I believe what flexible bridge ankles do is let the top vibrate freely in the higher modes, where some areas rise while others sink,  and vice versa. When the ankles are too stiff, there is a characteristic lack of color to the sound. Not sure what vocabulary to use, but I might describe it as a dull, matte sound. I know it when I hear it.

I don't hear it having much to do with sustain or after-ring.

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Originally posted by woodwiz

Bridge looks OK, generally. Can't really see any details, and don't know what kind of blank it is.

I like thinner ankles myself. The flexibility seems to give a slightly better sound, and shouldn't affect the stiffness that you are looking for.

Doping the cutouts is an old trick for adjusting an otherwise good bridge. Hadn't tried it with superglue. If that's working for you, that's fine. Your perseverance is admirable.

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That bridge in the photo was done with a Milo Stamm blank. So fa,r even with the superglue, it's not sounding as good as the Despiau with ebony added in the kidney (ebony dust and superglue).

What has been used as "dope" for adusting the bridge?  I'm using ebony/superglue, but would like to know what other things people have used.

What width should the ankles be? 3.5mm?

Have a look at violinbridges.co.uk

When I started, I looked for bridges with similar measurements to what I was working with, especially thickness.

Thanks, Addie.  I have been looking at that site. I'm using a 42mm blank and I see that according to the bridges on that site, some have quite thick/wide measurements. I think I'll need to start over with a new blank, because I've got some parts too thin/narrow already.

Just for a test, I tried one of those swivel foot bridges because they have really thick klunky "thighs" on them. That thickness actually helped but was over kill. It does tell me that I need more mass, but not quite that much.

Edited by - faithwalk on 08/05/2012 14:28:11

After more tests with the thick bridge, I could still here that Whaa G note on the D string, and a tube like tone.

So, I decided to go back to shortening the fingerboard length. After doing that I did another sound test. I think it's much better. It sounds quite open under my ear, yet in the rcording it doesn't sound tube like and the G note is more focused. So, I suppose I could try the other 2 bridges I have for the violin to see which sounds best now that the finger board is shorter.  Or just leave it be for now.

Addie's Setup  Rule #1: what you hear under your ear is not what the audience hears.  

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Originally posted by Addie

Addie's Setup  Rule #1: what you hear under your ear is not what the audience hears.  

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Yes, that's why I do my tone tests by playing the fiddle with the recorder way across the room. So hopefully what I hear on the recording is the sound the "audience" is hearing.

Wow!
Tnx FW for the OP, and all the helpful fellows for possible solutions.
I am learning so much here!
rc