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Well, I just got the shipment notification today for my daughter's violin. That means I will not have rosin until next week. Since I just couldn't wait, I got out Grandpa's fiddle to see what kind of skronking I could do with the kinda cleaned up bow. 
Sadly, the mechanical pegs are locked up, and the plastic thingies on the end are brittle and crumbly. The A string peg "handle" completely crumbled away, and two of the others are now chipped on the edges. 
I am at a loss for what to do now.
Nonetheless, I tried out the fiddle and bow as-is. If I can manage to be smarter than the webpage, I will upload the file for your delight. That way, your hearts can break and your teeth can ache right along with me!
Oh- please bear in mind I have NEVER played before, so my bowing isn't anything to brag about either.
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Well it's a real shame that your tuners are in such bad shape. Even though the notes are way off, except for the E which is close, the sound seems VERY promising. Look forward to hearing it when you get it fixed.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
That way, your hearts can break and your teeth can ache right along with me!
WaaaaaHaaaaa! I wouldn't worry about that =) Violinists here =) Sometimes my violin produse much more horrible sounds (and there's nothing wrong with my instrument)...So - Good sound! I definitelly like your violin! Can't wait to hear it when it'll be in normal condition!
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Here are some photos of the tuners. If I can make time this evening I will try to clean and oil them to see if they will budge.
The inside is full of 20 years of dust bunnies
left side
right side
Just for kicks, here is a picture of the three bows that came with the violin. I tried to upload on my OP [My Grampa's Fiddle] but it didn't take.
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Can't you loosen up the screw on the side of the tuner? Maybe it will loosen up. Also, did you try some kind of oil such as machine oil?
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Heh heh - my conversations are getting strung out on different threads, I'll have to watch that!
I am going to try some sewing machine oil, as someone suggested in the shoutbox. I will also get the vacuum cleaner and try to get some of the dust bunnies out. Still don't know what i will do about the crumbling thumb grips though.
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dionysia said
Heh heh - my conversations are getting strung out on different threads, I'll have to watch that!
I am going to try some sewing machine oil, as someone suggested in the shoutbox. I will also get the vacuum cleaner and try to get some of the dust bunnies out. Still don't know what i will do about the crumbling thumb grips though.
They'll have to be replaced (yeah, I'm commenting on multiple threads now
) Please, please, please don't use WD40. It's a really bad idea. Really.
A shop vac on "blow" will take a lot of the dust out, but do it outside - ask me how I know...
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
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Thanks Cat
I was pretty sure it was you who commented on the shoutbox, but I don't trust my memory that well. Definitely NO WD-40!
I am pretty skittish about anything I do to this fiddle because of the sentimental value. That's why when the grip crumbled I quickly put it away before I caused further destruction.
After I clean and oil things [oil = metal parts only], I will try loosening the screws inside the cogs. I am leery of stripping them, so I definitely will not be forcing anything.
Hopefully I will get this thing in playing condition without giving myself a heart attack!
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Put on oil, then heat with a hair dryer if things don't loosen up right away. If they're still stuck, walk away and come back later with more heat for another try. It may take a couple of days and several applications before things get moving again, but the wait will be worth it if you don't damage the tuners. This also works very well for sewing machines that are seized up.
The screws are related to the tuner tension, and if you can find someone to carve some new wood pegs and glue them on, perhaps the tuners can be saved.
Worst case is that you have to buy new machine heads - not the end of the world.
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
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