Ep. 24: Let's talk about the Tailpiece

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

I posted this (hopefully helpful) comment to someone else below, I hope it can help some of you fellow string players too! - Recently, a few manufacturers have started making very nice pernambuco tailpieces. It's what I use now on both my violin and viola. It certainly has the most focused sound. My setup beforehand was a rosewood tailpiece on my violin, and a boxwood tailpiece on my viola. The pernambuco has made the best difference so far! Please note too that as a part-time-luthier on top of being a professional musician - I have changed around my fittings many times! So pernambuco is no.1 for me! It beats ebony, boxwood, rosewood, tamarind, padauk, teak, olivewood, and the synthetic ones like carbon fibre, and whatever secret "space age" plastic Wittner uses. Surprisingly - a Thomastik 4-fine-tuners tailpiece made from steel is actually surprisingly vibrant and focused! I would use the violin size on both violin and viola (the viola version is a little bit of a dampener!). All the best. You can also get pernambuco pegs, chin rests, and endpins too. A little bit pricey ;)

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

Really Great, thanks. I am going to have to watch your entire back catalog and read all of your previous responses before I ask any more questions. Really a gold mine there!

[@anttiniemisto1]

I am curious about the opinion of harp shaped tailpieces (frirsz or zmt for example) and what preferences of changing the style of tailpiece altogether luthiers have.

[@Violinmatt2]

I’ve noticed quite a difference from switching back and forth between boxwood and ebony on 2 of my violins!

[@Violinmatt2]

Quite fun for my dad and I to hear the sound differences and feel how it plays differently too.

[@russcorbett3923]

Thank You so very much for this video . I was about to change pieces out for the natural wood look instead of black but I hadn't considered what you've just said . Again , Thank You so much . Russ Corbett

[@EdgarRuss]

Perfect timing! So happy that it was useful for you. Thanks for watching! Have a nice evening!

[@RosaGrau2014]

My Romanian violin has improved a lot with boxwood tailpiece and chinrest. It also depends on how old the violin is. It will need different fittings.

[@shupesmerga4694]

I have a ton of left over Narra (Also known as: Pterocarpus, asana, mukwa, padauk) wood from the construction of my grandparent's house, and my metal tailpiece is starting to flake after 14 years. Could I use this wood for a new tailpiece? This is a very dense hardwood like a marble but light.

[@whitewidowminingcompany991]

Edgar, thank you so much for all the knowledge you share. Would it be possible to have your thoughts regarding the harp tailpiece?

[@deltafour1212]

Is there a difference in size and width of a Baroque style violin tailpiece compared with a traditional violin tailpiece ?

[@smereuben]

Excellent video! I recently replaced all my fittings with Mountain Mahogany (from Ebony). The wood is a little lighter than Ebony. I am experimenting with weight and tonality. I only use one fine tuner and I went with a shorter tailpiece to get closer to my violins mensur dimensions. It’s made a noticeable difference, just not a big difference. I believe it was a good move for my setup, I think. Doesn’t hurt that the wood is sexy. The one question I have for you is quality of tailpiece. I ordered the tailpiece online and when it came, there was a small but tight knot halfway up the tailpiece. Is it common practice to select straight grain knot free wood for tailpieces or am I projecting too much importance on this? I rather enjoy tinkering with my violin trying to learn and your videos are immensely helpful. Thank you!

[@EdgarRuss]

Hi, Thank you for your kind message. Of course every single detail even very tiny knot makes a difference. But I personally love exactly these tiny imperfections. they make it become your personal one. And I doubt we can generalize here what kind of difference it makes. Mountain Mahogany! Very nice choice. I only heard about it. Looks pretty similar like very dark brown ebony. So if you like it love it. If you catch yourself too often thinking of its imperfections, change it. There is a reason that you are unhappy. And do everything not to waist your time in unhappy violin playing. Good or good? Have fun Thanks for your comment and your interest. all the best ER

[@LoiteringReaper]

The density that affects sound can be imagined as a single plane window vs. double planed window. Dampen overall projection & tones, use denser pieces.

