Stringed Instruments Bridge Size Comparison

Just a short little video showing the wide range of sizes on stringed instrument bridges!
From the miniscule 1/32 violin bridge, to the gargantuan 4/4 double-bass bridge, and everything in-between!
#stringedinstruments #luthier #bridges

[@elissahunt]

I love how happy the cello and double bass bridges look.

[@jthev]

Didn't realize that there were so many different sizes of violins and their companion instruments. Nice display.

[@AmandaViolinGirl]

Thank you.

[@topsecret1837]

Bit curious the width of the 50 size viola bridge is the same as that of the full size cello.

[@christinashelby6083]

It almost looks like a forced perspective sort of thing at the end, all those bridges lined up like that. Very cool. Ash surely would have had a field day with all those bridges on the floor had you been at home:-D

[@SculptyWorks]

I dunno, he's a very delicate kitty, doesn't push things off that aren't his toys. 🐈

[@SuppaflyZSM]

Why do the viola bridges use a different measurement type from the others?

[@SculptyWorks]

Viola measurements are a bit weird; violas are measured in inches, while the other instruments are measured in fractions. And the placement of the bassbar inside the viola can vary wildly too. For the longest time there wasn't a 'standard' for violas. And there's an overlap with violins for the small ones (a 14" viola uses a 4/4 violin bridge). Some luthiers prefer to put big bridges on their violas, while others go for smaller ones. So to allow for these variations, bridge makers offer a variety of sizes, measured in millimeters, because mixing arbitrary fractions with inches wasn't confusing enough already. 😉 So... a more concise answer would be that violas have options, while the other instruments are stuck to a standard.

[@heinrichfletcher6954]

That's new to me and interesting.