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The violin bridge is an important part of your violin, your violin cannot be played without the bridge. The bridge plays an important role in supporting the strings of the violin at the correct height.
It sit between the 2 F holes on the belly of the violin. The bridge is constructed in such a way that it allows all the four strings to be played separately by the bow. It is responsible for transmitting different frequencies created by the vibrations of the strings. A high quality bridge will enhance the sound of your violin. A low quality bridge will destroy the sound.
Sometime during the life of your violin no matter how well it is made the bridge will have to be replaced. Like all products made from wood the bridge will shrink and swell over time and it will become less useful to your violin. Luckily there are a lot of good choices available to replace your bridge with many of them being do it yourself options.
Any musician should know the parts of their violin and what those parts do and they should also know how to make minor repairs to their instrument but if you do not, don’t panic there are plenty of places that you can go for repairs once you have purchased your bridge.
What makes a bridge best?
There are a couple of deciding factors that contribute to the quality of a bridge. The wood likely plays the biggest role in the sound that the bridge will help to create. It is highly recommended that a bridge of maple is used. Maple offers the density that can help to control and enhance the vibrations of the strings. It has long been held as one of the best options for a bridge.
A bridge made of maple can be made thin and strong which are two key factors in achieving an ideal sound. There are some very well-known brands that have been creating reliable bridges for many years that offer bridges that will easily enhance the sound of your violin.
The curvature of the bridge also plays a big role in the sound you will get from your violin. The curvature of the bridge affects the height of the strings and how far apart the strings are kept. A good bridge will be of the correct height to lift the strings and to keep them separate as you play. A bridge with not so good curvature will not give you the sound that you expect. The tones will be much deeper and you will miss notes.
Most experts agree that the easiest way to change the sound of your violin and to improve your skill level is to try out different bridges.
The brand of the bridge is important because it does take a certain amount of expertise to create a bridge that will improve the violin. There are a few names that come to mind that are considered producers of great bridges:
- Aubert – Joseph Teller
- Glaesel
- Despiau
There are other great brands out there as well but the three listed above have a long history of providing great options that are considered best.
We looked at many different violin bridges to come up with the 10 best violins bridges review. We considered several factors when determining which bridges could make the best list:
- Materials used to create the violin bridge
- Brand and reputation
- Consumer satisfaction
We looked at bridges that were well made from high quality materials to compile a list of best bridges. We also considered who made the bridge and what type of reputation the company had with musicians. Consumer satisfaction also ranked high on the list when it came to which bridges were best.
Using the criteria that we set we were able to compile a list of the 10 best violins bridges review.
Here are the 10 best and the reviews:
(please note that the bridges are not listed in any particular order they are all equally “best”)
Glaesel Self-Adjusting Bridge
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This is an adjustable bridge with feet that pivot which makes it super easy to install. A lot of people have found that this maple bridge is an easy fix for a full range of makes and models. You can easily install this bridge on your own. It comes highly recommended by people that have purchased one.
Teller Germany 100543
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This bridge is manufactured in Germany by the Joseph Teller company. It is made of air dried maple from Bosnia with an ebony insert. It is semi-finished which means that you have to sand the feet down for a snug fit. It is a great bridge if you are willing to do a very small amount of work.
Despiau Violin Bridge
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This maple bridge is made in France and comes to you ready to be fitted which you can either do on your own or leave up to an expert. It does have to be cut so if you do not have any experience you may want to get some help.
Aubert 9145 – U Bridge
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Another choice from Teller and another excellent choice. It is semi-fitted and is made of maple and also has the ebony insert. It comes highly recommended from everyone that has purchased it. A lot of musicians commented that they purchased this bridge for a less expensive violin to upgrade the sound and it worked out nicely.
Sky High Quality Bridge
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This bridge is from a little known company but it is a great bridge. It is completely finished and ready to install. It is made from maple and can easily be used right out of the box with most models.
Student Violin Bridge Âľ
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This is a high quality bridge that is an excellent choice for any student Âľ size violin. It is solid maple and comes ready to install. It is a good choice for both beginners and intermediate players.
YMC Violin Parts
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This is a great economical option for teachers and students alike. You get 5 bridges made from maple that are semi-fitted for a very affordable price. It is a great opportunity to get quality bridges at a price that is affordable.
Aubert VB7
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This is a full sized bridge made of maple that will fit most all 4/4 sized violins. It comes semi-fitted and in most cases will easily slide right in. In some cases you may have to sand down the fit a bit to get a more snug, custom fit. It is a great reliable bridge that will easily enhance the sound of any violin.
Aubert Âľ Violin Bridge
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Another great option from Aubert (Joseph Teller) made in Germany from Bosnian Maple. It is made especially for ¾ violins and comes ready to slide right in. This bridge is an ideal way to “upgrade” an affordable violin to improve the sound.
Generic Maple Bridge
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Frankly these are not the prettiest bridges in town but they get the job done. They are crafted from Maple and are cut to perfection. They make the list because while they are not “branded” by a well-known company they are a great way to save some money if money is tight. You do have to make some adjustments but at the cost it is well worth the effort if you are strapped for cash.
A Couple of Tips
It is very important that your bridge is aligned correctly. If you are not sure of your skill level when it comes to installing your bridge then it is best if you get some help. The bridge is THAT important that if you feel uncertain of your ability to install the bridge then get your bridge and bring it to a shop.
You should always buy your bridge from a source other than your local music shop because you will literally pay up to 5 times of what you would pay if you bought the bridge separately. Music shops make their money by marking up items like violin bridges substantially. If you buy the bridge and take it to the shop to be installed you will save a great deal of money.
You can easily upgrade an inexpensive model by adding a new bridge. It is an easy way (and an inexpensive way) to improve your performance. Many times when you purchase an inexpensive violin the reason that it is inexpensive is because some corners have been cut. Purchasing a high quality bridge is an easy way to ensure that you are getting the most out of your instrument.
The 10 best violins bridges reviews that are listed here are all dependable bridges that come highly rated by other musicians. We offered a full range of options to give you an opportunity to find a bridge that will not only help you to play better but help you to find an option that you can easily install on your own.