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. . Alto Endpin Assembly Set . . also fits tenor violins Comprised of one 18" carbon-fiber endpin rod, hardened steel tip, compact end plug fitting with thumbscrew and rubber collar. complete set $45.00 endplug assembly without rod and tip $20.00 carbon fiber rod and steel tip only $29.00 Packing and shipping extra. I must charge tax for New York State residents. This item ships UPS or USPS Priority Mail. |
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Alto Endpin Assembly Set
I am very happy to be able to offer a lightweight and compact endpin assembly set designed especially for the alto violin. The full set consists of
* 1 carbon fiber rod, 18 inches (457 mm) long; .31 inches (8 mm) in diameter.
* 1 hardened steel tip, machined to a smooth and very sharp point.
* 1 Precision-machined end plug fitting with thumbscrew.
* 1 soft rubber collar.
* No soft cap for the tip yet-- we're still working on it!
Those of you who have tried to fit modified cello endpin assemblies to your altos know what it means to have a problem for which there is no good solution. As an alto maker myself, not having this assembly was the bane of my existence. I decided to create my own and make it available to other octet luthiers. This assembly will save you hours of labor, and I can tell you from personal experience that it works well. Having an endpin assembly designed expressly to fit a typical alto rib height imparts a very professional appearance to your work and does not require the usual enormous hole that weakens the end block of your alto.
The end plug assembly is machined from solid aluminum rod, so it is very light in weight. The rear plug has the same taper as a standard cello peg reamer, so the plug can be installed by any reasonably well-equipped violin maker. It is designed to allow the use of either the modern standard cello peg reamer or the older models that are slightly shorter. A soft rubber collar is included to cushion the assembly and protect the varnish in case you or your client prefer a slight downward angle on the rod.
The rod is very light and very strong. It has been sized to fully retract inside almost any alto violin body (as a practical matter, the length of the body cavity determines the length of the rod). Should it become necessary to sharpen the steel tip, it can be touched up easily on a grinding wheel. The diameter of the steel prevents the rod from sliding into the body, so it doesn't need bulky stop collars or pins. The entire rod slides out and can be stored separately, if needed.
The assembly can also be used effectively on tenor violins. Our standard 18-inch alto rod is usually long enough for the tenor instrument, but if you need a 20-inch rod or even something a little longer, please let me know at the time you order. I can supply custom-size rods in almost any practical length. Should the rod turn out to be too long, it can be easily cut shorter. Use a hacksaw fitted with a fine blade, and then smooth off the cut with a few strokes of a file.
You may order this item via email for now.
Last updated on May 15, 2008.