July 21, 2011
Essential Information On Violin Repair
Violins are delicate instruments that require proper maintenance and care. An individual player is responsible for the daily care of his or her instrument. If the violin breaks, or has a part that is broken, violin repair should be left in the hands of a professional, as it is a delicate process.
From your own home, you can ensure that your violin lives a long happy life by giving it daily care. The most basic and perhaps essential task is cleaning the rosin off after playing. Excess dust from rosin will not only wear the string out quickly, it can also build up on the face of the violin and eventually cause damage to the varnish.
Tuning pegs often cause problems when they are too loose or too tight. This problem can often be remedied with the application of chalk or a solution of alcohol mixed with rosin. If that does not do the trick the pegs may need to be replaced. Strings need to be carefully wound as well, because they often snap from too much friction.
One simple restoration that can be done at home is the replacement of a broken string. To do this, one puts the string in a little hole in the tuning peg and turns the peg away from him. Upon sensing tension in the string, slow down the process of winding and advance in small increment until the instrument is tuned. To avoid breaking strings and achieve exact tuning, fine tuners may be added. This is almost always recommended for beginner students.
A bridge is a small wooden object that supports the strings on the surface of the instrument. Sometimes it breaks or warps from either tension or humidity. If this occurs, the bridge may be replaced by the owner. This small repair and the replacement of strings are the only adjustments that the musician is recommended to do himself.
There are some repairs that should only be handled by professional luthiers. One of the most essential tasks is the replacement of the sound post. This is an important job because the thickness and position of the sound post has a huge impact on the sound that the instrument produces. In addition to this repair, professionals should be sought to fix any cracks in the body of the instrument.
Violins, especially those made with great skill and care, are expected to last for hundreds of years. An old violin does not mean a poorly functioning one, unless it has not been properly cared for. Along with daily maintenance, instruments should be brought to the shop about twice a year for violin repair.
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