Lutherie

Ask the Experts: choosing a new violin tailpiece

2019-10-03T12:00:00

Tailpiece11

A violinist asks what he should consider when choosing a new tailpiece – from the material used to the weight and shape

The dilemma After a decade of not playing my violin, I decided to get it out of the attic and see if it was still in good working order. I can see that the strings need replacing, but there’s also a large, ugly-looking crack in the tailpiece. Not knowing much about violins or the purpose of the tailpiece, I’m wondering how I should go about selecting a replacement. Does the kind of wood make a difference? What about the weight of the tailpiece, and does it matter if it comes with fine tuners? Do you have any advice when it comes to fitting the tailpiece for the first time?

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