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Transfering Strings?
Can you transfer strings from one violin to another?
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AmandaKulp

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November 15, 2017 - 5:25 pm
Member Since: October 25, 2017
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Hello all,

I was simply wondering if it's possible to transfer strings from one violin to another? I have googled this and cannot find a straight answer, or any answer for that matter, on the subject. If I have a nice set of strings and I put them on my violin but soon after I get a new violin, is it possible to transfer them from the old violin, onto the new one?

 

Thanks in advance for your help. thanx_gif

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Charles
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November 15, 2017 - 6:36 pm
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Hi, Amanda,

Yes, it's possible. There are two gotchas, though.

First, you never want to take all the strings off of a violin. The bridge falls down and has to be reset if you do, and the soundpost might fall down. (Mostly doesn't, but if you don't know where it should go and how to get it there, it can be a tad expensive to get such a simple thing fixed.) So if you're swapping them between two violins, take one string off on one, take the same string off on the other, and put the new-to-that-violin strings back on both. Rinse and repeat for the other three strings.

The second gotcha you can't do so much about. I was talking with my teacher one day about Dead Man's Tuning, and he warned me not to switch from one tuning to the other and back over and over. Once the strings get stretched out, they go south a lot quicker if that tension is changed by a bunch, especially over and over.

So the lifetime of the strings you have now will decline a bit. They might not even sound as good as they did after that one change. (I think wearing out a little sooner is more likely.)

So definitely don't swap them back and forth over and over, but I think a one-time swap won't hurt it much. And it's legal, in case you were worried. :)

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
November 17, 2017 - 8:10 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

Did you find a bridge for your violin AmandaKulp?

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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AmandaKulp

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November 17, 2017 - 9:39 pm
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Fiddlerman said
Did you find a bridge for your violin AmandaKulp?  

No, not yet. I am going to order the one you suggested. I hope to order it within the first two weeks of December. 

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AmandaKulp

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November 17, 2017 - 9:43 pm
Member Since: October 25, 2017
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Charles said
Hi, Amanda,

Yes, it's possible. There are two gotchas, though.

First, you never want to take all the strings off of a violin. The bridge falls down and has to be reset if you do, and the soundpost might fall down. (Mostly doesn't, but if you don't know where it should go and how to get it there, it can be a tad expensive to get such a simple thing fixed.) So if you're swapping them between two violins, take one string off on one, take the same string off on the other, and put the new-to-that-violin strings back on both. Rinse and repeat for the other three strings.

The second gotcha you can't do so much about. I was talking with my teacher one day about Dead Man's Tuning, and he warned me not to switch from one tuning to the other and back over and over. Once the strings get stretched out, they go south a lot quicker if that tension is changed by a bunch, especially over and over.

So the lifetime of the strings you have now will decline a bit. They might not even sound as good as they did after that one change. (I think wearing out a little sooner is more likely.)

So definitely don't swap them back and forth over and over, but I think a one-time swap won't hurt it much. And it's legal, in case you were worried. :)   

That is good to hear. I would hate to use the new strings on the cheaper violin I have if I end up getting a different beginner violin in the next few months and want to use the strings on the new one, which I will. I would only do a one time transfer. I would not switch them over and over. Thanks for your feedback and for taking the time to respond. thanx_gif

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MrYikes
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November 18, 2017 - 7:43 am
Member Since: February 11, 2014
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One thing I would add: if you are using very cheap steel strings, take them off, store them for a month and then put them back on, for three days they will sound really good. Its not worth doing but I noticed it several times.

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