Hard VS softer bridge

January 13, 2026, 6:10 PM · I just learned from a YouTube presenter, who is a luthier from Italy, that some bridges may be too hard for violins, violas, cellos that are “value” instruments. They need a softer bridge which cuts out harsh sounds that a less expensive fiddle might make.
Have any of you ever heard of such a thing?

Replies (2)

Ben Furman

January 13, 2026, 10:04 PM · It stands to reason that softer wood might dampen high frequencies, but I wonder what that means in terms of the wood grain. Cheaper violins usually don’t come with the highest quality bridges.

Rich Maxham

January 13, 2026, 10:54 PM · Bridge blanks are wood, and as such, can vary in hardness. Generally speaking, the cheaper blanks are softer than the more expensive blanks, partly because the wood is said to be aged less, partly because the wood selection isn’t as rigorous. Some brands of blanks tend to be harder. Poor quality blanks can feel very spongy under the knife and they don’t hold up well over time because they just don’t have the structural strength to support string tension unless they’re left rather thick. But a bridge blank can be too hard as well, which will make a violin harsher and harder to play. Just like with a top, the wood needs a certain flexibility to perform at its best. Carving away more wood can mitigate the stiffness of a blank, but taking out too much material leads to its own set of problems.

Bridge blanks are not all equal, even among brands and even among models.