Sound-post & Bass bar

What is the quality of the sound-post?

The sound-post is made up of pinewood2, 3, 4 or spruce4, 10, 11. These woods are once again softwoods so their main purpose for being the chosen woods is because of their abilities to transfer vibrations more easily than other woods.4, 12

How does it affect the instruments performance?

Positioning of the sound-post is crucial for it to allow the violin to produce its best tone.25, 26 As an interior component the sound-post is placed under the right foot of the bridge (treble side – where the E string is placed).3, 4 10 The sound-posts purpose is to transfer sound energy, received from the bridge, to the belly and back.9, 10 Without a sound-post a violins tone would be hollow and muffled.3, 6

What is the quality of the bass bar?

Bass bars are usually made of pine2, 3, 4 or spruce4, 10, 11 too, and for the exact reasons as the sound-post and belly it is because of their ability to transfer vibration readily. 4, 12

How does it affect the instruments performance?

Much like the sound-post the bass bar’s positioning is important for it to fulfill its purpose.25, 26 As the bass bar is another interior component, it is placement is also hard to see. But it is normally placed underneath the left foot of the bridge (bass side – where the G string sits).3, 4, 10 Its main purpose is to balance out vibrations, received from bridge, throughout the whole violin body.3, 25

Varnish

[2] Wechsberg. J, The Violin, 1973

[3] Farga. F, Violins and Violinists, 1950

[4] Stowell. R, The Cambridge Companion to the Violin, 1995

[6] http://illumin.usc.edu/73/the-violin-the-art-behind-the-sound/, 2005

[10] http://www.violinwizard.com/violin_parts.html, 2012

[11] http://www.theviolinsite.com/history.html, n.d

[12] http://www.woodsolutions.com.au/Wood-Species/norway-spruce, 20

[25] Kulafrone, Ruth. Updated Research Project Questions. 2015. Email

[26] Beilharz, Rainer. Research project again. 2015. Email