Violin Making and Maintenance - Sound Post Adjustment

Sound Post Adjustment

The position of the sound post inside the violin is critical, and moving it by very small amounts can make a substantial difference in the sound quality of an instrument. The thickness of the post is important as well. Sound post adjustment is as much art as science, depending on the ears, experience, structural sense, and sensitive touch of the luthier. Moving the sound post has very complex consequences on the sound; in the end, it is the ear of the person doing the adjusting that determines the desired location of the post.

Here are some rough guides to how sound post placement influences the sound quality of the instrument:

• If the sound is too thin and shrill, the post may be too near the f hole or too tight, or the post may be too thin.
• If the sound is weak and there is a loss of power (especially in the lower register), the post may be too near the center of the instrument.
• If there is a loss of overall power and tone, the post may be too far behind the bridge, or the post may be too thick.