[@charalamposdafermos8236]

Hello Mr Edgar!! Thank you very much for your interesting videos! I would like to make a question.. I have a Josef Teller boxwood tailpiece that has a light brown colour that it does not realy much the the colour of my violin. Is there a way that i can paint it darker and make it much? Thank you in advance!!

[@pandoraefretum]

I feel the French boxwood tailpiece that replaces my Hill (English) model boxwood piece is lighter.... and strings are arched more evenly with better match to the bridge...it's not a mjor difference, but I notice it.

[@EdgarRuss]

Yes that's a good point why the French one might be better. All the best from Cremona Edgar

[@pandoraefretum]

@@EdgarRuss My Hill Boxwood weighs 15.3 gr and length 11.4 cm... I am going back to that because of the higher mass... the Teller tailpiece with adjusters on A & E seems lighter, but also the sound is more treble. This is my very subjetive gut feeling... and my ears of course.... many thx for your clip(s) greetings from Bristol, UK

[@RosaGrau2014]

I prefer the Hill shape for the same reason.

[@truth7416]

Another great video thanks. Do you tune the short strings behind the bridge by varying the length of the tail piece pin loop?

[@EdgarRuss]

I try to have the stringlenght behind the bridge more or less 1/6 of the total string length. On cello and Doublebass I don´t see that much difference if it is one or two mm longer or shorter. ER

[@Louise-zs9rl]

Great, thanks for posting!

[@cloudyjohn439]

Hi Edgar, first of all thank you so much for all the wonderful videos, I've really learned a lot:) I have a question on the "plastic" tailpiece, is this kind material good for the sound?

[@AmandaZooKeeper]

This is very helpful and interesting, thank you! I have a well made violin that was damaged by a polyurethane varnish, resulting in a “tinny” tone. Is there a tailpiece material and/or style could help create more warmth and resonance in the tone? The current tailpiece is made of ebony and I believe it’s a tulip style or another common shape. Thank you! Also, can you tell us about the “harp” style tailpieces? They are visually interesting but does the shape affect the sound or serve a functional purpose? Many thanks!

[@EdgarRuss]

Every violin has its own colour. Certainly if you have already a wooden Ebony tailpiece I think it might be the character of your violin. But to be sure I should have the violin here in my hands....... Sorry! ER

[@AmandaZooKeeper]

@@EdgarRuss Thank you much!

[@emanuelbudiyuwono2463]

Thank you for the video. The information is very useful. But may I request a video content about tailpiece material and tailgut material and it's effect on the instrument? I mean about the production of the sound and resonation it self. And I think it would be better of there are some sample of it..

[@EdgarRuss]

Thank you for the advice. I will keep track of the tailpiece material and its effect. Keep on watching! Have a nice day!

[@emanuelbudiyuwono2463]

Edgar Russ Distinguished Violinmaker thank you for replying!

[@vartago]

Edgar thisbis excellent content. Fantastic.

[@ec-hi1br]

HI ! WHAT IS THE BEST TAILPIECE FOR YOU ? THANKS !

[@rayguzman.]

I've never see it in that way, my violin have a few notes that i don't like it (wolf tones?), when i changed the tailpiece i liked how the G and D strings sounded, but i never liked the A string after that, i sounds too harsh and bright, maybe i should go back to the ebony tailpiece and do a few tests.

[@cristrigotti9933]

Very good information! Thank you.

[@EdgarRuss]

I am glad you liked it! Keep on watching! Have a nice evening.

[@Pionike]

I wanna ask, what do you think about plastic tailpiece (the one with connected fine tuners)

[@mikeciaudzul1923]

Muy interesante maestro gracias por su franqueza

[@EdgarRuss]

De nada, Cecilia! Es un placer! 😅

[@johnybaskin]

Hello Maestro, where did you lost harp tailpiece?:)!

[@RaamakrishnanNS]

Can this tailpiece be used for any string instrument?

[@IIAASSOONN]

Thank you very much for the insight! Could a heavier tailpiece or some sort of wood or other material make the sound more focused?

