Orchestral & Band Instrument Reference

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Reference Guide: Bow Measurements

Violin

4/4 Size Bow = 29 1/8”

3/4 Size Bow = 27 1/8”

1/2 Size Bow = 24 3/4”

1/4 Size Bow = 22 1/4”

1/8 Size Bow = 20 1/16”

1/10 Size Bow = 18 1/8”

1/16 Size Bow = 17 1/4”

Viola

16” Size Bow = 29 1/2”

Cello

4/4 Size Bow = 28 1/8”

3/4 Size Bow = 26 1/4”

1/2 Size Bow = 24 3/4”

1/4 Size Bow = 22 3/4”

1/8 Size Bow = 21 1/8”

1/10 Size Bow = 19 1/8”

Bass

French Style Bow = 28 1/2”

German Style Bow = 29 1/2”

Reference Guide: Ebony, Ebonized and Ebonite

Ebony: Is one of the densest woods available. It is a preferred wood for violin fittings.

Ebonized: Most commonly used to describe a hard wood that is dyed or stained dark black to give it the look of ebony. It is sometimes mistakenly used for woods that are painted black, an inferior way of treating the wood.

Ebonite: A hard rubber or plastic that resembles ebony.

Setting a Violin Bridge Into Place

The bridge was not set into place to minimize damage and ensure the violin remains intact during shipping. So open it up and let's go!

Follow instructions 1a to 1c.

1a - Slacken off all the strings so they can be placed either side of the fingerboard. Do not completely remove the strings.

1b - Position the bridge (feet touching the instruments top) in an upright position centrally between the two inner 'nicks' of the 'f' holes on the top of the instrument. See diagram 1 for correct positioning.

Note: The bridge has four different sized grooves to accommodate the four different thicknesses of strings. The thickest groove (G string) should be on the left hand side of the instrument and the thinnest groove (E string) should be on the right of the instrument.

(Most premium bridges comes uncut. You will need to make a notch with a nail file or some other implement so the strings are equally spaced).

TIP: Use a soft pencil to apply a little graphite to each groove . This is good for lubrication.

1c - Starting with the G string (thickest), place this string into the relevant groove on the bridge and carefully tension the string by turning the appropriate tuning peg. Do not overtighten.

Repeat this procedure for the remaining strings. Your bridge should now be held in an upright position.

Violin Tuning

A violin is tuned in perfect 5ths to GDAE. The fourth string (the thickest) being tuned to the “G” that is a 4th below middle “C” on a piano. We’ve found the best way for students to tune is using a violin pitch pipe because it helps build ear training.

Maintenance & Cleaning

The life span of a violin family instrument directly correlates to how well it is taken care of. The daily ritual of cleaning and the proper storage of an instrument are crucial to its longevity and playability. Always wipe down an instrument’s strings with a soft, dry cloth after it is played. There will be rosin from the bow left on the strings and rosin dust underneath the strings on the body. This will build up and degrade the integrity and resonance of the strings if not wiped down, as well as leave a nasty buildup on the body. Also, always loosen the tension on the bow after use. Not doing this could cause the bow to warp or break over time.

Violin Storage

Excessive humidity and dryness are archenemies of violins. A good balance between the two is important for good violin health. Dry weather might cause cracking in the wood and finish whereas extreme humidity and heat could cause the varnish to bubble. It is best to keep the instrument indoors in an air-conditioned room. If you don’t have the luxury of AC, an interesting trick is to keep a wet paper towel in a punctured plastic bag in the violin case. This will act as a humidifier and keep the violin safe. Never leave a violin in a car, as the heat will be devastating to it. Because it is easy to damage a violin, keep the instrument in a closed case after it has been played. A violin that's rarely used also needs its case opened frequently to prevent the appearance of carpet beetles, which destroy bowhair. Violins are delicate instruments that can be greatly injured by the slightest mishap. Following these simple rules can keep a violin around for a lifetime or longer.

Polishing a Violin.

Violins are much more sensitive than other stringed instruments and as such they need a bit more care. We recommend polishing a violin not more than once or twice a year. Polishing the violin will only help it to look better; it will not enhance the playability or sound. Otherwise, just keep the violin dry and dust free with a soft cloth. Use violin polish when ready but be careful NOT to get any polish on the strings or the bow. Getting polish on either of these will damage the items.

Viola Tuning

A viola is tuned in perfect 5th’s to CGDA. The fourth string (the thickest) being tuned to the “C” that is one octave below middle “C” on a piano. It is easy for students to tune their viola, and build ear training, by using Palatino pitch pipes.

Changing a Fine Tuner Tailpiece

Changing a fine tuner tailpiece is an easy job for our violin family instruments. First, remove the strings on the violin and simply remove the existing tailpiece and tailpiece hanger. Line up the end of your new fine tuner tailpiece to the bottom of the saddle. Thread the ends of the tailpiece hanger, or tailgut, through the holes at the bottom of the tailpiece. Fasten the screws and collars to the hanger ends and adjust evenly. Then fit the tailpiece hanger around the endpin groove. The lower saddle bears the weight of the tailpiece so adjust the screws so that the saddle is high enough for the tailpiece to clear the belly of the instrument. Now the violin is ready to be restrung and enjoyed. In just a few simple steps you are on your way to playing again!

Tuning a Cello

The cello is tuned to CGDA, with the “A” being just below middle “C”. We offer cello pitch pipes that make it easier for students to tune their instrument, while developing ear training.

Tuning a Bass

The bass is tuned to EADG, like the bottom four strings of a guitar. Using a quartz tuner for bass will help tune the instrument while further developing ear training skills.

Shaping a Violin Bridge.

Just like a guitar, a violin can have its action adjusted to an individual’s taste. The shaping of the violin bridge will determine the clearance of the strings from the end of the fingerboard (known as action to a guitar player). Each violin’s fingerboard is slightly different, and the bridge can be shaped to match the individual variations in the fingerboard. To do this procedure you will need a flat file, a small V-shaped file, and 180-grit sandpaper. Here is a simple setup procedure that can be done even if you are not a violin expert:

1. At the end of the fingerboard, measure the distance from the fingerboard to the string at the G and E strings.

2. We recommend a clearance of 3/16” for the G string and 1/8” for the E string. Use the flat file to reduce the unnecessary clearance by shaping the bridge accordingly. Make sure that the new bridge shape is similar to the one pictured. Be careful not to file the bridge too low.

3. You may need to measure and file the bridge a few times to get the clearance right. Start small.

4. Use the 180-grit sandpaper to smooth the rough edges off the top of the re-shaped bridge.

5. Next you will need to put a slight notch for the strings in the bridge to maintain proper string spacing. Measure 7/32” from the center of the bridge to the left. Using the V-shaped file, put a small notch in the bridge.

6. Measuring 7/16” left of the existing notch, put another notch in the bridge.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the A and E strings to the right of the bridge.

Applying Rosin to a Bow.

Before applying rosin to a violin bow, be sure that the rosin cake has some powder on the surface. If there isn’t any powder on the surface, scrape a coin along the surface to give texture to the cake. Making sure that the bow hair is taught, rub the rosin gently along the bow hair from the frog to the top of the bow. Do this 25+ times if the bow is new, 4+ times if it is not. Be careful not to touch the bow hair with your hands when putting rosin on, as the oils in your hand will damage it. Put the bow to the strings and play a few open strings. If there is any slippage with the bow, or if little sound is being produced, it needs more rosin. A properly rosined bow will bring a very clear, expressive tone from the violin.