Canone's string length?

[MANFIO]

What's CANON's string lenght? I tried in vain to discover it in Del Gesu's book and in the posters and books I have. I'm curious because Canon's stop is a bit long - 197/199, if I'm not wrong - what may sugest a longer string lenght, or a shorter neck.

[fiddlecollector]

HI Manfio, the stop length is 7 5/8 " which is 194 mm ,i think,

The neck length is 5 1/16" (128-129 mm),it was lengthened slightly at the foot.(if this measurement is regarded as the neck stop the string length would be in the region of

322-323mm )

[Michael Darnton]

Working from the Biddulph books, and just doing the numbers based on proportions from the photos, starting from the 197mm stop on the E side (I think the correct number is more like 197.5, but since we're working on a flat photo, let's accept 197 for the moment) the neck length scaled out to somewhere around 128+, which is obviously short, and I scaled the string length as about 325mm.

I've been making this model for a couple of years now, and the way I've been dealing with the long stop is to set the back of the bridge on the nicks, which moves the center to about a normal 195mm, and then setting the neck to a normal 130mm.

[fiddlecollector]

Hi Michael ,is the 7 5/8 stop length quoted in the Hill book wrong????

[Michael Darnton]

I would say yes. The violin is very large, and the full-size photos I measured in the Bidudlph books confirmed the figures given in the drawings.

[MANFIO]

Thank you. Michael: I`ve moved my bridge forward too.

[MANFIO]

Michael: according to Biddulph's book, volume II, page 102, the stop is 199 for the left side and 197.5 for the right side.

[Mark_W]

Seems like a good place for this question: Did del G. make any violins similar to the 'Cannon?' I understand it is somewhat of a rogue in points of size and graduation thickness. Is it possible that the maker himself didn't recognize it as greater than his other works? (Or he would have pursued it?) Just wondering.

[MANFIO]

The "CARRODUS" is a twin brother of the Cannon, including thick gradutations.

I believe that Del Gesù knew what he was doing since, according to the Hill`s, he himself was a violinist, as well as many of his family members, as his uncle Pietro Guarneri di Mantova.

[fiddlecollector]

Ive been in touch Mr.Bruce Carlton who`s in charge of the Cannon and the measurements Michael deduced are correct but the bridge is adjusted to give a vibrating sting length of 328 mm.

[MANFIO]

Thank you for this valuable information fidlecollector.

[fiddlecollector]

Also Mr. Carlton said the body stop is 197 mm

[MANFIO]

Thank you for this information also. I believe that your friend`s name is Bruce Carlson.

[fiddlecollector]

Sorry mistake ,i type too fast and don`t notice mistakes,the info from him came through someone called`Anan Rita Certo`, who i suppose is a fellow curator or someone in admin.

[stephen redrobe]

I have a violin - stop = 193+ L and 195 R.

String length = 326 with back of bridge on inner nick - R.

Do these measurements suggest that the bridge is where it needs to be, or otherwise?.

[Mark_W]

While waiting for Michael to answer, it sounds like the stop on the Right (treble) side is standard at 195, and the neck length is implied as 131, also very nearly standard. Moving the bridge would probably achieve little and require a soundpost adjustment and maybe a tailgut movement. Why bother?

(My very humble opinion, Stephen. As E. Friedman's assistant, your judgment is as good as anyone's--probably better.)

[Michael Darnton]

I'd say if there's no complaint there's no problem.

[stephen redrobe]

Many thanks for those replies.

I had never even heard of people measuring these things until I read some items on this forum. I leave everything except changing strings to other people.

Mr. Friedman is worse than me. Believe it or not, he did not know what strings he used until I told him. He used to just take a violin to the shop and ask them to put some "nice" strings on it!.

Thanks again,

Stephen.

[MANFIO]

Hi Davidstinsom! This is the post I've mentioned.