Violin Forum/Message Board

byacey · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 10:54 am Post subject: Off Center bushings

I notice on many pictures of old violins the bushed pegholes are off center. Are the bushings put in off center, the new peg holes drilled off center, or were the original peg holes worn off center? Or a combination of all of the above?

Andres Sender · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 2:15 pm Post subject:

One likely cause of what you’re seeing is a difference in the conception of proper placement between the original holes and the new holes. ‘Off center’ in this context doesn’t really mean much, since the correct location for each hole is not really a matter of centering per se.

I think some do advocate 'off-center' bushing but I don’t recall how common or beneficial that is.

Jack H. · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 2:23 pm Post subject:

most likely it is due to placing the new holes where they should be ( which might vary from maker to maker or factory to factory.
Could be from misplaced holes from the get go or from uneven wear.

byacey · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 7:51 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure if the holes could possibly wear a good 3 to 6mm off center. I observed this on some pictures of Strads and Guarneri, as well as some other Cremonese makers.
Here's some of the photos I have seen this on: http://www.mfischerviolins.com/index.php?instruments

Of course these are copies, but I believe they are meant to visually represent the original makers.