Your videos are actually really informative and easy to understand even for non-violinist. I love how you're so down-to-earth and not arrogant like most luthiers (at least in my country). I have two violins at home, one of them needs repair. I will definitely watch all your videos before taking it to the luthier.
Thank you for your kind feedback, it means a lot. My goal is to really help people understand how string instruments work and how to take care of them.
If the sound post is the soul then maybe the bridge is the heart, pumping the life giving vibrations into the top plate. Together they are the heart and soul of the instrument! =D
I would love to have an expert luthier like you around. I live on a small island, and I can't seem to find anyone knowledgeable enough to be able to improve the tone, especially the A string on my Knilling Sebastian 110 violin. I know it is student quality, but it is well made. Plus I also own a student Cremona model, and I am satisfied with its tone. Oh, and I started with changing to better strings first. Didn't work. 😢
I do marvel at how such a small acoustic instrument produces such a big sound, I know in theory how the strings, bridge, sound board, sound post, base bar and indeed the whole body of the instrument transmit the sound and resonate sympathetically to allow more acoustic energy to be transmitted to the air inside the violin, how the shape and size encourage these vibrations to be focused out through the f-holes but still when I compare the sound to my acoustic guitar, which has frets such that your fingers don't dampen the sound of a stopped note too, the guitar is nowhere near as loud, whether finger picking, using a pick or trying to bow it as the violin and making that big sound is comparatively effortless, although pizzicato on the violin isn't as loud as plucking a guitar string, guess it's the differen t design for different sounds, although I reckon a lot of it comes down to the way fingers dampen the string on a stopped note and how the bow overcomes that deficiency by allowing a constant energy transfer, my uncle actually makes guitars and has been teaching me about that but there's some big differences, even if they are both derived from lute family instruments, it's fascinating how these instruments manage to capture and focus energy so efficiently without amplification! As for example, an electric guitar produces such a thin, quiet sound when it's not plugged in, the amount of engineering from the perfect shaped sound holes to the bridge shape, all working in harmony!
Good clip. Important subject ; there's loads more to say about violin technique, and how a bridge can help or hinder. Also, magnets + wedges sounds like using a mute, or maybe half way to sounding muted. RUclips sound is not the best... I have amazing hifi, but even with that what you call an enourmous difference is not so obvious... of course we take your word for it. Anyway, such an important subject, my bridge was designed by Bruce Carlson in Cremona, and I believe it follows a Vatelot model. Keep up the informative clips... I did not know about 27kg... I think we need to talk about force rather than weight. Have a good day.
Hi Olaf, awesome video as always. I’ve been trying to optimize the sound which was rather dull, dark and grainy, by trimming the wood away from the kidneys area. It actually helped open the sound a lot and makes ringing sound now, but I still find the D to be not as strong as the other strings. Any tips? Also would there be a point of too much trimming and causing negative effects?(too airy?) Thanks
Hi Olaf. What’s the violin brand or maker you are holding on this video? I like the finished varnish of this one. Hopefully sounds as nice as it looks. Cheers.
You need a better mic setup! Love your videos!I mean, maybe not need it, who am I to say it. But i noticed in the past the audio being left only or difficulty on noticing the sound difference. I try to wear my good headphones to listen to your videos but it could be on my end too.
Greetings Olaf, my daughter plays the violin. She got her new Yamaha upgrade for well hard work dedication which I’m proud of her. But I’m concerned that her instructor suggested that violin bridge needs to be lower down. What’s is your opinion? Can lowering bridge cause any dramatic sound changes?
Somebody please help. I bought my violin at cash converters. I noticed whenever I play with fingering it has this annoying sound similar when you use your finger to scratch lightly the bridge. I don't know what to adjust
I had a bridge cut for my fiddle and the feet are really, like unusually, thin. What do you think the objective was there? Would it sweeten up the tone? I was looking for a slightly lower bridge, but without losing too much of the brilliance and projection I was getting. My old bridge is quite high, and the action is too as a result, maybe a millimeter up from standard measurements. It was getting a bit warped anyway too.
