Fiddle fine tuners - pros and cons?

Subject: Fiddle fine tuners - pros and cons?
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 01:50 PM

Fine tuners on the fiddle's tailpiece: I guess the pros are obvious, but there must be some cons or everyone would have them. What are they?

Marion

Subject: RE: Fiddle fine tuners - pros and cons?
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 02:10 PM

For the classical perspective ask this question on Maestronet, http://fingerboard.maestronet.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi

For the old time and bluegrass perspective ask this question on Fiddle-L, http://www-openmap.bbn.com/users/gkeith/fiddles/fiddle-l.html

All my friends play old time fiddle rather than classical violin. They change tunings way more than classical violinists and for them convenience of multiple fine tuners outweighs their tonal impact.

Subject: RE: Fiddle fine tuners - pros and cons?
From: guinnesschik
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 02:10 PM

It they're screwed too tight, mine rattle against the body of the fiddle, making an awful racket. They can also cause damage to the tailpiece, again, if screwed too tight. I wouldn't take for 'em, however, as they're great for quick, on the spot adjustments.

;-)g'chik

Subject: RE: Fiddle fine tuners - pros and cons?
From: Willie-O
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 02:11 PM

The little metal ones change the balance and arguably the sound of the setup--especially if you have a dog's breakfast of different fine tuners on your fiddle. And despite the convenience, they're one--or four--more things that can screw up.

But I swear by the tailpiece with built-in fine tuners. For about thirty bucks you have all of the convenience and almost none of the drawbacks. (except you have to remember to loosen them all off once in awhile so the piece of metal at the bottom doesn't end up hitting the fiddle top and buzzing horribly.)

W-O

Subject: RE: Fiddle fine tuners - pros and cons?
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 02:12 PM

The only con I ever had, which I grew up with in orchestra and, I think, at home (don't remember it being any kind of issue at home), was they were a cheat, except on the E string, as though our ears weren't good enough to fine tune on their own. Of course, I don't feel that way now and still have fine ears.:-)

kat

Subject: RE: Fiddle fine tuners - pros and cons?
From: GUEST,steve
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 02:34 PM

fiddlers often use fine tuners b/c they use steel core strings which do not stretchg as much as perlon or gut, therefore are much more sensitive to tuners. that is also why classical players use them on their e strings (the e is always metal).

the biggest drawback may be that adding fine tuners to a solid tailpiece changes the ratio of the string. fiddles are made to have a specific ratio of string distances from tailpiece to bridge and from bridge to nut, and the add-on tuners change this ratio. i have heard of some people using viola tailpieces to fix this, or using tailpieces with built-in fine tuners.

steve

Subject: RE: Fiddle fine tuners - pros and cons?
From: Kim C
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 03:23 PM

I hate peg tuning. Hate it, hate it, hate it. Gotta do it when you're changing strings. But I try to stay away from it otherwise. Turn one peg and the vibration can knock the others out too. Thought it was just my imagination till my teacher said, no, that happens. I have four fine tuners and use those as much as possible - sometimes it is necessary to turn the pegs, though. :(

Subject: RE: Fiddle fine tuners - pros and cons?
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 06:22 PM

And they work just beautifully on the 5th string of a banjo, assuming you're stuck with a non-geared 5th peg. The mention of the built-in tail-piece makes me think that a bright young person could do something clever with a mandolin. Regards, John

Subject: RE: fine tuners - pros and cons?
From: GUEST,Amy
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 08:36 PM

Why are fine tuners not used in classical music like in fiddle?

Subject: RE: Fiddle fine tuners - pros and cons?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 09:42 PM

Tradition - and the players are taught how to properly use and maintain their instruments. :-P

Subject: RE: Fiddle fine tuners - pros and cons?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 03:13 PM

Why are fine tuners not used in classical music like in fiddle?

Snobbery?

Subject: RE: Fiddle fine tuners - pros and cons?
From: meself
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 03:19 PM

What's wrong with the explanation that was given three or four posts up?

Subject: RE: Fiddle fine tuners - pros and cons?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 06:17 PM

"fiddles are made to have a specific ratio of string distances from tailpiece to bridge and from bridge to nut"

Ok, I'll pay that the distance from bridge to nut is critical (but my dad the violinist said the nut holding the fiddle is FAR MORE important!), but what documentary/scientific evidence exists about the criticality of the tailpiece to bridge distance?