u/Walter_2001 — reddlx

Wittner Finetune Pegs vs. Wittner Tailpiece for a beginner?

I'm a beginner. My violin originally came without fine tuners, but they were later added to the ebony tailpiece. Honestly, I hate how bulky it looks now compared to how clean it looked before, and I also read that these heavy tuners can choke the sound.

I want to change this setup and I'm torn between two options:

Getting a standard Wittner composite tailpiece (with built-in tuners)
Upgrading to Wittner Finetune Pegs and removing the fine tuners entirely to keep the tailpiece clean

These pegs are overpriced locally, but I found a cheap set online. If I buy them, I will absolutely take the violin to a luthier for installation.

As a beginner, are the Finetune pegs worth it, or should I just go with the Wittner tailpiece?

Thanks!

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u/Walter_2001 — 5 days ago

▲ 8 r/violinmaking

Beginner here! My luthier suggested a Despiau 3-tree bridge for this unlabelled violin. Is it worth the investment?

Hi everyone,

I’m a complete beginner and I just got this violin to start my lessons. It doesn't have a label, so I’m curious about what I actually have here. I’ve attached photos of the front, back, and details.

I recently took it to a luthier for a basic setup (lowering the fingerboard and nut), and he shared some interesting specs:

It has a one-piece top with thick grain.

The bass bar is a separate installed piece (not carved from the top).

It has a 22mm height, which he said gives it good projection and response.

Performance: The luthier mentioned it has great response and projection, though he noted the wood is clearly not "antique."

He recommended upgrading to a Despiau 3-tree bridge and an aged wood soundpost. Since I'm just starting out and these upgrades are a bit pricey, I wanted to ask:

Looking at the construction and photos, what’s your take on its quality?

Does it make sense for a beginner to invest in high-end parts like a 3-tree bridge right away, or should I stick with the current setup for now?

Thanks for your insights!

u/Walter_2001 — 11 days ago

▲ 0 r/violinist

Beginner here! My luthier suggested a Despiau 3-tree bridge for this unlabelled violin. Is it worth the investment?

Hola a todos,

Soy principiante y acabo de recibir este violín para empezar mis clases. No tiene etiqueta, así que tengo curiosidad por saber qué madera tiene. Adjunto fotos del frente, la parte trasera y algunos detalles.

Hace poco lo llevé a un luthier para un ajuste básico (bajar el diapasón y la cejuela), y me dio algunas especificaciones interesantes:

Tiene una tapa de una sola pieza con veta gruesa.

La barra armónica es una pieza aparte (no tallada en la tapa).

Tiene una altura de 22 mm, lo que, según él, le da buena proyección y respuesta.

Rendimiento: El luthier mencionó que tiene una gran respuesta y proyección, aunque señaló que la madera claramente no es "antigua".

Me recomendó actualizar a un puente Despiau de 3 árboles y un alma de madera envejecida. Como estoy empezando y estas mejoras son algo caras, quería preguntar:

Viendo la construcción y las fotos, ¿qué opinas de su calidad?

¿Tiene sentido que un principiante invierta en componentes de alta gama como un puente de 3 árboles de inmediato, o debería quedarme con la configuración actual por ahora?

¡Gracias por tu opinión!

u/Walter_2001 — 11 days ago