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

I can shed light on this one. Recently, a few manufacturers have started making very nice pernambuco tailpieces. It's what I use now on both my violin *and* viola. It certainly has the most focused sound. My setup beforehand was a rosewood tailpiece on my violin, and a boxwood tailpiece on my viola. The pernambuco has made the best difference so far! Please note too that as a part-time-luthier on top of being a professional musician - I have changed around my fittings many times! So pernambuco is no.1 for me! It beats ebony, boxwood, rosewood, tamarind, padauk, teak, olivewood, and the synthetic ones like carbon fibre, and whatever secret "space age" plastic Wittner uses. Surprisingly - a Thomastik 4-fine-tuners tailpiece made from steel is actually surprisingly vibrant and focused! I would use the violin size on both violin and viola (the viola version is a little bit of a dampener!). All the best. You can also get pernambuco pegs, chin rests, and endpins too. A little bit pricey ;)

[@IIAASSOONN]

@@liamnevilleviolist1809 that's great information. Thank you so much!!!

[@ec-hi1br]

I’m looking for best tailpiece, which do you recomend?

[@EdgarRuss]

I love boxwood with only one fine tuner. But a beginner might love a tailpiece with four integrated fine tuners much more since tuning is anise especially in the beginning. ER

[@jeremiahstone5285]

I hope ER doesn't mind me chiming in.. My cello sounds best with ebony tailpiece and kevlar tailgut. You should really try different ones until you find what sound you like the most, every instrument is a little different

[@johnplaysviolin4071]

What is your opinion on tamarind wood?

[@przybyla420]

I wonder how rams horn is... It is about like ebony in weight but stronger so perhaps it could be made thinner.

[@hadihadu1]

Hallo my friend what you think about the harp shape on Tailpiecs ?? Thank you regards Geri

[@mikeciaudzul1923]

Maestro que tal Que opina de los 2 nuevos tailpiece hechos totalmente de Titanio que STRADPET a lanzado al mercado??? Realmente podría mejorar la resonancia y hacer que un instrumento suene más fuerte???

[@EdgarRuss]

Stradped? Yes I bought already many of them. 32Euro They work. They increase the sound. But they are already all broken. The screw is the problem. Too fine. I would not buy anymore. Classic Chinese quality. Buy something European . Costs more and works for many many years. all the best ER

[@adelkharisov]

Edgar Russ Distinguished Violinmaker What about Stradpet Titanium Endpins?

[@kanatsizkanatli]

the material of the pegs will make no contribution the sound in any way. the tailpiece material does however make a difference, but not perceptible usually

[@leovillarreal6276]

I wanna replace my pegs and tailpiece with pernambuco. Can this bring out the sound of instrument . I have ebony at the moment

[@MisterKaribOfficiel]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@masterchief586]

I prefer ebony, just sounds better to me.

[@kaamraanroshan68]

You didn't talk about tailpiece, it was nonsense

[@ElviraGaini]

+

[@chandanpiku]

It's fucking confusing.... with which a beginner should go for?

[@EdgarRuss]

For a beginner I would search for the Wittner tailpiece with four integrated fine tuners. Maybe a little too focused sound wise but at least it increases the fact that you play in tune. Sorry that you are now even more confused than before seeing my video. That was not my intention. Keep playing and enjoy. all the best ER

[@chandanpiku]

@@EdgarRuss Please don't be Sorry, actually I am Sorry. It's not right for me to take my frustrations on ur video after unable to find a proper under bridge pizeo pickup element. After all, ur doing ur best to summarize all ur experiences on this matter in d's video. But, just being curious; how do u feel about "Pizeo flim pickups"? Can u suggest me a cheap underbridge pick up to convert my newly ordered 5string acoustic violin 2an electro acoustic1; d't don't required to drill hole under d bridge on the violin body(.i.e. it's o/p wire should originate from 1of it's end rather d'n it's center). Actually, I received a normal center out under bridge Pizeo pick up with my cheap Chinese AVC-700H , 9V preamp with volume & tone noobs along with sockets 4r headphones, pizeo pickup & audio out.