Measuring string height?

[polkat]

From the end of the fingerboard to the bottom of the string? Or to the center of the string (or does it matter)? Thanks!

[upnorth]

From the end of the fingerboard to the bottom of the string? Or to the center of the string (or does it matter)? Thanks!

Bottom of string.

[skiingfiddler]

Where you measure to on the violin E string probably doesn't matter because the string is so thin.

For the violin G string, where you measure to does matter and depends on what number you are using. The typical 5.5 mm G string clearance is, I believe, measured to the center of the string. Since G strings (or at least some G strings) are close to a mm thick (maybe 0.8), if you measure to the bottom of the string for 5.5 mm clearance to the bottom, you'd be pushing the string higher by about 0.4 or 0.5 mm, and that circa 1/2 mm difference can definitely be felt by the player. If you use a wood feeler (instead of a ruler) to insert between string and fingerboard to determine clearance, you are, of course, measuring to the bottom, and you may want to limit the thickness of that feeler to 5.1 so that string center is at 5.5.

Player preference will also play a role. Some want low clearance, some higher. A difference of 0.2 mm, one way or the other, can be important.

[Doug Marples]

From the end of the fingerboard to the bottom of the string? Or to the center of the string (or does it matter)? Thanks!

Measure to the center of the strings if you're using the standard string heights that are published.

[DiemViolins]

For the G-string I would start even at 6 mm. It depends on the player how powerfull the string is treated. If the clearance is too low than it might happen that the string will vibrate against the finger board. It's much easier to lower the bridge later on than to have the bridge already too low at that location.

There are general 'rules' but they are not grafted onto a specific instrument, string and player.

Frits