Lusitano Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Although an odd choice of wood for fittings, olivewood theoretically could make partial sense seeing as its density is close to that of Ebony with the primary dicerning characteristic being its non uniform grain structure. Then large presence of naturally occuring oils within the wood could (in theory) also server as a natural lubricante for pegs, not to mention the fact this wood is not "acidic" and could possibly be hypoalergenic? Listing with fittings such as these have caught my eye http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151004609334?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 these same suppliers seem to make matching pegs and normal hill style olivewood tailpieces of also, any insight on the usage of this wood for fittings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~ Ben Conover Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Supply and demand, most people stick with what is easiest.So, it's probably just a nice curiosity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfjk Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Hi, I would not choose olive wood for fittings. It is heavy and oily, but grain structure is not right for pegs or tail pieces. It is too soft for pegs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lusitano Posted March 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Olive wood density is similar to Ebony, in density even though I agree that there is a possibility of dampened sound, I am still curious. has anyone ever worked with this material? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcncello Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 It's curious how eBay sellers promote their itmes. So till now we had that: horse hair is always mongolian (the best one, not the regular one) Bows are always from prenambuco wood (the best one, not the regular one) Tonewood is always (at least) 10 years natural air dried Maple and spruce are always from european origin and hand carved Fittings of course always made of ebony ...and now we have to add the olive wood which is Italian. Funny taking into account that Spain produces three times more olive oil per year than Italy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeyerFittings Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 I've done some comparison studies on peg woods in terms of densities. Olive wood is surprisingly hard and heavy which is why it has been used in the Middle East for centuries for Oud pegs. I made a set once for a customer and It turned, on the lathe, surprisingly well. I saw a saz that David Lindley was playing with olive wood pegs. They must work pretty well if that working musician uses them to play every night. Not as heavy as good ebony but more so than box or rosewood. The main disadvantage for violins is it's natural color and the lack of provenance. You would think that the Cremonese would have used it since they loved local woods for pegs. They must have preferred boxwood and jujube for some particular reason over olive. Perhaps, given their history with the "Saracens" ..... I don't know. The pores are also pretty big as i recall. As for the bits about the harp shaped tailpieces, all of that has been discussed here before. Not a new idea at all, and everybody seems to have a patent on it somewhere. I just wonder what particular part of this "revolutionary design' is the new best idea that will turn the fittings world on it's ear.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~ Ben Conover Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Got a full set of violin fittings for $60, which included a very nice flamed boxwood chinrest with stainless hill screws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lusitano Posted March 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 I do particularly like the coloring and grain of olivewood, ight colored fittings have always sparked interest in me as well as experimentation with woods. Regarding the harp shape of the tailpiece, Ive found it either does nothing or makes the string tension uneven and the tailpiece strangely lopsided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeyerFittings Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Got a full set of violin fittings for $60, which included a very nice flamed boxwood chinrest with stainless hill screws. How does the olive wood match with the boxwood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor Russell Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 I have used yew for baroque pegs, it looks lovely an it's slightly soft and forgiving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lusitano Posted March 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Yew has been used in the construction of bows, it's elasticity seems to make it innapropriate for fittings though (IMO) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~ Ben Conover Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Olive wood is used for carving small figures for tourists. Got some yew cut into rib size pieces 15 years ago, not sure what to do with it.Eric, your fittings are in a different league, just saying what's out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor Russell Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 yew isn't so springy in short pieces, no more so than pernambuco or ebony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeyerFittings Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Yew wood, one of my faves. Not real hard but hard enough to make lute ribs historicallly. Pacific yew is close taxonomically to English yew so those little buggers probably floated accross the Big Pond. They make spoons and forks out of it at the hippie fairs here. Big trees are OLD. I like to comment on wood. Not so much on other peoples fittings. I kind of have a hard time with the "new best thing" clames though - especially if the basis of the idea is not so new. We all know that there is LOTS out there in all aspects of the violin biz. How's the weather over there in Ireland guys. Seen Noel lately? Tell him Rico says hey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor Russell Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Hi Eric, I'm in regular contact with Noel, and he's in good form. I'll say hello. A bit off topic, but some time ago it was found that the Irish yew differs from the English in a remarkable way. The yew produces a heart medicine that was extracted from the bark, till it was found that the Irish tree produces the chemical in the foliage, which means that the tree needn't be damaged to collect it. I hope this doesn't come as too much of a shock. Looking forward to seeing some of your pegs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeyerFittings Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Must have something to do with the greenery. That and the fact that you have to distill it. Cheers They used to have the same deal here getting taxol out of the bark and now they can use the needles. Different drug? . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff White Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 I saw a saz that David Lindley was playing with olive wood pegs. Well, he sure played the daylights out of it (in his "saz" phase). Now you got me goin', I'm gonna go get my El Rayo X cd and play it now! jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeyerFittings Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Maybe my favorite band ever.First time I saw them was in 83 at the NAMM show in LA and Albert Lee was sitting in. Still play "Gimme Da Ting" when I want to dance (which isn't as often as it used to be). Actually saw David last year as a single and he is still playing the hell out of the saz along with the five other instruments he carries with him. Honestly MNers if he comes anywhere near your town -- go, You won't regret it.. He's even a decent fiddle player althgough he doesn't play it onstage anymore.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff White Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Maybe my favorite band ever. Yup, no one like Lindley. jeff oops, back to olive wood, sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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