomes far or close, depending on the distance from tips you screw the nuts. Making it longer or shorter cord, does make any difference for reaching the tune? Because a week ago tunning was so easy and it had no stripping cracks sounds, maybe I put it too long or too short?
If the bridge falls, one should check for the sound post having fallen over as well. It's not uncommon for the bridge falling over and that causing the top to flex out siightly and the sound post falling over..... In some ways every violin player should have a sound post setter and know how to use it.
Usually the post won't fall simply because the pressure from the bridge is completely loose but it does happen. It's not going to be hard to notice without even checking because there will be a post rolling loosely in the instrument. I didn't learn to use my sound post setter until playing professionally for 10 years. None of my colleagues knew how to use one either. However, I totally agree with you. Everyone should be able to. :)
If the bridge keeps bending towards the fingerboard, is it time to buy a new bridge? I recently decided to learn but have had this violin since 2008 or so, during this time the strings came loose and I think the bridge may be permanently changed.
is it bad for your fiddle if its leaning forward too much, mine is out buy about 4mm
Great explanation
Thanks so much Juliana.
What is good? 90 degrees the back side or the feets of bridge touche perfect the top of the violin? Because I ve seen many videos and my result is : you canot have both of 2 adjustments in the same time....
Both. Most importantly the feet must be perfectly flat. Often the bridge is not cut well and the feet wanting to lay flat will cause the bridge to curve.
Fiddlerman I think my bridge is not cut well...
@@ΒασιληςΒαγενας-β1φ I would imagine that you are right. You might possibly be able to correct it yourself.
Fiddlerman and now my sound post fall...the violin is new !!wy?i suppose the reason is bridge..
@@ΒασιληςΒαγενας-β1φ Yes, removing pressure from the bridge can cause the post to fall but usually not. You just have to be careful. Your post was probably too loose, improperly fitted, or too short. We put up peoples sound posts for free here if you live close enough.
This vid gives me ✨trauma✨
I've been working on and with string instruments my whole life. :)
well, when the soundpost is too short, it will fall when you unscrew the pegs, since the tension of the strings will be weaker, thus, making the bridge fall...and making the force between the top of the violin and the back weak, thus making the short soundpost fall :)
I was trying to tune my d string by the peg, which I have never done before, and for some reason it wouldn't stay in place. When I kept tightening the peg I heard a pop and I thought a string broke but my bridge had fallen off and I dont know what to do.
Good luck
My viola's bridge has no notches on the top to line the strings up with? should I manually make the notches or what would you suggest
+Austin Sansig How is that possible?
In any case, you don't need very much of a notch. Just enough of a groove to keep the strings from rolling off. The strings will eventually dig in. You should space them evenly, maybe with a lead pencil then a needle file or something. Just press down hard enough to make a slight indentation. With the violin the spacing should be around 12 mm from center to center of each string.
+Fiddlerman I've got it working now. Thank you very much, sir!
Nice video here. You explain it very well. But I have a few questions for you please: If you are unfortunate enough to have your bridge fall down (or if you want to replace your old bridge with a new one) would this not affect the position of the soundpost? I only ask because I thought (or may have misread somewhere?) that the soundpost is only held upright by tension from the strings, going down to the bridge on the top of the Violin.Thank you very much.
+Richard Ebdon In a way this is true, however, the most common practice is to put the sound-post in lightly before putting on the strings. The sound-post will stay up over 90% of the time without strings. Even though it should not be tight at this point, it won't fall unless it gets bumped or was not fitting properly.
Fiddlerman Thank you for that.
+Richard Ebdon You're welcome
hey. Setting the bridge centered and aligned is okey i got it, but when i start to tune the strings, i can't set 3 of the strings in tune before I start hearing cracks, and suddenly the back blacky plastic cord that holds the bridge breaks out of the screw and loosen the whole thing again. It was okey a week ago, now this keeps happening, I've beeing trying to tune it for hours, and always happens again. I tried firing a little the plastic tips after the screws, set them close to tip and, no go.