Two significant violin catastrophes have happened in my career: a bow breaking in the skinny part of the stick, and my bridge snapping in half while tuning. When the bow broke, I was playing chamber music, and it was the day after a recital while I was in high school. My understanding was that it was a flaw in the craftsmanship as it was a brand new bow and I had only ever used it for playing violin. Thankfully I was at home when my bridge snapped (about ten years later), and the explanation I was given was that the bridge was ill-placed. Can you offer any ideas about how either of these things occurred and any way to avoid ever experiencing them again?
Sir, love your videos. They are incredibly informative and sometimes hilarious. I hope that you will answer this question. I'm just a senior that went back to fiddling and I love Helicore steel core strings. I'm buying a new fiddle and need your expert advise on string height for steel strings. I figure that since steel strings are both thinner and use higher tension, that the string height can be set lower than the standard 3.5mm for E and 5.5mm for G. Please reply.
Hello, I had a dusty old (cheap) viola in the corner that I just cleaned up and repositioned the bridge and tuned. I have the bridge roughly between the kidneys like you show here. Do I need to make any fine adjustments to set the intonation like on a guitar? I have a minor-7 interval where the neck meets the body following the example of my double bass. Is that correct on a viola or violin?
Hi Olaf. Do you voice each bridge individually for the exact violin it is meant for? If so, does that mean that there is a certain synergy between the individual characteristics of the bridge and the individual characteristics of the violin as compared to just simply the better bridge for the better violin? Thanks!
Olaf i want know how to properly put the bridge in. I just started playing and bought a really cheap one for practice 😂 and every time i tune the violin the bridge slowly leans towards the finger board and it confuses me. Do i have to lean it away from the finger board so that it becomes straight once the strings are tight or is there a technique to doing it
Hi, Great to hear that you are learning the violin. I made a video about the bridge a while ago... ruclips.net/video/wJYM-CukZlw/видео.html Hope it helps.
Definitely helped a lot thank you so much. One problem left im afraid to do it i might snap a perfectly good string 😂😂😂 atleast its not as expensive as damaging the bridge i think don't know the proper price of each parts when i break one hahaha
@Ask Olaf the Violinmaker Olaf what do you think about custom bridges like the ones found here? www.violinbridgeworks.net/MiscStyles/index.htm I think from what watching this awesome video I know the answer lol. I figured I would ask you because you are a master (I think it's amazing to be able to say that in real life :) my dad is a journeyman in 5 trades so it is super cool to talk to master) Also how much/level do you play stringed instruments and how important do you think it is to have perfect pitch (do you have it) when making a instrument? Sorry for so many questions in one post! If possible do you think we could hear one of your creations played at some point :) Thank you for replying to my other questions! Also I love learning from you because you make it easy to understand for me a non violin player. Thank you for taking the time to respond to us (all of us asking or writing to you in the comments) it's super neat!
Your videos are actually really informative and easy to understand even for non-violinist. I love how you're so down-to-earth and not arrogant like most luthiers (at least in my country). I have two violins at home, one of them needs repair. I will definitely watch all your videos before taking it to the luthier.
Thank you for your kind feedback, it means a lot.
My goal is to really help people understand how string instruments work and how to take care of them.
If the sound post is the soul then maybe the bridge is the heart, pumping the life giving vibrations into the top plate.
Together they are the heart and soul of the instrument! =D
I see olaf has a channel, I sub instantly...
Wow the cut open violin feels like i'm in anatomy class!
Anyway i'm not a violinist, maybe that's why i'm not creeping out
I laughed so hard because of what Olaf said in 7:34
Lol I came here because I saw u on TwosetViolin’s channeo
Does twoset violin often visit you?
Just sometime... They are busy guys... I really love what they do to get violin playing into the spotlight.
