Hi all,

Wondered if anyone can offer any help?

My violin will be going into a luthier shortly for a few days so im just collecting the bits I want him to fit.

So far - Ive decided on a new set of pegs, I have some perfection pegs and I may use those but also may not - I am able to tune my violin farily easily so not sure I need to use them.

I be getting a new chinrest in rosewood.

Im after an ivory nut, and also a rosewood tailpiece with ivory trim. Ive tried to search on google but not having much luck. Is anyone aware of anywhere that can sell me an ivory nut & the rosewood tailpeice with ivory trim? I dont mind where in the world I have to order from, also as Im looking to set my violin up "for life" i realise I may have pay quite a bit for these items.

I was deliberating a Frirsz tailpiece but I think I would prefer the above.

Then all I need to get is a nice gold fine tuner for E.

Thanks in advance

Roger Hansell will sell you a tailpiece with a mammoth (ie legal) ivory fret, made to order. Price List
He would also probably be able to sell you a piece of mammoth ivory suitable to make a top nut.
Otto Tempel also do ivory trimmed fittings, but are quite hard to deal with for small quantities.
If you're spending a lot on nice fittings it would seem a shame to spoil things by using naff-looking pegs. Perfections have plastic heads do they not?

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Roger Hansell will sell you a tailpiece with a mammoth (ie legal) ivory fret, made to order. Price List
He would also probably be able to sell you a piece of mammoth ivory suitable to make a top nut.
Otto Tempel also do ivory trimmed fittings, but are quite hard to deal with for small quantities.
If you're spending a lot on nice fittings it would seem a shame to spoil things by using naff-looking pegs. Perfections have plastic heads do they not?
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Thanks Disco pants. Ill have a look at the details you have given me. Much appreciated.

Re pegs - thats exactly what I thought. I brought the pegs a yr ago when I started playing - I wanted them as it would allow me to take the fine tuners off but still tune up easily - however I upgraded my violin and tuning it really isnt an issue so I have gone off the idea of them to be honest.

When I brought my violin 6 months ago- I noticed (not that its noticeable as my teacher only noticed this week and only cos I pointed it out) that 2 pegs (G & A are Black with a white "nipple", and the D & E pegs are a very dark brown (almost black) with a less obvious "nipple".

Just fancy a set that matches and are fitted properly.

Cheers again

Alternatively for a white nut, you could get a bone nut blank for a classical guitar, which would look indistinguishable from ivory and be easy to cut down to violin size.
Try David Dyke Luthier's Supplies for this.

It isn't legal to sell ivory anymore (and rightly so). you can only buy antique ivory, or as mentioned before mammoth ivory.

I did mean to say that in my original post - was typing it out but doing 4 others things at the same time...

Mammoth ivory was what I wanted. The site Discopants has mailed me is brilliant!! thats who im gonna use. Gonna get some nice rosewood pegs with "ivory" pips.

I know this goes without saying, but if you're pushing the boat out with fine and expensive handmade pegs, make sure you get them fitted by someone who really knows what they're doing!

Cheers Discopants. Its a good point though.When I brought my very first violin the bridge wasnt shaped properly, I took it to a luthier who is well know but works in a general music shop. Kept it a couple of days and when I got it back it was no different. (I since found out although he classed a luthier - he doesnt really deal with violins, and doesnt make them either)

My teacher has put me on to his luthier who actually makes violins and sells them starting at a few thousand so I think im gonna be safe with him. He sounds brilliant and my teacher trusts him.

I was going to leave my violin with him for a month and say "just sort it out - fit what you want" etc but I know the fittings I want now, so wil get onto that today.

Really good point though Discopants. Esp for beginners or people that have never needed a luthier before now.

Why not discuss with the luthier the kind of thing you want and let him order the stuff for you?
For example, if he has an account with Tempel, he should be able to get you nice quality, ivory-trimmed fittings much cheaper than what you'd pay for the Hansell stuff (Hansell's fittings are superb, but very, very upmarket!)

Just a thought!

PS For rosewood fittings, I personally think boxwood trimmings are the nicest. A bit less contrasty than ivory and very classy.

Discopants - I have to say im glad I posted on the forum. Im finding it very useful talking to you about this. You certainly have an eye for the good things, and the knowledge.

That is a brilliant idea!!! Ill ask my teacher to have a word with him to see what he could do, and if it does save me money thats a brilliant bonus.
Ill also have a look at the rosewood/boxwood.

At the mo - I have a violin, its 110 yrs old, and has spirit varnish (so it doesnt look like its varnished really). I find all the black just doesnt make it look its best (and I know its the sound that counts really but hey).


On the hansell site - the rosewood, is very similiar to the colouring of my violin which is pleasing.

The reason behind the ivory (and I hope I dont regret posting this is because I loved Paganini's "the canone!" and I noticed he had ivory fittiings.

I suppose, in the end, I just want my violin to have its own individuality but touching on the "greats" of the past.

Im gonna have a look at the rosewood/boxwood now.

Thanks again for all the advice. Very very useful

Although the Cannone has an ivory nut, the fittings are boxwood/ebony......(or at least they are in the photos I have)