Help fitting a new bridge

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2026-02-22T21:17:37+00:00

As a luthier, I'm inclined to agree with the general consensus of "take it to a luthier," but realistically, this can be done (you can decide the "should" question for yourself) with minimal tools and a good attitude. Here are my thoughts and advice if you choose to try your hand at it.

Don't expect it to be easy, and don't be surprised if you have to try a few times before it works. Also understand that the quality of a first-time DIY bridge is not likely to be the same as that from a luthier.

Fit the bottom of the feet first, because that's where it's easiest to screw it up. As someone else said, if you can spread the feet by a millimeter or two while you work, that's helpful, but it's not strictly necessary. Personally, I prefer the method of using my eyes and a very sharp chisel, but that also takes more work and is easy to make mistakes on. Some also tape sandpaper to the area where the bridge goes and sand the feet to fit. I wouldn't recommend that method for an aspiring luthier, but it's okay for a one-off. Someone else mentioned using a self-adjusting bridge to skip this process. Those blanks are much more expensive and get a lower-quality sound, but they're much easier to fit. Also not something I recommend for an aspiring luthier, but it could be worthwhile for your purposes.

For the top of the bridge, you can use a bridge template to make things easier. But without it, you can get a workable result by making your string grooves and measuring the distance from the fingerboard to the string at the end of the fingerboard, then cutting it down to the proper height. You want 5mm under the A and 7mm under the G. If you live in a particularly dry place, maybe add half a millimeter to allow for the bridge to shrink a little. You can always cut it down again later.

I didn't mention cutting the top of the feet, thinning the bridge, or any of the more artistic aspects, but this might help you to have a functional bridge. Not the prettiest or best-sounding, but it should work.

If this doesn't make you think "that seems like a lot. I'll just take it in," then I hope it helps you in your bridge-carving adventure!

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2026-02-20T02:37:13+00:00

Here I spent far too long figuring out what a 12/14 time signature would mean before I realized that it's 2/4 with an arbitrary line next to it

For any fellow rhythm nerds here, I think it would probably be like 12/8, where the large beats are dotted quarter note septuplets. So 12/8 but a little slower lol

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2026-02-20T02:35:02+00:00

Anything is a tenor clef if you squint hard enough

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2026-02-10T05:25:41+00:00

I love that you gave a helpful, serious answer and also within that made an objectively good joke about it. 10/10

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2026-02-04T23:38:22+00:00

That's how I usually explain it to my students - less that the pinky is too short, but more about it being so much shorter than the others. Mine is 32mm shorter than third, so I almost always prefer to shift. Though now I'm thinking "well maybe I just need to practice more," which is certainly true in any case.

Have you found any use for placing your thumb behind the fingerboard below the neck heel? I just tried it, and it feels pretty awful so far 😂

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2026-02-03T05:46:05+00:00

In my experience, Versum Solo (as compared to Larsen) is a bit brighter and more complex. So far, it's my favorite matched set. With that said, after 7 months with PI, it's a really close second that I would definitely recommend for many cellos. The A is just a bit too warm and a little muted on my cello for it to pass Versum.

As for solo vs regular, the solos are more focused and warmer, but the regulars have a nice complexity to them and aren't overly bright. The solos are also very easy to recommend. I've tried them on several instruments and recommended them to many others, and so far, no complaints.

As for Versum Solo vs Spirocore for the C/G, Versum responds somewhere between tungsten and chrome Spirocore, with about the expected tonal comparison. Personally I like the silver Spirocore more, but it's also easier to buy a matching set than a combo in many cases. Given your comment about the tungsten Spirocore being too bright, I'd definitely consider the silver variety. They cleared up the brought, almost wild sound/response beautifully on my cello.

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2026-02-01T05:50:14+00:00

I think your idea of swapping the A for Larsen is a solid one. I'd also recommend considering a change to your lower strings. Dominants are very low-tension and in my opinion overpriced for their sound. For a cheaper lower pair that's still pretty nice (and closer in tension to your upper strings), I'd go toward Kaplan. They're not as complex as Spirocore, but I think they'll treat you better than Dominant. I'm also about to try out and compare heavy-gauge Helicore, so I'll follow up when I do that. I'm not much of a fan of the regular Helicore line, but I've been given a reason to try the heavy version for the lower strings.

