Ivory?

I have had Violin Bridges on my mind lately - waiting to see if Glasser comes up with a good, hopefully better-than-wood, CF Bridge for the Viola. 

I have read that tweaking can be done to the bridge to help bring out the best sound. 

When I look at the bridge on my violin - it looks like the top edge was cut/shaped and a bevel on the side toward the fingerboard, but not any apparent shaping within the heart, kidneys or anywhere else.  This is not any reflection on the Fiddlershop, my violin was drop shipped directly from Glasser.

Found a great article about fitting the bridge and shaping it.

I'm not going to try this myself, but think it's good to know. 

ViolinSchool - Violin Bridge Fitting

This caught my attention:

Carving out much of the wood again improves the transmission of vibrations from the strings to the body of the instrument. The ankles can be narrowed, the feet be made thinner and the ‘kidneys’, the holes that look decorative but have the function of reducing the bulk of the bridge, can be carved out.

Too much wood in a bridge will dampen the sound of the violin in the same way that placing a mute on a well-fitting bridge produces a more muffled sound because it prevents the bridge from vibrating to its full extent. 

I DO like the look of a Black Bridge! 

It doesn't stand out, especially on a darker violin/viola. 

Now, for my own preference, I'd LOVE one that's more ornate, or uniquely shaped (like some at the beginning of this thread)! 

Found an interesting blog by a Luthier who chooses to use black bridges for his violins.  People think he is posh, using ebony... but they aren't ebony, and he explains. 

Why Badiarov Bridges Are Always Black

I think Bardiarov was a bit incorrect in some of his thinking, but it's his story.

Don't know if there are reasons more material wasn't removed on my bridge, could be because of the pick-up installed, etc... or just a standard for my CF instrument series - to help keep these instruments in a reasonable price range (which they are). 

...now, what about gunmetal strings? 

Not enough contrast with the fingerboard? 🤔  There actually could be, since fingerboards are a black matte.  A gunmetal finish 'can' be a shiny dark grey - the strings could sparkle! 🤩

- Emily