I love how you tell us how the instruments really work!
I had no idea! Just playing on them, knowing nothing. 🤪
You're such a great guy! ❤
I would love to have an expert luthier like you around. I live on a small island, and I can't seem to find anyone knowledgeable enough to be able to improve the tone, especially the A string on my Knilling Sebastian 110 violin. I know it is student quality, but it is well made. Plus I also own a student Cremona model, and I am satisfied with its tone. Oh, and I started with changing to better strings first. Didn't work. 😢
I’m an aspiring violin maker, and I’m about to shape my first ever bridge. This is a great video!
Fascinating absolutely fascinating. The importance of a tiny piece of wood and it’s effect on sound.
I do marvel at how such a small acoustic instrument produces such a big sound, I know in theory how the strings, bridge, sound board, sound post, base bar and indeed the whole body of the instrument transmit the sound and resonate sympathetically to allow more acoustic energy to be transmitted to the air inside the violin, how the shape and size encourage these vibrations to be focused out through the f-holes but still when I compare the sound to my acoustic guitar, which has frets such that your fingers don't dampen the sound of a stopped note too, the guitar is nowhere near as loud, whether finger picking, using a pick or trying to bow it as the violin and making that big sound is comparatively effortless, although pizzicato on the violin isn't as loud as plucking a guitar string, guess it's the differen t design for different sounds, although I reckon a lot of it comes down to the way fingers dampen the string on a stopped note and how the bow overcomes that deficiency by allowing a constant energy transfer, my uncle actually makes guitars and has been teaching me about that but there's some big differences, even if they are both derived from lute family instruments, it's fascinating how these instruments manage to capture and focus energy so efficiently without amplification! As for example, an electric guitar produces such a thin, quiet sound when it's not plugged in, the amount of engineering from the perfect shaped sound holes to the bridge shape, all working in harmony!
RUclips suggestions on point! It's like part2 of the twoset collabs. And right on viewing order too!
Does an electric violin's bridge carry the same importance as it does on an acoustic violin?
Halow♪i from ✌set violin🍑
Hi 😀
You would get really strong arms... Nah, I'd tell the child to get off. 😂
Good clip. Important subject ; there's loads more to say about violin technique, and how a bridge can help or hinder. Also, magnets + wedges sounds like using a mute, or maybe half way to sounding muted. RUclips sound is not the best... I have amazing hifi, but even with that what you call an enourmous difference is not so obvious... of course we take your word for it. Anyway, such an important subject, my bridge was designed by Bruce Carlson in Cremona, and I believe it follows a Vatelot model. Keep up the informative clips... I did not know about 27kg... I think we need to talk about force rather than weight. Have a good day.
Hi Olaf, awesome video as always. I’ve been trying to optimize the sound which was rather dull, dark and grainy, by trimming the wood away from the kidneys area. It actually helped open the sound a lot and makes ringing sound now, but I still find the D to be not as strong as the other strings. Any tips? Also would there be a point of too much trimming and causing negative effects?(too airy?) Thanks
Hope to fly out there someday and get a violin from you! That would be fun!
Hi Olaf. What’s the violin brand or maker you are holding on this video? I like the finished varnish of this one. Hopefully sounds as nice as it looks. Cheers.
I have never set sound post to overlap with the foot. I will try it. However I expect the sound will be harsh.
You need a better mic setup! Love your videos!I mean, maybe not need it, who am I to say it. But i noticed in the past the audio being left only or difficulty on noticing the sound difference. I try to wear my good headphones to listen to your videos but it could be on my end too.
thanks for the inside, this was great information :D
How do you know where to position the sound post vis a vis the bridge?
Nice descriptive co tent Olaf
13:33 cool
Greetings Olaf, my daughter plays the violin. She got her new Yamaha upgrade for well hard work dedication which I’m proud of her. But I’m concerned that her instructor suggested that violin bridge needs to be lower down. What’s is your opinion? Can lowering bridge cause any dramatic sound changes?