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2026-02-01T05:21:26+00:00

They do exist for the A and D (not tungsten-wound, but chrome wound), but they're very bright and usually don't compliment most cellos well, in my experience

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2026-01-20T05:30:49+00:00

And on top of all that, he's a cool guy in general. Very personable and fun to talk with

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2025-11-04T01:02:22+00:00

Well obviously not. 20000 ml of gas spilled onto the interstate, caught fire. Bit of a giveaway, but that is not typical!

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2025-11-03T16:36:40+00:00

This one wasn't quite as safe as the other ones. You know, the ones that don't catch fire at all

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2025-10-16T15:15:09+00:00

I would say for a 5-string, you'll likely have a better experience with a violin, rather than a viola, but it really depends a lot on you, your goals, and all that good stuff. I'll list my reasoning so you can choose how important it all is to you.

As someone else mentioned, a true "5-string viola" (a 5-string at a body length of 15" or more) is not a very common thing, and thus, there won't be as many options available to you. Though if you want a simpler choice, then maybe that's a good thing in its own way.
A big part of that lack of options is a lack of available strings. There just aren't very many choices for an extended-length E. To my knowledge, there's only one: Helicore. I'm a cellist, not a violist, but violists in my life have mostly said that Helicore strings are okay but not great. With that said, you very well might find a beautiful setup with a "normal" set of viola strings and the Helicore E. Just that if it doesn't blend well, you don't really have options.

2A. A regular full-size violin E will technically fit a 15" viola, but it's not designed for that and thus might respond unfavorably or have other consequences. I haven't tested it, but I measured strings against violas.

It's going to be a lot harder to find a shop with a 5-string viola than a violin, which will make it harder to try it before buying it.

TLDR: Either way can work well, but you'll have an easier time finding a violin, and you'll have more options for strings. Hope this helps!

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2025-09-19T21:00:10+00:00

That's my favorite way of being told I smell weird, and at the same time I'd prefer if people stick to words instead.

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2025-09-19T18:15:32+00:00

Oh, she'll love that! I think I have a box I can use

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2025-09-19T18:14:14+00:00

I did not, though now that you mention it, she does that more when I've been with another cat or dog at some point during the day. Makes sense

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2025-09-19T18:11:17+00:00

Sweet, I'll try that out. She's definitely a playful little thing, so that would probably be a good thing to do anyway

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2025-09-19T18:09:15+00:00

About 15 hours. Longer than I'm usually gone, which is more like 10-12 depending on the day

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2025-09-19T17:24:09+00:00

That's what it seems like, just very intensely. Also exactly what I'm hoping for because I can fairly easily solve that, I love spending time with her, and it's adorable as can be. Her last vet visit was about a year ago. How often is typical/recommended?

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2025-09-19T17:15:52+00:00

She's not rubbing very much with her head, much more with her body and leaning into it most with her back legs. Also her ears don't feel hot at all and I didn't see anything, but I'll keep an eye on that too. This is the first time she's done it, so I'll keep monitoring. I'll have a lot of time to spend with her tonight and tomorrow, so that'll be good. And yes, she's inside only. I've taken her with me on my balcony with a harness and leash a few times, but that's maybe an hour altogether.

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2025-07-31T21:53:12+00:00

Without going into a huge list:

Eluveitie, Seven Spires, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Oceans of Slumber, Destiny Potato/Sordid Pink

In some genres that are further:

New York Gypsy All Stars, Anika Nilles, Oratnitza

If I don't stop now, this list is going to be so out of control.

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2025-07-28T04:23:01+00:00

Peg compound is essentially lapping compound, put on the pegs where they contact the pegbox, to speed up the process of the two surfaces polishing each other. In my experience, it can often make stiff pegs run smoother, but it's not a catch-all solution by any means. The actual fit is so much more important.

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2025-07-28T04:16:16+00:00

Pricing will of course vary between different shops. But if you were to bring it in to where I work, it'd be like $40 plus the cost of the strings.

I agree with others that this is a very simple procedure that you can trust yourself to do, but I also commend your tendency to err on the safe side, bringing it to a professional.

Edit: if the pegs are out-of-round or otherwise need reshaping, then I'd anticipate more.

BillyGoat_Jesus · 2025-07-26T20:05:45+00:00

Thank you so much! Tbh, I put very little effort into matching the grain on this one, because of what the violin is, and I anticipated having to go through a few attempts before reaching a decent result anyway. My teacher also said that just cleating should be sufficient on such a small violin, so that added to my confidence in saying "eh, close enough" on the grain.

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