I think his argument was that tuning precision is exactly what you do need in the beginning in order to then have the richness and resonance when the detuned instruments all come together in the actual piece!

I think it is that string players tune their instruments slightly differently depending on what they are playing and who they are playing with.Last night, for example , I was at my orchestra rehearsal and , as usual we tuned to the oboe.

If I were playing in a specialised manner with a harpsichord or other keyboard instrument I would obviously tune to that, maybe lower . But obviously the instruments have to 'match'!

As far as John , or any other beginner is concerned, the tuning is a perfect fifth between the strings on a violin, viola or cello and pefect fourths for the double bass.

Beginners when tuning find it easier to have a keyboard to help but quickly get the hang of feeling when the strings are in tune with each other.

Start on the A, then tune D with the A, then the G with the D then E with the A.... usually works John!!

A

Gosh - tailpiece changes.  They don't happen very often.

When you slacken the strings, you have to be careful that the soundpost does not shift.  The tension in the strings holds the bridge down hard on the belly.  That traps the soundpost between belly and back.

Actually, on some not-so-good instruments, the soundpost is jammed in so it's not a great risk of falling over if the strings are slackened, but you can never be too careful.......

Anyway, here's what to do (or at least what I did when I last changed my tailpiece):

Take off the chinrest

Get the new tailpiece at hand - and ready (that means having a big enough loop of gut to go over the black nobby bit near where you neck goes).

Hold the violin between fingers and thumb - thumb on the belly near the bridge, and fingers on the back underneath.  Press to retain the soundpost in place.

Slacken the strings just enough that you can slip the old tailpiece off the nobby black bit near where your neck goes.  The bridge will just fall over.

With one hand, still, try to get the strings out of the old tailpiece, and try to get them into the new one.  If you can be very still, place the fiddle down somewhere, and use your other hand.

When the strings are in the tailpiece holes again, hold the violin firmly again, and get the tailpiece onto the black nobby bit.  Then tighten the strings, enough to keep the tailpiece on the nobby bit, but not massively.

Slot the bridge back where it was (there will be marks from the feet).  Make sure the bridge is perpendicular to the belly.  It should not lean back towards the tailpiece or forward towards the fingerboard.

Tighten strings apropriately.  (Sorry John - it's all that tuning again).

As the gut of the new tailpiece stretches, you will need to keep tightening the strings.  All will go flat.  (It's not quite as bad as new pirastoro strings.... )

Keep you violin somewhere where the temperature is around coolish room temperature, and it needs to be not too dry.  I used to put a pot of water near my violin case, but that really is a bit unnecessary if you have a well ventilated house.

Hope that helps!

Tommo

Very easy.  Just unscrew from the old tailpiece, and screw into the new.  You will have to put the fiddle down carefully whilst you do this.....

Tommo

Thanks Tommo and Owain.


Right, although it's probably over 70 years old the 'strad' is very clean, just slight abrasion where a previous bridge was sitting, so it could be very clean under this bridge

Tommo, when John was re-setting the older Maidstone the soundpost stayed firm, very firm, but with the other I'll have to be careful. I can just see John's face if I turn up in Leamington with the soundpost rattling about inside.


The bit I can see is very shiny so maybe it's new 


I remember John saying about 'the right way round'. It is currently nice and perpendicular but actually the top looks a little bit twisted back by the E string (while the other violin has it's bridge top slightly twisted back by the G string).

Do kids learning have the same problems I have? 

I agree with you owain... I used to tell my pupils, 'Don't touch a thing if anything goes wrong over the week'... and also John.... they were told to put their instruments in a safe place ( not a garage) in the case !!!!!

 

Hope all is going well after all that super advice from the chaps!!

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John... do tell us, have you succeeded? I wait with eager anticipation to hear your news !

A