We put a great deal of effort into the quality of our instrument set-ups.
Whether we’re carving a student bridge or one of our top quality bridges, we always make sure that the fundamentals are correct (the bridge thickness, curve and string heights). This creates ease and comfort whilst playing and ensuring the instrument produces the best tone possible.
We also select high quality bridge blanks from ‘Despiau Chevalets‘ and soundpost wood from ‘Alpentonholz Pahler‘.
Our instrument set-ups enables beginners to buy an affordable instrument that functions well.
We recommend beginners buy an affordable, well-made instrument that has been set up correctly by an experienced luthier.
When we finish setting up an instrument, we always play and adjust it to ensure it’s “dialled in” before the owner or prospective owner plays it.
With any set-up, we are always happy to adjust it with the player to ensure they are absolutely happy with it before taking the instrument away.
Our Instrument Set-up Checklist
Pegs
During transit, instruments are often subjected to changes in humidity, which if significant, results in the pegs and peg box holes changing shape. Wood expands when the ambient humidity is too wet, and contracts when it’s too dry.
The peg and peg hole often lose their round shape and become oval, resulting in a string that will no longer stay in tune as the peg and peg box hole no longer function correctly. This issue leads many beginners to quit playing as it’s impossible to play in tune on an instrument fitted with damaged pegs. We re-shape all pegs and peg holes that have warped during transit, to ensure they function correctly.
Top Nut
The top nut is the small piece of ebony at the top of the fingerboard. It elevates the strings above the fingerboard and it’s important for it to be at the correct height. If it’s too high, the player will have problems pressing the strings down against the fingerboard. Conversely, if it’s too low this can result in a buzzing sound being produced by the strings coming into contact with the fingerboard.
It’s also important for the top nut grooves to be the correct depth, as the string winding will be damaged if they are too deep. Also, if the edge of the nut is too sharp, it will lead to pain in the player’s index finger
Fingerboard
To function correctly, an instrument’s fingerboard needs to be subtly concave along its length and convex across its width. Chinese factory made instruments for example, tend to arrive to us with uneven shaping. As mentioned above in the “Top Nut” section, any high points or obstructions can cause buzzes, with the strings vibrating against the fingerboard. This is why it’s always important to set the correct relief in the fingerboard, this is done a sharpened and correctly adjusted plane.
We always adjust the shape of the fingerboard to specifications and sand/finish the fingerboard to a high shine.
Bridge
An instrument’s bridge’s measurements and fitting is a hugely important component in sound quality. Fitted beneath the strings sitting atop the belly, the bridge transmits sound through the belly of the instrument.
Beginner’s instruments, in general, are sold with poorly fitting bridges; the curve of the bridge is often too flat, which makes bow control difficult, or the height is incorrect, which results in string heights that are either too high (which causes the player extreme discomfort as the strings are hard to press down) or too low, which causes buzzing sounds.
On our most affordable student instruments, we adjust the bridged to ensure the correct thickness, lean, string heights and curve. On our nicer quality student instruments, we fit brand new high quality bridges.
With our professional quality set-ups, we fit our bridges with the bass leg above the bass bar. This ensure the optimal balance in the two bass strings. We also use high quality bridge blanks from ‘Despiau Chevalets’ and soundpost wood from ‘Alpentonholz Pahler’.