Thank you SOOOOOO Much :) This has helped dramatically
Can't believe it, you are able to put a real link and I can't do it even on my own channel. LOL
Just remove the space before com to get that link to work.
So very helpful. Thank you.
Very welcome!!! I haven't heard from you in a while. How is the journey going so far?
Your voice reminds me of Scott Bakula.
Had to look him up. LOL
Captain Jonathan Archer
Hey fiddlerman... I know this is off the subject but does your shop carry wittner tailpeices. I dont see it on your website
We do. I don't know why it was not listed but we are adding them today. Please do another search later. By the way, which Wittner tailpiece are you interested in? Ultra, Alloy, Ultra Rosewood???
I almost cried because I thought I broke it and I didn't want my parents to find out.😭 Thank you
Did they ever find out? Glad I could help!!!
Basically. The intonation is naturally different. :)
Thank you! You just saved my life :-)
I feel special. :) Thanks
So I need to check the bridge is straight when I tune every string??
Sorry I have another question: my violin is brand new (Gewa by the way, I'm not sure if brand has anything to do with this but just in case), however the pegs are hard to move and I'm afraid I can break a string while trying to tune it. Is there a way to soften or lubricate the pegs?
Yes but it's not the same when they are stuck. You need to get them out first. You can brace the inside of the peg box with a properly fitted block and lay the violin on a supportive backing and knock the peg out in the opposite direction with a solid strike. The trouble is that you can break more than just the peg if you don't do it right. I've heard a few luthiers say that they heat the peg box carefully and then try to turn the peg. After you get the peg out you should use Peg Compound.
Thanks for the explanation. In my Country it's quite hard to buy violin accesories. I mean I can get pegs, bridge and other stuff, but things like a shoulder rest or that Peg Compound you mentioned, are hard to find. That said, I recently watched a video in which they explained that you can use soap, I don't remember how they call that kind of soap, but here we call it "neutral" soap (it has no fragrance and neutral PH), and she rubbed the soap bar against the pegs, and removed the excess with a piece of paper (she actually removed the peg completely to do this). Do you think that could be reliable?
Yes I do. That should be perfect depending on the type of soap.
Hi, I've heard from a friend that the sondpost is held in place by the bridge. So if the bridge falls, does that mean that my sound post would have moved? Because of that I'm afraid to loosen all my strings at once to change the whole set. Could you advise? Thank you.
When changing strings change them one at a time so that your bridge and sound post don't move.
My bridge is too close to the fingerboard (doesn't line up with the notches of the f). What should i do to repositioned it? Should I loosen the strings first or just try to pull the bridge back slowly? Thanks in advance..
+nurhayati djohan How much do you need to move it. If you just reposition it slowly, you need to be careful that it doesn't fall durning the process. I would suggest that you loosen all the strings a quarter turn and carefully move it, feet then top, feet then top several times till you get it right and straight. After you retune the strings, check that it's straight or leaning back slightly. By loosening the strings you don't risk as much damage if the bridge whips down during the process..
+Fiddlerman I did it. Thank you soooo much..
+nurhayati djohan Glad to hear it!!!
Not good to glue the bridge because it needs to be a little flexible. Also, it's not really a big deal to resurrect the bridge. One should be able to move the bridge slightly if necessary. I guess theoretically one could reinvent the set up in a way that the bridge is more fixed. I believe pretty strongly that the conventional setup will still be better though.
I have a question. What if I accidentally placed the bridge the wrong way, instead of the tall part on G string, I accidentally put it in the E string. I'm just traumatized of tuning it again, especially the E string. Any advice?
Generally the curve is cut to fit the instrument. The E string is set to be about 3mm over the fingerboard close to the bridge and the G is around 5mm. Also, the feet should be cut to fit perfectly in the correct position. It's not likely to fit very well if you reverse it.
That being said if you switched it by accident and it's working for you, perhaps don't worry about it for now.
We can do it for you in a few minutes free of charge if you stop by Fiddlershop, but chances are that you don't live close to us.
