The Tailpiece-Chin Rest Combination from Dov Schmidt
Dov Schmidt, himself a violinist and conductor, is also one of the most innovative suppliers and inventor of ground-breaking bowed string instrument accessories such as chin rests and tailpieces (http://www.dov-music.com/). We have begun using Dov Schmidt Harp-style tailpieces on a number of Don Rickert Lutherie instruments. These tailpieces achieve astounding d’ and g string response by increasing the length between the string and the tailpiece on the lower strings. The photo of one of these Harp tailpieces illustrates what I am talking about (click on the photo thumbnail for a larger view).
The Dov Schmidt Harp-style tailpieces also use built in fine tuners of polycarbonate, which have far better acoustic properties than metal fine tuners, resulting in much-improved overall instrument sonority and power.
Another product, not invented by Schmidt, but one that he sells, is a unique tailpiece, which incorporates a small chin rest in its design. Now, anyone who has had classical violin training might recoil at the thought of using the tailpiece as a chin rest, as it reduces tailpiece vibration, having a slight muting effect. Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but many traditional fiddlers, especially Irish Traditional fiddlers, have been using the tailpiece as a chin rest for well over a century.
I do not claim to understand all of the acoustical physics involved; however, the widespread chin-on-tailpiece playing style of Irish Traditional players seems to introduce some smoothness to the instrument sonority that is lost be use of metal strings on a very low bridge (to achieve a low string height). Low bridges (less mass) are notorious for introducing a harsh edge to the sound of a fiddle.
Anyway, we have started to use the tailpiece-chin rest combo on our new Mountaineer III Backpacker Violin. The effect on the sound of the instrument is imperceptible. The instruments may even sound better than earlier versions of the Mountaineer Backpacker Fiddle, but that one is too close to call.
The Mountaineer Backpacker Violin violates many of the “best practices” of violin-making in order to achieve a big sound from an instrument with a tiny sound-box. Use of a tailpiece that violates the “rules” is perhaps appropriate for this revolutionary instrument.
Here is a sound sample of the Mountaineer III Backpacker Violin:
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