We have thousands of human-written stories, discussions, interviews and reviews from today through the past 20+ years. Find them here:

Search the site Search

If you use plastic or gut core strings, you don't need fine tuners. If you can't stand real pegs, or you don't want to pay for or learn to maintain pegs, then get the perfection pegs. Then you don't need all that metal down on your tailpiece.

While the built-in tuner tailpieces are a big improvement over hanging string adjusters all over your ebony, you are still quite limited in tonal adjustment whereas with a wood one you have infinite possibilities.

Or perhaps go one better and remove all the
tail piece bling? I use the Perfection Pegs
on all my violins. I have tried Wittner's version
and they always slip. If you play an intrument
that is named after a previous owner and is owned by
a corporate sponsor, just laugh at us and move along.
If you own your own violin and it will never be in a
museum, consider the geared Perfection Pegs. They
are now available with "actual wood" knobs.
@Step 8, what I always do when replacing a tailpiece, or any other activity that necessitates taking down the bridge, is to first wrap a towel or other thick cloth round the waist of the violin and hold it in place with an adjustable belt. I tighten the belt until it is firm - but obviously not so tight that you could hear creaking coming from the instrument (that's bad news!). This procedure ensures that some pressure is kept on the sound post to stop it from moving when the bridge and strings are removed. I nevertheless still keep the violin stationary and horizontal - no sense in asking for trouble.

Trevor:

GREAT IDEA!

Occam's Razor strikes again.

Thanks for all your additions and comments. I really appreciate!
Its advisable not to place the violin between your knees when making adjustments, like replacing strings for example, as even the lightest squeeze with your knees will take the pressure off the sound post letting it fall.
The installation of a tailpiece should be done by a luthier or trained repair technician. The length of the tail-gut needs to be in proportion to the other measurements on the violin - it greatly effects the sound if not properly adjusted. If you have no choice, then take it to a knowledge person as soon as possible to check the adjustment. Also be careful not to grab the waist - or C-bout area of the instrument as it will move the top and cause the sound-post to come down. Having a trained professional replace your tailpiece allows, not only for proper adjustment, but also the opportunity to check other aspects of your violin/viola's setup - ie. the sound-post placement, bridge, fingerboard and other areas that effect the sound of your instrument.
I've tried a wittner on one of my instruments that had fussy pegs. The sound to me is just not as warm as a wood tailpiece. I would suggest if you really need fine tuners, finding an ebony, boxwood, or rosewood tailpiece that has built in fine tuners. I think they look better and sound better without adding additional weight. I personally just tune with pegs on the instrument I use now except for the e. I'd be interested in trying geared pegs on an instrument someday, but I really like the carved pegs I use now and I also am EXTREMELY hesitant to have anything permanent done with my pegbox, I'd like to avoid having to get it bushed any time in the near future.
Thanks for the last comment (can’t seem to see your name unfortunately) about the sound of the Wittner tailpiece.

A Wittner tailpiece is very light and resonates well... but...

I was struggling with my own violin, which has a very big sound and very sharp response. My luthier changed my wooden (ebony) tailpiece with integrated finetuners on the A and E string to a Wittner Ultra. He said it’s easier and wooden tailpieces with integrated finetuners get broken easily, so I accepted the Wittner.

Since a year I have struggling more with the clear sound of my violin... it’s a bit too sharp en and it’s difficult to dose it. It seems that it’s troubling me more than it did in the last fifteen years I own this instrument.

Let’s say it eats 2,7 meter Steinway’s for breakfast. Most pianists have to play a little soft when accompanying a violinist... my accompanists can hardly keep up with my little monster violin.

Last year I have been thinking about and searching maybe another violin...

After reading your comment I immediately (yes, with my first morning coffee) replaced my Wittner tailpiece with the ebony one with integrated finetuners... and Eureka! My violin is still a monster, but the sharp edges are a bit off.

The Wittner works perfect with most (especially student) violins, because it resonates very well and gives modest sounding instruments a clearer sound.

After this experience I wouldn’t recommend this tailpiece with rather clear and large sounding instruments.

Thanks for sharing this. I will post this comment on my website www.violinlounge.com and am planning to make a video about the different tailpieces available on the market.

Have a nice Sunday, violinist.com peeps!