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Dear Forum Members,
Yesterday, while I was wiping the rosin off after practice I somehow slipped and my finger nail put a scratch on my beautiful violin. 
. I don't even really know how this could have happened. Is there anyway to fix this? I've only had this guy for just over a year. Never happened with either of my two cheapies.
It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. Johann S.Bach
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If you have a luthier nearby they could repair that quite easily, but not cheaply. dont try to do anything yourself
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This is the second time I visited this post and have come to the same conclusion both times. Personally, I would not worry about it. It isn’t the last time it will get scratched. I think these scratches and dings add character. I know we all want our things to stay shiny and new looking, but seriously, a violin that shows that it has been lovingly used has character. I would leave it.
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@mouse, I thought the same as you but she was asking about it being repaired, which is why I said see a luthier.
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I feel the same way as @mouse on this BUT I understand being concerned or ill about it. I did the same exact thing on mine. yours looks like a much higher end instrument though so its probably not a fair comparison.
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@AnnyJ -
Feeling really sorry for you - know it's hard to ignore something that stands out like a sore thumb.
It's a job for a Luthier, think it's a very common fix - shouldn't be that big of a deal according to this video.
...and notice, your scratch is NO where near as bad as the ones in this video! (lol)
How a Violin Scratch Can Be Made Invisible!
...things aren't always quite as scary as they seem.
What would I do without YouTube? 🤣
- Emily
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Thank you everyone. I googled to see if the were any Luthiers close enough by, unfortunately I'd have to drive 100 mi, which is out of the question for the time being.
@Mouse, yes I'm a stickler for keeping things pristine, I don't even like to write in workbooks. It's kind of ironic. In trying to keep my violin nice and clean, I ended up messing it up.
Abitrusty, it's a Fiddlerman Soloist, took me forever to save the money for it.
ELCBK, thank you, yes true, mine isn't as bad, (I can't believe he did that on purpose).
I think I'll have to wear a glove when I wipe the fiddle down from now.
It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. Johann S.Bach
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I have a soloist as well..the varnish on mine looks more antiqued though instead of gloss. bought it 3 years..or 2 ago..seems like yesterday.
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AnnyJ said
Dear Forum Members,Yesterday, while I was wiping the rosin off after practice I somehow slipped and my finger nail put a scratch on my beautiful violin.
Honestly, we touch stuff like this up with varnish pens and people have a hard time finding the scratch afterwards.
Before we started using the expensive varnish pens we used these and they are great.
Don't get me wrong, there is a better way to do this but it's way more complicated and involves mixing colors, filling the groove....blending, polishing.... etc. The result might not even be better.
As for cheap violins. They have stronger varnish because it's OK to use spray varnish on cheap violins. However, that hard tough varnish dampens the sound and is not used on expensive instruments.
Lastly, we like to call these marks, "Character"......😁 Violins with scratches and marks look older and more interesting. The only thing I would do is darken it. You can take a marker or crayon that is similar in color, fill the crack, then rub up and down the crack with your finger to even and blend it in. You'll most likely be very happy with the result.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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As for cheap violins. They have stronger varnish because it's OK to use spray varnish on cheap violins. However, that hard tough varnish dampens the sound and is not used on expensive instruments.
Yes - so when you get a good instrument, that can lead to this sort of "surprises". The year after I got my new (current) viola, I destroyed its varnish - when I'd never had any problem with the previous, cheap, one.
[Don't mistake me : the new one is infinitely better, there's no comparison between the two. Just saying I have to be more careful with this one. And still, accidents can always happen.]
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@Fiddlerman I absolutely love that darkening idea! I think scratches are on a violin add character. I like the look better than a new shiny one. I am going to have to remember that darkening scratches tip. I have different shades of brown and different deepnesses of blacks in fine point permanent markers that I use with my cards. They would be great for that.
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Fiddlerman, thank you very much for the tips! Darkening sounds like a great idea. At least then I won't see the difference in color so much anymore. I'll check out the pens as well, might even be able to use the other tones on some furniture that has scratches as well.
I never realized varnish would make that great of a difference in sound. Indeed my Soloist resonates more even when just plucking the strings than my Stentor. Interesting.
WTW, sorry to hear you had a varnish mishap as well.
It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. Johann S.Bach
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@AnnyJ - Please show us some pictures after you've done it.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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The UPS man came with my amazon stuff today. The darkened scratch looks much better, I think. At least I was lucky it ran with the grain 
Thank you so much for the tip @Fiddlerman . I really appreciate it.
I had to use one of the pens though, the crayons didn't work for some reason.
It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. Johann S.Bach
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Wow that looks amazing AnnyJ! You can’t even see it . Nice one
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Wow, really worked well!
The old curmudgeon!
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@AnnyJ -
Wow! Pretty amazing!
Did you ever serve in the Military? ...looks like you've got a really good spit shine there! 🤩
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@AnnyJ - Can't even see it. Not noticeable at all. More "character". 😁
Great job..... Congrats!
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I'm sorry to hear about the scratch on your violin. Accidents like this can happen from time to time, even with the most careful handling. Don't fret, there are a few options to fix or minimize the appearance of scratches on violins:
- A luthier (violin repair expert) can do professional touch-up repairs by mixing custom violin varnish to fill and blend the scratch. This is the best way to make it less visible.
- Very fine grit sandpaper can help blend and smooth a scratch, followed by touch up varnish. But be very gentle, only focus on the scratch, and consider having a luthier guide this process.
- Violin polishes are another option that may reduce the scratch's appearance by blending the surrounding finish. Apply gently only on the affected area.
- If the scratch is not too deep, simply applying a thin layer of rosin over it can help mask its visibility. Rosin fills in the groove optically.
- For deeper gouges, consider having a luthier evaluate if any repairs may affect the instrument's sound before proceeding.
- In the future, a scratch-resistant violin varnish or light Polish can help prevent marks. But avoid excessive polishing which can wear down the finish.
With some care and touch-up, the scratch can likely be minimized without harming the violin's sound or value. Take it for an expert assessment to be sure. Don't worry, with a bit of work it will be beautiful again!
Trust yourself that you can do it and get it. geometry dash
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