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Collins - Posted - 08/13/2020: 11:23:18
I am looking to buy a fiddle but it only has one tuner on it close to the E string. What is the purpose on having only one and not one for every string?
DougD - Posted - 08/13/2020: 11:36:10
The fiddle is set up for synthetic (or gut) strings. They are stretchy enough that they can be tuned successfully with just the pegs. The E string is steel, and responds to smaller changes in tension, which is difficult with just the peg.
If you want to use steel strings you will need fine tuners on all the strings, either add ons (not so great for a number of reasons), built into the tailpiece (better) or by installing geared pegs like the Perfection or Wittner.
Changing to steel strings can also affect the setup in other ways, not often discussed here.
Flat_the_3rd_n7th - Posted - 08/13/2020: 11:58:36
DougD right as usual. Wittner tailpiece is better than add-on fine tuners. Apparently, the lighter the tailpiece the better for tone. I took the add-ons off my non-wittner fiddle and boy they weighed a lot. Kept the E, of course. Fiddle sounds better. I still play steels on that fiddle--there's ways to fine tune by manipulating the strings if you're already close. But still much easier to tune with the screws.
I think I'll try some synthetic next string change on that fiddle just to experiment.
Brian Wood - Posted - 08/13/2020: 16:09:51
quote:
Originally posted by Flat_the_3rd_n7th
DougD right as usual. Wittner tailpiece is better than add-on fine tuners. Apparently, the lighter the tailpiece the better for tone. I took the add-ons off my non-wittner fiddle and boy they weighed a lot. Kept the E, of course. Fiddle sounds better. I still play steels on that fiddle--there's ways to fine tune by manipulating the strings if you're already close. But still much easier to tune with the screws.
I think I'll try some synthetic next string change on that fiddle just to experiment.
Add-on fine tuners shorten the after-length of the strings, too, which can also be a detriment to a good setup. I use Wittner tailpieces with built in tuners.
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