Violin Forum/Message Board

[John Cadd]

There are two versions of recommended plate frequencies from the Carleen Hutchins records. If you read the AI versions one says the top and back plates should be about one semitone apart. The other version says identical frequencies are best .
In my latest two separate regrading exercises both violins have identical tap tones exactly the same .ie violin one has top and back the same ,and violin two has top and back the same . All 4 frequencies are the same even though I did not bother to think about what the frequencies would /should be .Is that just a coincidence?
With a 3/4 violin regrading , the tone on some A string notes is interesting . First finger on the A has one tone ,and a semitone higher the note difference (frequency) is correct but it seems to switch into a different tone as if the plate areas have been changed . Almost as if the two notes came from different violins . I heard a similar effect once in a Menuhin recording . I suppose that sounds like boasting but it`s worth talking about .

[John Cadd]

A practical way to compare plate frequencies is to make different top plates and practice removing them to try different combinations .It`s more difficult if you insist on the spatula ,splitting method. Use a Vitronx hand held steamer to get the tops off without breaking splinters .Treat this as experimental and concentrate on what you want to discover first .
Reduce the glue strength to make it less difficult .
Decifer all the Mode advice to see if it means enough to influence you .
Make copious notes .Take recordings .Don`t assume it will make you famous or rich .