...Scrape the wood in the red area (from the top surface) to raise the tap tone of the ‘D' string. The area from the waist (the center of the tailpiece) to the back edge behind the string that is too low is scraped to raise that particular string. Scraping the side of the tailpiece (shown by the red line ) from the waist toward the string end of the tailpiece will raise the tap tone of both the strings ‘G' and ‘D' (the two strings on that side).
.. Conversely, to lower the tap tone of a certain string: (See Figure Seven)
.. Scrape the area immediately behind the string hole down to the waist to lower the tap tone of that individual string (the ‘G' string would be lowered in the photo above by scraping the outlined area). To lower both the strings ‘G' and ‘D' (the two strings on that side), scrape the tailpiece along that side from the waist to the end of the tailpiece.
... A particular problem exists with the popular Hill style tailpiece. With this model there is a sharp ridge down the
...Once learned, tap tuning becomes a useful tool for making final adjustments both for bridges and tailpieces (and unless I am mistaken, also in nearly every part of the new violin under construction, and adjusting existing instruments to improve tone, power, and clarity). I imagine that once you have heard the improvement when bridge and tailpiece tuning are optimal you will make this your standard adjustment.
