Talk:Sound post

Removal Of Stub Tag

This article seems sufficiently extended now any objections to removing the stub tag? Alan Kroeger 13:49, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

Alright I removed the tag string-instrument-stub Alan Kroeger 14:31, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

Merge Ame (music)

Any objections to merging ame (music) into this article? It's little more than a definition.—Ketil Trout 00:58, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

Merged—Ketil Trout (^<><!) 23:48, 16 April 2007 (UTC)

Questions

Please put your miscellaneous question about the sound post here. I'll start. Answers should end up in the article of course.

Are violin sound posts of a standard length, or does the length vary a lot for different makes or models of violins?

As I understand it, there are issues about how the grain of the sound post is oriented relative to the grain of the top. Can we get some text about that?

Is the sound post invariably perpendicular to the top and back? Are the ends of the sound post always cut square to its length?

I have seen a sound post (for a cello maybe) with a slot cut through the center, the purpose seemingly being that the end of a setting tool can be wedged into the post to get hold of the post. Is that standard practice? Is it ever done for violins?

Would a new violin typically benefit much from having an expert adjust the placement of the sound post?

Thanks.CountMacula (talk) 02:39, 1 June 2012 (UTC)

The following is based on my experience of fitting and setting many violin, viola, and cello soundposts, as well as a few double bass soundposts:

Are violin sound posts of a standard length, or does the length vary a lot for different makes or models of violins?

Each soundpost must be fitted to its individual instrument. Length will vary slightly, depending on variations in arching and plate thickness, or graduation. Violins do not have interchangeable parts.

As I understand it, there are issues about how the grain of the sound post is oriented relative to the grain of the top. Can we get some text about that?

The end grain of a soundpost is typically oriented so the growth rings are perpendicular to the grain lines of the top. My understanding is that this primarily serves to help keep the end of the post from digging into the underside of the instrument's top.

Is the sound post invariably perpendicular to the top and back? Are the ends of the sound post always cut square to its length?

Standard practice is to set the post perpendicular to the plane of the box edges. A few individual cases may depart slightly from that ideal. The ends of the post are carefully trimmed, in an iterative process, to get as perfect a fit to the inside surfaces of the corpus, or box, as is humanly possible. Those ends, with a vanishingly small number of exceptions, are never square to the length of the post.

I have seen a sound post (for a cello maybe) with a slot cut through the center, the purpose seemingly being that the end of a setting tool can be wedged into the post to get hold of the post. Is that standard practice? Is it ever done for violins?

Most violin or viola soundposts have a stab mark on the side facing the treble ff, about two-thirds of the way up from the instrument's back. The pointed end of a standard S-shaped setting tool is stuck in that slot for the purpose of wangling the post through the soundhole and standing it up in about the right spot. Fine adjustments to the post's position are then made with the other end of the setter, which has notches suitable for pulling and pushing the soundpost around. This is as good a place as any to mention that careless use of a soundpost setter can damage the edges of the soundhole, which will affect the sound of a sensitive instrument. Expert workers who deal with fine instruments make a firm practice of never allowing the setting tool to touch the edges of the ff holes.

Would a new violin typically benefit much from having an expert adjust the placement of the sound post?

A new violin's shape typically changes slightly after it is first put under string tension. Players of new violins are commonly advised to have the post checked, and adjusted if needed, after several months of service. A violin is a wooden object, and moves around with changes in the weather. Some instruments benefit from seasonal soundpost adjustments. This is particularly true for the larger instruments, such as cellos.

In general, finely built violins are sensitive to incredibly small adjustments. Ruggedly built instruments may not benefit from slight changes in soundpost placement or tension. I believe http://violinmag.com/ to be a reliable source; you may find some interesting reading in Chapter 15, the one on setup. __ Just plain Bill (talk) 12:33, 1 June 2012 (UTC)

Thank you for the great information.CountMacula (talk) 14:23, 5 June 2012 (UTC)

This great info that you presented is not doing so much good as a conversation here on the talk page (hint).CountMacula (talk) 08:26, 10 July 2012 (UTC)

It isn't exactly buried out of sight here. While I am confident that it is accurate, what I wrote is based only on my training and experience. I am not a notable expert on the subject. When time permits, I will see what can be found by way of reliable sourcing for it. __ Just plain Bill (talk) 11:24, 10 July 2012 (UTC)

I've heard it said that the soundpost acts mainly as a support for the treble foot of the bridge, and that the main way of transmitting waves from the string to the top is through a rocking motion of the bridge, with the treble foot mostly stationary and the bass foot oscillating up and down. In this model, transmitting waves through the soundpost to the back is considered less important. Any wisdom about that question would be a nice addition. Thanks. CountMacula (talk) 19:30, 22 August 2014 (UTC)

Hopefully any answers here on the talk page would use standard terms when possible, so that people can do web searches that lead to usable references.CountMacula (talk) 19:30, 22 August 2014 (UTC)

"On a double bass, a thick, string dowel is used."??? What is a string dowel? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Longinus876 (talk • contribs) 15:04, 28 May 2017 (UTC)

Probably meant to be "strong" dowel. Removed that whole sentence; it was more detail than the lede requires, in my view. There may be a place in the article to mention that the dimensions vary according to the size of the box, but I do not see it as a high priority. Just plain Bill (talk) 16:16, 28 May 2017 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Introduction to Public Musicology

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 15 August 2022 and 9 December 2022. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Anacasb (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Anacasb (talk) 14:25, 31 October 2022 (UTC)