I saw this on Maestro Net too. I agree with the answers there. Essentially there is no such thing as a universal violin bridge. Instruments vary, so bridge blanks must be fitted to each instrument. As far as there being a "fiddle arch" that differs from a violin arch, that's not the case either. Some players have preferences about a slightly flatter arch than standard, for instance (standard being an arch that follows the arch of the fingerboard) but again, that will be done to suit the preference of an individual player. Your idea that fiddle bridges are "cut down and thin(ned) classical violin bridge(s) isn't anything I'm aware of.

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Originally posted by Brian Wood

I saw this on Maestro Net too. I agree with the answers there. Essentially there is no such thing as a universal violin bridge. Instruments vary, so bridge blanks must be fitted to each instrument. As far as there being a "fiddle arch" that differs from a violin arch, that's not the case either. Some players have preferences about a slightly flatter arch than standard, for instance (standard being an arch that follows the arch of the fingerboard) but again, that will be done to suit the preference of an individual player. Your idea that fiddle bridges are "cut down and thin(ned) classical violin bridge(s) isn't anything I'm aware of.

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The fact that this commercially available template exists is what gave me the idea to ask.

https://www.internationalviolin.com/tools/bridge-fitting-tools/t613-violin-fiddle-deluxe-set-up-template-44-size

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Originally posted by MikeVB

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Originally posted by Brian Wood

I saw this on Maestro Net too. I agree with the answers there. Essentially there is no such thing as a universal violin bridge. Instruments vary, so bridge blanks must be fitted to each instrument. As far as there being a "fiddle arch" that differs from a violin arch, that's not the case either. Some players have preferences about a slightly flatter arch than standard, for instance (standard being an arch that follows the arch of the fingerboard) but again, that will be done to suit the preference of an individual player. Your idea that fiddle bridges are "cut down and thin(ned) classical violin bridge(s) isn't anything I'm aware of.

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The fact that this commercially available template exists is what gave me the idea to ask.

https://www.internationalviolin.com/tools/bridge-fitting-tools/t613-violin-fiddle-deluxe-set-up-template-44-size

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The template exists so that it can be used to establish a proper bridge curve after you've determined the approximate heights for the G and E strings. Fingerboards/necks aren't always set with an even overstand, so a precut curve would only approximately work some of the time. That's nowhere near good enough for violin setup.

As far as a "fiddle" bridge curve, there really isn't a true standard. The Strobel book supplies one as a suggestion, and many luthiers (myself included) use a standard curve and modify it by eye for fiddlers upon request, but if you look at an array of violins set up "for fiddling," you'll see everything from concave curves to flat bridges, to blanks left unaltered, to standard curves, to exaggerated curves.

A good bridge is cut to the instrument. There isn't a simple hack for getting a properly cut bridge without cutting it properly. 

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Originally posted by The Violin Beautiful

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you'll see everything from concave curves to flat bridges, to blanks left unaltered, to standard curves, to exaggerated curves.

A good bridge is cut to the instrument. There isn't a simple hack for getting a properly cut bridge without cutting it properly. 

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Concave and flat bridges? How would one play with either of those?

Flat is a relative term when talking bridges. Tommy Jarrell played with a bridge most would call flat, though of course, there has to be some curvature however small.

I can't explain concave as being playable or the correct descriptor in this conversation.

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Originally posted by ChickenMan

Flat is a relative term when talking bridges. Tommy Jarrell played with a bridge most would call flat, though of course, there has to be some curvature however small.

I can't explain concave as being playable or the correct descriptor in this conversation.

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True about the term being relative. He must have meant Convex and Flat.

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Originally posted by Brian Wood

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Originally posted by The Violin Beautiful

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you'll see everything from concave curves to flat bridges, to blanks left unaltered, to standard curves, to exaggerated curves.

A good bridge is cut to the instrument. There isn't a simple hack for getting a properly cut bridge without cutting it properly. 

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Concave and flat bridges? How would one play with either of those?

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As crazy as it sounds, I have seen both of these things, and as you would expect, neither of these styles were playable. I wasn't exaggerating when I said they were flat and concave, respectively. Back when TwoSet were doing videos with Olaf, they did an experiment where they made a violin bridge flatter and flatter and then went concave just to show how much it affects playability.

Sadly, rendering violins unplayable has never been a hindrance to the misguided amateur violin repairman. 

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Originally posted by The Violin Beautiful

 

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Concave and flat bridges? How would one play with either of those?

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...and then went concave just to show how much it affects playability.

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An unnecessary tutorial except for morons.

When I first started, I had my violin guy make the bridge curve flatter. But after awhile I switched to classical curvature. Yes bowing takes a bit more, but you can switch between fiddles effortlessly. Took a bit of relearning and recalibration of the bowing, but worth it.

Personally, you'll not see me deviate from classical violin set up or even builds. IMHO they got this figured out 100's of years ago! If it was good enough for Antonio, Guiseppe and Nicola, its good enough for me!

When my luthier put my first fiddle back together I asked him to make a classically shaped bridge for just that reason - so I could play other violins without having to readjust. That hasn't happened very often, but I still am used to that shape. I think on subsequent bridges he may have flattened them just a bit once he saw how I played, but not much.

Flat Bridge Society
youtube.com/watch?v=XEQLxstx6TU&t=24s

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Originally posted by bacfire

Flat Bridge Society
youtube.com/watch?v=XEQLxstx6TU&t=24s

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That's it. 

I once saw Doug Kershaw play that way, from underneath. He may have used a concave bridge to do that, but at the time I was just letting myself be wowed by his showmanship, the entertainment value. I think he went through about a dozen bows as well that night.

A few years ago a friend from Ukraine told me that a perfecctly flat bridge is common in some Eastern European music styles.
Having said that, Any curve on a bridge must take into account the shape of the fingerboard..?? or am I wrong...again.?

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

A few years ago a friend from Ukraine told me that a perfecctly flat bridge is common in some Eastern European music styles.
Having said that, Any curve on a bridge must take into account the shape of the fingerboard..?? or am I wrong...again.?

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Yes, ideallly the bridge and fingerboard will have curves that complement each other so that you have smooth string crossings and good string heights for all four strings. The curves aren't identical, as the strings are different thicknesses and set at different heights on the bridge to allow ease of playing. However, when the strings are in place and at proper heights, one can lay the fingerboard template over the crest of the bridge and all four strings will touch the template. 

I saw a band from the Balkans play using what looked like a member of the violin family with three strings and a flat bridge. It was pitched lower. They held it up to the chin and they bowed chords on it.

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Originally posted by boxbow

I saw a band from the Balkans play using what looked like a member of the violin family with three strings and a flat bridge. It was pitched lower. They held it up to the chin and they bowed chords on it.

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There's a comment on that bridge video above that talks of this bowed three stringed chording instrument with a flat bridge. Gotta be the same.