Violin Fittings

November 27, 2008 at 06:05 PM ·

For fine hand crafted and custom made components Eric Meyer.

www.vanzandtviolins.com/FineTuning.htm

To see a huge selection of styles and wood choices Dov Schmidt music.

www.dov-music.com/catalog.asp

November 27, 2008 at 08:44 PM ·

I don't think I can wait for Eric since 2 months is way pass my cousin birthday. Those other fittings look nice but kinda cheap compare to the ones I were looking at.

November 27, 2008 at 09:40 PM ·

Ditto on Dov Schmidt Music..... it's who I buy fittingd from.

November 27, 2008 at 10:09 PM ·

I get my fittings from Dov Schimidt also and rework them a bit.

You can also give a look on the fittings made by Boggaro e Clemente in Italy, here:

http://www.bcbows.com/index.php?option=com_expose&Itemid=8&lang=it

I would go with  Meyer Fittings, in the USA, he makes marvelous fittings and is a very nice guy:

http://www.vanzandtviolins.com/FineTuning.htm

www.manfio.com

November 28, 2008 at 12:16 AM ·

Hi Vincent,

 I see in you're profile that you're in Canada. Luscombe violins is based out of Mt Elgin, Ontario.

He has a good selection  of better quality fittings. And nice to deal with. He has a website cataloque. He's got a range from budget fittings all the way up to the high quality stuff.

November 28, 2008 at 12:34 AM ·

Thank you all for your input. Thanks for the website luis and Darren.

Luis what do you mean by "rework the fittings?" I know you have to shape the pegs but everything else is just usually installed right?

When I visited my luthier they got confuse at what I wanted and thought I was kinda annoying with them making constant calls to there supplier about availability. Then showed me a set of Pernambucco fittings it looked like everything I wanted and not that much more then boxwood he said. Not sure if they would look the same but is there any benefit from Pernambucco vs Boxwood? [weight, sound, quality]

November 28, 2008 at 10:18 AM ·

Well, I take lots of wood from the chinrest for instance, most of them are too "fat" - and heavy - in wood.  I want they more lighter.

I also take some wood from the sides of the tailpiece, and I scoop the undersize of my viola tailpieces too (but I don't do that with violin tailpieces).

I take some "fat" from the top of the endpin too, I cut it a bit (in general they are too long) and make a small hole in the middle of it. After this process it is 1.5 grams lighter

polish the fittings with fine pumice and oil. That's it.

I have no experience with Pernambuco fittings.

I think the star must be the instrument, not the fittings, but I may be wrong.

www.manfio.com