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Hey y'all; I've played violin off and on for almost 20 years to varying degrees of proficiency (read: mediocrely) and have run into an issue with a new violin I'm not sure how to handle. I noticed when I first began playing it that it was very easy to hit the G string from the D but chalked it up to being out of practice. Once I started edging up on the fingerboard into some higher positions though I realized that it is physically impossible to play around fifth position - something about the way the strings or the bridge are set up pushes the D down below the G. I don't know how well I'm explaining this. It isn't an issue with any other string. Does the bridge need to be re-set or is this a string problem or what? At a loss.
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Hmmm - as regards the "action" - my understanding is that the E should be around 3.5mm and the G around 5.5mm with the gap from string to fingerboard "closing" as you move down from the E to the G.
BUT - that is just from my own memory - so please don't rely on it.
I *do* know that that was part of the "recipe" I followed when crafting one of my own bridges from an over-sized blank - and it "generally seems to be OK" - BUT - no - I do not reach 5th pos LOLOL THAT is yet to come my friend !
It can be difficult to measure these distances accurately, even with a steel ruler - I happen to have a micrometer, and as I say - I used a blank ( already at the correct curvature ) but of course had to file/sand down the feet to close the large gap to the strings..... and ended up, more or less to the measurements above. I have NO idea if that is correct or not - if you dig too deeply you get conflicting arguments about this and I am NO luthier - just a hobbyist doing the best I can !
EDIT : I meant to add - even from my limited experience - I doubt very much if it is a "string" problem.... it sounds like the bridge - possibly, even, up at the nut - that also would be worth checking - but you would notice the action being "different" even in first pos I guess....
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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It wouldn't really be a big deal if it were just a matter of not being able to play in that high of a position - I don't have a need for it that often - but now that I know it's an issue it's really bugging me since it does have some measure of affect on the playability even in first.
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It sounds to me as the bridge may be high. Could it also be that you are using steel core strings. Synthetic core strings are more flexible and softer to press down.
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