Poll - How many use A-string fine tuners?

[henrypeacham]

As an informal poll, how many, apart from the 4-fine-tuners-on-a-tailpiece folks, use an A-string fine tuner in addition to the E string one?

Or perhaps better stated: How many use two fine tuners?

[FINPROF]

I have one violin that uses two fine tuners and one that uses one fine tuner. Each came that way when I bought them and didn't change the fine tuners. I bought the one with two fine tuners in Bulgaria. The one with one fine tuner was made in the USA, or at least finished by an AMerican luthier.

I think that two fine tunders is common in Eastern Europe as are steel A and E strings combined with gut or synthetic G and D strings.

[FutureConcertmaster]

I used 4 for a long time but they aren't extremely useful on the G and D string. So I took of those, but then after a while I took of the A (for what reason I dont know.) But now I only have the E. I couldn't imagine tuning without it. What fun it must be to have a baroque violin .

[Winston]

That set-up (using fine tuners on both the E and A strings) was very common prior to 1970 or so, especially with students. Unless you were using all-metal strings, the G and D were gut wound --and a fine tuner wasn't needed. The metal E always needed one, of course. But in the case of the A string, a few old-timers would still use plain gut, otherwise, it was either a metal A or a gut wound A. The gut wound A's typically had a short life span and required constant tuning.

As a student in the 1950's, I started with all steel strings and four tuners for the first year, and then switched to the 2 tuner set-up. It was only after I was quite advanced before using a gut wound A. I still have one instrument with this set-up, but I usually now use a Tonica A with gut wound D and G.

The sound that I want can come only from gut, in the case of the D and G strings. But for the A string, the difference seems less critical.

[Poppiviola]

One of the violinists at my university uses a fine tuner on the A string, he's from Bulgaria, so I would tend to think along with FINPROOF that this is more common in Eastern Europe.

[Danielle]

I think its not always where your from, but what string combos you use. Its not nessesary to have to fine tuners if you use a gut or synthetic A, it tunes fine with the pegs. with steel or metal string, the fine tuner is almost crucial

[FutureConcertmaster]

I agree with Danielle it is based somewhat on the type of strings you have. But it is also based on personal preference. I know one person that refuses to use ANY fine tuners. But I think that is their loss and they are crazy.

[DiemViolins]

Henry,

This question does not say so much because it's totally dependent on what type of string you have. As Danielle said: gut strings don't need a fine tuner. What is left are steel strings: and all that have these strings use a fine tuner mostly four.

The answer on the initial question when only steel strings are taken into account must be: hundreds of thousands.

[Andrew Victor]

The A tuner is helpful in orchestra (and performance) situations to quickly retune slight changes that may have occurred. There are a few female viruosi who use them (Mutter and maybe Chang).

I was always a one-tuner (E) violinist, but I did switch to Bois d'Harmonie tailpieces as I approached age 70 to make small tuning changes easier when my joints hurt. I probably still do 90%+ of my (non-E) tuning with the pegs. But those other fine tuners have come in handy under tho hot stage lights.

Andy

[Danielle]

chang doesn't use one, I saw her last year

[Violon]

I use none and I'm not crazy! I have 'perfection' pegs, (gear driven) which renders tuners useless and I love them!

[gypsky]

I only use a tuner on my e string. The other strings, dominants, don't need a fine tuner. One trick is to put the string on the same way each time; so the fingers lay on the flat part of the peg, then it is very easy to turn with the left hand.

[johnny34]

Knilling perfection pegs on all 4... nothing else.... works perfect

34

[Steve_W]

quote:

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Originally posted by:

Winston

That set-up (using fine tuners on both the E and A strings) was very common prior to 1970 or so, especially with students. Unless you were using all-metal strings, the G and D were gut wound --and a fine tuner wasn't needed. The metal E always needed one, of course. But in the case of the A string, a few old-timers would still use plain gut, otherwise, it was either a metal A or a gut wound A. The gut wound A's typically had a short life span and required constant tuning.

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I began learning in the 1960s and used that setup for many years. It worked well but because of the steel A I never learned to tune my A string "properly" i.e., with the violin in position, manipulating the peg with the LH fingers. Still can't do it, but I use a Pusch tailpiece with 4 fine tuners with my synthetic strings so it's not typically an issue!