Okay so. I literally got my violin a few hours ago. I was looking at it and the bridge just like flew out from under the strings. Please tell me that happens sometimes? I'm sure the strings on it are old so if I get new strings, can I just put it back like it was?
If it flies out when you're putting it on, just put it on and halfway tighten all the strings, then tighten them again all the way. It stops pressure building up on one side so it doesn't fly out. Wish I could help more
My friend has a violin with no fine tuners at all, and I think I've lost count at how many times her bridge has collapsed while trying to tune with pegs 😅
She needs to learn to pull the top of the bridge back carefully from time to time. :)
I thought my violin was broken forever thank you
You are VERY welcome. Glad that this was helpful. Cheers!!!
Really happy to hear it :-)
Thank you.. very helpful !
You are very welcome!
that violin looks similar to mine hahaha. we also have similar F hole placement.
Can I use a violin bridge in a viola??
You could, but the strings might be too close to each other. Not sure about the height either.
DON'T leave the bridge off for too long, as it's adding support to the soundpost. Two of mine popped out like this 'in transit'.
You saved my life
The things that I am capable of doing. ;)
Thanks so much!!!
Lol it happened once during my performance in 3rd grade, I rock too hard:D
Thank you for this video! I thought my violin got broke I really panicked.
Yo you said G is here and E is here, but did not say which string gets the higher side....
thx so much i really appreciate
You're very welcome. Thanks for watching!!!
Every time i tune my strings they slide out of tune again. The pegs wont keep them in tune. They will stay tuned for a few seconds then the peg will slip and come out of tune again.
+Isabella Allen Like MMC418 said, loosen a bit and tighten by pushing in at the same time. Pegs are conical and the friction comes from pushing in while turning. The more you push in while turning the tighter they are. You obviously don't want to over do it though. :)
I'm trying to find out how to play my Violin with Vibrato I have been playing for 3 years going on to 4 years anybody have any video suggestions?
I have 3 or 4 vibrato videos and there are many others as well. Thanks for watching and good luck with vibrato. It could be tough in the beginning but once you get it, it gets easier fast.
So the bridge isn’t supposed to be attached with wood glue or something?
It's completely loose.
Sonetimes its glued on sometimes its not bc mine wasn't
Are bridges supposed to move over time?
You mean lean forward? They tend to get drawn forward as strings stretch. You need to check the position from time to time. They should really move much at all but rough transportation and such can cause it to move too.
Excelente vídeos! Pls add legend PT-BR. Thx! :)
Thanks. Is that a piece? Do you have a link?
I get it set up straight then when i go to tighten the string it falls again even when i try to hold it back
Use graphite from a pencil in the grooves so that the strings slide easier and lean the bridge back before tightening the stings. When it's fully tuned check and see that it's straight. If it's leaning forward carefully pull the top back in a way that you can't pull it too much by accident. Brace as well as you can on the top with your hands when doing so, It's possible that you have so much rosin on the strings that they are sticky and causing the bridge to be pulled more than normal. If so, clean the strings off with rubbing alcohol by the bridge but don't let the alcohol touch the varnish.
Thanks!
You are very welcome!
thank you
Any time Daddy Mars!!!
You are welcome :)
each time i try to fix my bridge it fall down i dont know to do it right
It's not easy if you don't use the right technique. You need to have plenty of force in both directions so it can come slamming in the opposite direction if you go too far. Also, you can use small jerking movements to avoid moving too far. Good luck!
why do u need an e string protector
It's more like a protector for the bridge. An E string both has high tension and is very thin. They cut through bridges easily. We install a parchment to keep that string from embedding itself too deep into the groove.
I was like DON'T FALL AGAIN when I was doing it
And it did not right???
I believe you are talking about the tailpiece adjuster. If it is stripped there is more or less nothing you can do. They are super cheap. fiddlershop. com/accessories/tailpieces/Violin-Tailpiece-Adjuster
Just remove the space before com