Technical data
| Instrument | viola |
| Material | ebony |
| Shape | French, hollowed |
| Length | 120 mm |
| Item number | ZA-V7483-120 |
Features
- Tailpiece for viola
- Material ebony
- Version: French shape, hollowed
- Length 120 mm
In practice
- The tailpiece takes the string tension and holds the strings in position. It is the bridge that transmits vibration; the tailpiece's mass and afterlength play their part.
- Listed under species protection law are the rosewood species of the genus Dalbergia and the ebony populations of Madagascar. For finished instrument parts and finished accessories the musical instrument exemption applies; no CITES documents are needed for trade within the EU.
Sound and physics
Violas are built in many body lengths; our dimension table runs from 38 to 42 centimetres. The vibrating string length ranges accordingly from 352 to 387 millimetres. To match, we make viola tailpieces in 120, 125 and 130 millimetres.
Our French ebony model ZA-V328 weighs 24 grams at both 125 and 130 millimetres, the Hill model ZA-V357 21 grams at 120 millimetres.
We make our tailpieces in ebony, rosewood and boxwood. Of these three woods ebony has the highest density. Our rosewood, Dalbergia latifolia, is listed in the materials literature with a density of 820 to 920 kilograms per cubic metre. For the same shape and length the tailpiece's mass therefore follows the wood, and it also varies from piece to piece with the wood's density.
Our models differ in shape: the French with a softly rounded outline, the Hill or English shape with a gabled, ridged top, and the tulip shape with a chalice-like outline. In terms of sound, what matters with all three shapes is mass and afterlength. Every Götz tailpiece is drilled for the tailgut and comes with one. Our tailpieces are finished in Markneukirchen; the white Götz seal marks pieces with verified timber origin.
On a hollowed tailpiece the underside is milled out as far as the wood allows. As a result our French ebony model ZA-7483 weighs 13 grams at 112 millimetres, while the solid French model ZA-328E weighs 16 grams at the same length. With the same shape, wood and length, hollowing therefore removes around 3 grams, just under a fifth of the mass.
Ebony allows this work without losing stability. Besides the ebony version in 110, 112 and 115 millimetres there is the ZA-7483R in rosewood, and for the viola the ZA-V7483 in 120 and 125 millimetres.
Our experience
Our experience: for large violas we recommend 125 millimetres, and up to 130 millimetres is possible. On request we fit a viola tailpiece with fine tuners; for that we need the height you would like.
Our experience: customers choose between ebony, rosewood and boxwood for a tailpiece by colour and grain; in sound we find the three woods equivalent. For fitting sets we are happy to put together parts that match in colour and grain.
Our experience: we supply the hollowed tailpiece ZA-7483 with a length-adjustable synthetic tailgut, which lets the afterlength be set exactly on the instrument.
When another model suits you better
If you tune all four viola strings with fine tuners, the Wittner ULTRA for viola is a light companion with four integrated fine tuners, in a standard size for 39.5 to 41.5 centimetres and a small size for 38 to 39.5 centimetres.
If you prefer the mass of a solid tailpiece, the French model ZA-328 offers the same outline in solid form, in ebony from 106 to 115 and in rosewood in 112 and 115 millimetres.
Frequently asked questions
What length does a viola tailpiece need?
For large violas we recommend 125 millimetres, and up to 130 millimetres is possible. We make 120, 125 and 130 millimetres.
Where is the afterlength measured?
From the front edge of the tailpiece saddle to the bridge.
How heavy is an ebony viola tailpiece?
The French model ZA-V328 weighs 24 grams at 125 and at 130 millimetres, the Hill model ZA-V357 21 grams at 120 millimetres.
These texts hold decades of experience and a great deal of heart. They are protected by copyright, C.A. Götz jr. GmbH. Please ask us before any use. Thank you for your appreciation.