Somebody please help.
I bought my violin at cash converters. I noticed whenever I play with fingering it has this annoying sound similar when you use your finger to scratch lightly the bridge.
I don't know what to adjust
Same 😩
I had a bridge cut for my fiddle and the feet are really, like unusually, thin. What do you think the objective was there? Would it sweeten up the tone? I was looking for a slightly lower bridge, but without losing too much of the brilliance and projection I was getting. My old bridge is quite high, and the action is too as a result, maybe a millimeter up from standard measurements. It was getting a bit warped anyway too.
So how thick should you leave the top of the bridge
Two significant violin catastrophes have happened in my career: a bow breaking in the skinny part of the stick, and my bridge snapping in half while tuning. When the bow broke, I was playing chamber music, and it was the day after a recital while I was in high school. My understanding was that it was a flaw in the craftsmanship as it was a brand new bow and I had only ever used it for playing violin. Thankfully I was at home when my bridge snapped (about ten years later), and the explanation I was given was that the bridge was ill-placed. Can you offer any ideas about how either of these things occurred and any way to avoid ever experiencing them again?
I recently posted a video about the bent bridge and how to keep it straight. The bow really wasn't your fault, you can sometimes just get faulty bows.
I like how he avoids saying g string
Sir, love your videos. They are incredibly informative and sometimes hilarious. I hope that you will answer this question. I'm just a senior that went back to fiddling and I love Helicore steel core strings. I'm buying a new fiddle and need your expert advise on string height for steel strings.
I figure that since steel strings are both thinner and use higher tension, that the string height can be set lower than the standard 3.5mm for E and 5.5mm for G. Please reply.
Hello, I had a dusty old (cheap) viola in the corner that I just cleaned up and repositioned the bridge and tuned. I have the bridge roughly between the kidneys like you show here. Do I need to make any fine adjustments to set the intonation like on a guitar? I have a minor-7 interval where the neck meets the body following the example of my double bass. Is that correct on a viola or violin?
imho, the bridge is more important to sound than the post.
Hi Olaf. Do you voice each bridge individually for the exact violin it is meant for? If so, does that mean that there is a certain synergy between the individual characteristics of the bridge and the individual characteristics of the violin as compared to just simply the better bridge for the better violin? Thanks!
Who dared to dislike this?😤😡
Olaf i want know how to properly put the bridge in. I just started playing and bought a really cheap one for practice 😂 and every time i tune the violin the bridge slowly leans towards the finger board and it confuses me. Do i have to lean it away from the finger board so that it becomes straight once the strings are tight or is there a technique to doing it
Hi,
Great to hear that you are learning the violin.
I made a video about the bridge a while ago... ruclips.net/video/wJYM-CukZlw/видео.html
Hope it helps.
Definitely helped a lot thank you so much. One problem left im afraid to do it i might snap a perfectly good string 😂😂😂 atleast its not as expensive as damaging the bridge i think don't know the proper price of each parts when i break one hahaha
what instruments do you play?
I thought the bridge had to have spring pressure on it to season?
I only listen to Olaf, i dont trust anyone else XD
@Ask Olaf the Violinmaker Olaf what do you think about custom bridges like the ones found here? www.violinbridgeworks.net/MiscStyles/index.htm
I think from what watching this awesome video I know the answer lol. I figured I would ask you because you are a master (I think it's amazing to be able to say that in real life :) my dad is a journeyman in 5 trades so it is super cool to talk to master)
Also how much/level do you play stringed instruments and how important do you think it is to have perfect pitch (do you have it) when making a instrument? Sorry for so many questions in one post!
If possible do you think we could hear one of your creations played at some point :)
Thank you for replying to my other questions!
Also I love learning from you because you make it easy to understand for me a non violin player. Thank you for taking the time to respond to us (all of us asking or writing to you in the comments) it's super neat!
Hmm... わかんない。