RickW2 - Posted - 02/10/2023:  13:33:35

Hello. Is it common to have a less than resonant low C on the G string on a violin? The notes on either side of it are nice and clean, as are all the notes on the other strings. Is it possible to mitigate this by adjusting the sound post? Thanks.

Edited by - RickW2 on 02/10/2023 13:34:08

Brian Wood - Posted - 02/10/2023:  14:15:31

quote:

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Originally posted by RickW2

Hello. Is it common to have a less than resonant low C on the G string on a violin? The notes on either side of it are nice and clean, as are all the notes on the other strings. Is it possible to mitigate this by adjusting the sound post? Thanks.

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I can only say that I don't notice that on my fiddles. Are you talking about 1 particular fiddle or have you noticed it on other ones?

farmerjones - Posted - 02/10/2023:  14:37:57

Measure from nut to bridge on both the G side and the E side. It doesn't take much. Do you tune with a digital tuner or ear/perfect fifth? I know my G string can sound very loud because it's closer to my ear. But I would think, if you can't get it to ring with the finer tuner, I'm at a loss. Maybe new/different string(s)?

DougD - Posted - 02/10/2023:  14:52:39

I've never noticed this on my instruments, and I doubt it could be cured by a soundpost adjustment, although I'm not a luther. I'd take a close kook at the fingerboard in that area with a straightedge - is there a dip or hump in the vicinity? Also, check out your fingering technique for that note - are you fingering it cleanly and thoroughly. Might try playing it with another finger just as an exoeriment.

RickW2 - Posted - 02/10/2023:  15:00:58

That sounds reasonable, thanks.

DougD - Posted - 02/10/2023:  15:11:58

Of course I meant a close "look" and just as an "experiment." My fingers are too big for this tablet keyboard. Sorry.

The Violin Beautiful - Posted - 02/10/2023:  16:23:57

quote:

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Originally posted by RickW2

Hello. Is it common to have a less than resonant low C on the G string on a violin? The notes on either side of it are nice and clean, as are all the notes on the other strings. Is it possible to mitigate this by adjusting the sound post? Thanks.

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It is possible that this is a soundpost issue. I was just adjusting a violin for a customer yesterday that had an issue at the low Bb on the G. A quick adjustment completely eliminated that issue. To know for sure a luthier would need to see it in person.

There are other things that can contribute, though, like body resonances, bridge placement, stop length, afterlength, and string choice. 

KCFiddles - Posted - 02/15/2023:  19:53:52

If its around the C or C# on the G string and sounds fuzzy or unstable, it might be a wolf. We had a discussion on Maestronet about that regarding a Leon Bernardel violin that I had been working on. Just suggesting that may be something to look at. A longer, tighter sound post might help. Just this morning I had a customer in with a violin by Otto Schultz. With a normal, "cookbook" setup, it should have sounded good, but was tubby, boxy sounding, and lacked focus. I tried a longer post, with a better fit than the one that was on it. Moved the post inboard (west) about 5mm, and the fiddle smoothed out, became a lot more focused, and projected a lot better. I will be tweaking on it as time goes by but the customer was so happy we decide to leave well enough alone for now.