Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.
Private messaging is working again.
Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
(0 votes) 
Regulars
Offline
I decided to do a little more work on my Australian Blackwood bridges.
I have a Livingstone violin (black painted) that I bought for about AU$40 that sounded a bit dull at the time and so I've been working to improve it. I had made it a new bridge from a maple blank and fitted a new set of strings and the change was considerable.
I was feeling a bit bored this weekend so I decided to give it an Australian Blackwood bridge. I sat down and made it from 'scratch' and this is the result.
The strings are Pirastro Chromcor on both bridges
The first pic is a 'rough' blank
The second pic is the 'finished' blank
The third pic is tghe blank being fitted to the violin profile
The fourth pic is the finished bridge thinned and shaped to my preferred curve
And then there is the video of the result
This is not a test of my bowing or intonation. Its a test of the bridge material 
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of 
..... What was I saying???? 
Offline
I can't say that I hear much difference if any but if I have to choose one, I'd take the recording using the blackwood bridge. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Regulars
Offline
sorry brother, they sound alike to me as well
There is no shame in playing twinkle, youre playing Mozart
Ferret,
I would say that the
Blackwood was definitely an improvement. Had a little less treble and a smoother bass. HOWEVER ..... I did detect a little more enthusiasm when you played the Blackwood so that might account for something.
I think you will be the best judge as time goes by.
What were you doing with the sound post during all these changes? Did you move it at all ? I would guess that you know better.
Because of slow 24k dialup, I'm not able to listen,,but I certainly want to say Thank You Ferret for doing this. There are lots of ways to enjoy a violin. In fact I look forward to all your posts.
Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars
Offline
At the very least, I would say that Blackwood is at least equal to Maple as a tone wood. Is the Maple bridge cut the same as the Blackwood? The differences, if any, in thickness and amount of wood removed for the cut outs is also a factor.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright
Regulars
Offline
Its interesting that only a slight difference is heard. I don't know what the response time would be if someone with FM's proficiency played it, but to the level I will ever play at, it makes me start to think more exotically towards the bridge. Why is the bridge shaped like it is? With todays advancement in string technology, is that traditional bridge shape really required? I remember maybe a year or so ago Ozimus was playing around with different bridge shapes. I don't know what ever became of his experimenting. I believe perhaps even Daniel was also.
Ferret, since you have the tools at hand, see if the following shapes have any reasonable bearing on the energy and sound transfer through to the violin cavity. You really only need to make 1 more. advance it through the stages and record yourself for our listening pleasure.
(I just quickly photo shopped your existing bridge for reference)
"I find your lack of Fiddle, disturbing" - Darth Vader
Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars
Offline
Good job, John.
I prefer the Blackwood bridge over the maple one. However, my impression was that neither bridge was optimized for its density and sound character, hence may not be at its very best.
Your violin sounded real nice the way it is though. I would be happy just with it.
Regulars
Offline
John, good job on making the bridge.
I could hear a difference between them, and like the Blackwood best of the two.
To my ear, it sounded a little more robust and even toned.
I did notice during the Blackwood boat song, you were playing a little closer to the bridge, so that would contribute to some slight sound difference too.
It's really neat that you're trying out some alternate woods.
"Music is what feelings sound like." ~ Author Unknown
Regulars
Offline
Thanks folks for the feedback
@oliver No, Didn't move the sound post that I'm aware of
@Tyberius You have got me thinking now
And again. Thanks all.
There is a new project underway.
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of ..... What was I saying????
1 Guest(s)
Mouse
ELCBK
Jols
Strabo
Fiddlerman
