Ep. 29: Moving the Soundpost

Moving the Soundpost is necessary in order to adjust your final sound properties of your instrument.
This is referring to your impressions while playing, for example "difficult response", "weak bass/trebble string", "tiny E or A string" etc. All these impressions are actually very personal because they depend on your bow and your experience.
By moving the Soundpost we actually change the ratio of the sound mechanism of your instrument.
To do so it takes only very little to change in order that you feel a difference.
But remember that do so in a controlled manner this is only possible if the soundpost is fitted very well as shown in Episode 28.
Otherwise it will change but most of the times it is not sound adjustment to the better; I call that sound lottery, since every change makes a difference.
So enjoy seeing what is done to the soundpost when we move it inside.

All the best from Cremona

Edgar Russ

My Live Q&A transmissions on YouTube are only for my patrons!!!!!
Check it out here on Patreon
Starting from 3 Euro per month you make part of it.
And I will answer all of your questions.

Searching the right Violin🎻, Viola🎻, Cello🎻 or Doublebass🎻 ?

Want to know more about me and my work?
Check out my website:

☀︎ Check out another great creation of mine. A greta gift idea by the way!
VIOLIN - Eau de Parfum
Enjoy the Secret

Get in touch with me:

Instagram: @edgarrussviolinmaker
@violin_fragrance

[MrBuzhinsv]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge in such a clear and informative way! Today I went thought my first ever soundpost fishing and setting operation on my double bass with ad-hoc home-made tools. Now I have a much better understanding of what I should get in the end and how. Tomorrow I will adjust it in a more informed way. And I will definitely explore the other episodes!

[michaelb]

This made what seemed like magic very clear and logical to me. Thank you.

[kyproset]

Thank you, maestro, for the valuable information you are so kindly sharing with us. Now when we go to our luthiers for set up at least we know what he is doing and also discussing it with him.

[amezcuaist]

For the "Whoops too much sideways movement " I pictured an adjuster with a deep U shape cut out 90degrees to the handle. So --good for pushing and also for pulling. For Northways adjustment a thin stick through the end pin hole with a V shape end. This could push just one millimetre "North" .One push for the top of the post and one for the bottom. Even Stephen . Pulling South is not so easy. Maybe combine the stick and knock it back with the stick there for safety .

[russcorbett]

I truly can't Thank You enough for this, and for All of your videos . The amount of information you share is Incredible .

[dhouse-dl]

Sir, ur knowledge and skills are amazing but it be so much better if you use a close mic..the echo makes it difficult to understand.

[willb]

Bravo Maestro! As always, very informative and explained well.
I and another viewer here (post below - Henri Roy) have very bad Wolf Tones and "choked" sounds. We would benefit much if you could talk about wolf tones on one video. Thank you!

[douglasmckay]

Would like to thank-you for this video I will be doing the same, and love the tool

[pianodesu]

No need to protect the f holes edges with some material to prevent it from scratching it with S tool?

[lamplighter]

I'm curious about the history of the violin. It seems like it was perfected relatively quickly and hasn't changed much in a few hundred years. Do people hold on too much to the old methods and scared of new technology or has it truly been perfected with no need for change?

[金子川]

Hello Master, thank you so much for all of your sharing, they are so interesting, after watched your video I got a question, are both ends of sound post straight edge? I thought the inner part of the top and back boards are curved? looking forward to hear your opinion. Thank you so much.

[piotrzelazny]

Thank You for all advices. Do You think this kind of things as sound post adjustments could be done at home with the proper tools? I am a professional string player myself. How big is danger of causing the crack on the top of the instrument when sound post placed to tight? Yours Piotr

[yeppy]

Does the sound post have to be set up at the right side and not on the left side? I thought it would be logical to be on the left side to stablize the more heavier C-string that would add more pressure on the bridge...

[AGC]

When you're making one of your own cello's you can adjust the posts as you like. But if you're making a replica Montagnana do you have to have the braces and posts in the exact same positions as the "original"? To get THAT sound? In addition to getting as close as possible to making the body the same dimensions?

Curious...can you tell me how much one of your Montagnana cello's cost in $US? Full size. Like to have an idea.

[louisyao]

Do you also adjust the bottom of post, to keep it perfectly straight? Or just the top of the post?

[ssather]

Great video ! Makes it look so easy,

[ninar.]

Thanks for the video, ist the 7mm for a 4/4 Bass or a standard 4/4 Bass? Thanks to Corona I have to do it on my own after string replacement.

[Henrik.Yngvesson]

I have a Thomann beginner cello, spruce top and plywood back. Sounds good on the two higher strings but has no base at all and feels like playing on a wet cardboard box. It annoys me very much and I feel like it interferes with my playing as I try too hard to get some power out of the lower notes. Is that just how these cheaper cellos are or could it be due to the sound post position?

[cellist]

Hello Edgar, for an entry level orchestral model cello, is it true that there isn’t a need to use a European bridge but by adjusting the sound pole, it’s good enough?

[rudylegdeur]

great topic and videos about the soundpost! Thanks! I'm learning so much through your videos.
One question about the bottom part of the soundpost. Do you leave the bottom of the soundpost at the same place (maybe the standard starting point)? I can imagine when you move the soundpost top the post gets a slight angle. What are the limits and effects of an angled soundpost?