F-hole height.

[wonna]

Hi,

 

Please forgive this probably simple question.

 

I have just purchased a 'budget' Violin for my Son. It has arrived and I have noticed that the f-hole on the 'E' string side of the Violin does not follow the belly of the violin top curve. The bridge side of the reversed f-hole is noticeably lifted, feeling a lot higher that the opposite side of the f-hole (bridge side to edge of Violin).

 

Is this correct or a sign of a poorly made Violin? Is it a significant problem?

 

Sorry for the amateur nature of this question. Any help would be deeply appreciated.

 

Thank you.

 

Kind regards,

 

Martin.

 

 

[wonna]

Hi,

 

This is the side I am concerned about.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/95382835@N03/8697719413/

 

 

This is the other side.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/95382835@N03/8697719317/

 

 

Thank you for any advice you can offer.

 

Kind regards,

 

Martin.

[James M. Jones]

Besides the fact that the two pic's you show have two very different points of view....I would not worry about it. Acoustically speaking the height of the wings will have little to no effect on tone. Tone will have more to do with the thickness and flex of the wings. The current thought  many makers have, is that the wings have little to do with overall tone production .....perhaps contributing some high end support, but not a huge amount.

 I'd worry more about the setup than anything else. good string heights, at the nut and at the end of the fingerboard,proper fingerboard scoop,string spacing at the nut and bridge ,bridge curve, sound post position,these are details  that affect ease of playing, most important for young players to master the techniques of playing.  

[captainhook]

That's generally indicative of a too-tight sound post. Chances are it doesn't fit well, either. I recommend having a luthier check it.

[Michael_Molnar]

I suspect you are seeing the soundpost plate distortion. This is normal. 

 

Does your son like the fiddle? That's all that matters.

 

Stay Tuned,

 

Mike

 

PS: I apologize for my earlier hot reply.

 

 

Edited May 4, 2013 by Michael_Molnar

[captainhook]

My actual experience with new, "budget" violins is that they frequently come with sound posts that are too long and do not fit, but are jammed in any old way. It needs to be checked by somebody who knows. Sound doesn't matter if damage is being done.