What is the difference between different string fine tuners?
There are several different types of fine tuners for strings.
Attachable fine tuners are made to be able to add to the tailpiece, allowing you to choose to either have it only on the E string, E and A strings or All the strings. These will of course increase the weight of the tailpiece which, more often than not, will have a negative affect on the vibrational properties of the sting and instrument relationship.
Today’s advances in material use means that Titanium and other light weight fine tuners can be found – they usually just cost a whole lot more.
Built in fine tuners come in a variety of different designs. It simply means that the fine tuner mechanism is attached to the tailpiece so that it is lighter, sounds better and is easier to work with. Svencino definitely promotes the use of tailpieces with built in fine tuners for these reasons.
The only No No with tailpieces that come with built in fine tuners is when the entire tailpiece is made of metal! An easy way to determine why this is a bad idea is simply to tap on it, and hear for yourself, that the whole instrument sounds like a tin can with strings on it:(
Note. It is recommended that all young to intermediate learner have all four fine tuners. It makes tuning easier and will help with poor intonation that comes with only tuning with the pegs. Also, unless the bridge is ‘nursed’ it will pull forward frequently and warp, if not pulled back as frequently as tuning with pegs. Every time you play.