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do you need to get your violin serviced? Also, not sure what is involved or if it is necessary ?
Honorary tenured advisor
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I read an article about the 10,000 Note Check Up
https://www.vermontviolins.com.....-a-luthier
I'm sure some of the members here who have owned violins for much longer than I have will provide some practical answers for you.
Jim
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bunify said
do you need to get your violin serviced? Also, not sure what is involved or if it is necessary ?
It makes a huge difference if you've never had your instrument adjusted. A brand new instrument, whether it be a $20,000 violin or a $500 violin, changes shape from the climate and moving or changing the soundpost can improve the instrument drastically.
If a person doesn't adjust their own bridge by making sure it's at least perfectly straight, it can begin to warp, which is not good.
Wiping the strings and instrument off regularly with a dry clean cloth can help it vibrate freer.
Changing strings every 3-6 months, depending on usage, can give your instrument a clearer tone as well. Strings can loose their beauty when they are dry and tired.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Another question along this line. I read somewhere that we should bring our violins to get checked lit once a year to get the tuning pegs, soundpost, tailpiece, etc all checked out. Is this something we should do once a year?
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cid said
Another question along this line. I read somewhere that we should bring our violins to get checked lit once a year to get the tuning pegs, soundpost, tailpiece, etc all checked out. Is this something we should do once a year?
It depends on the climate you live in. If you have large seasonal changes in humidity, you should do it at least once a year, possibly even twice a year. In California, where it stays dry all year, I can get away with a a checkup every two or three years.
My luthier does a quick 5-minute inspection free of charge every time I go in for any other service, so I get that quick check every time I have a bow rehaired (on average every 8-12 months) and get a cleaning and detailed check-up every 2 years or so.
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I never thought a violin had many issues that need servicing.. that’s cause if I buy a violin here I am unable to get free servicing compared to if I get it in a shop here. I don’t live in America..
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Revisiting this old topic to tell my story.
I bought a new violin from a reputable maker about 18 months ago. After an in home trial I decided to buy it. It sounded okay and I knew it would need some time to open up. It declined in tone and after trying three different brands of strings it just wasn't improving. I played it less and less and even considered donating it to a high school orchestra. After having it sit for so long, I decided to do a thorough inspection. I found that the soundpost was 10 to 12 millimeters behind the right bridge foot. Way off!
After watching Pierre's tutorials along with a dozen other videos, I decided to try to adjust it myself. I bought the tools from Fiddlershop and went to work on it. It took five seconds to accidentally pop it out completely and another hour for me as a novice to finally get it in place and properly aligned with the position and soundpost angles and grains set right.
WOW! It's a completely different violin and I'm in love with it! I played it for two hours after the repair and I wouldn't sell it if you begged me!
When Pierre stresses how important a proper setup is, he's 110% correct! I wouldn't recommend that everyone should try this at home, but if your violin seems to be off, get it to your luthier or the experts at Fiddlershop to get a tuneup.
Happy happy happy happy!!!!
Grandpa
Violin ---- the most human of all instruments
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@Grandpafiddle That is fabulous! Thanks for sharing.
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@Grandpafiddle -
Thanks for the GREAT cautionary tale, there!
Glad it all worked out for you!
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Very good story, Grandpa.
I was given a starter violin -- that’s what got me started on this whole fiddling trip. I have since acquired a much better instrument and don’t play the starter very much.
That violin was built to withstand the ravages of 9 year-olds. It’s heavy and the tone is harsh to my ear. You can buy a similar instrument on eBay for $100. But it bugs me to see that violin sitting there, useless. So I have embarked on a project to see if I can make it better.
I noticed that, compared to my better fiddle, the starter violin has a bridge that is considerably thicker. Also the action is significantly higher. I have sanded down the bridge to make it thinner, similar to published dimensions. I’m now working to bring down the action. That’s a more tedious process, requiring successive small adjustments, then measurements and playing tests. Why don’t violin bridges have adjusting wheels like mandolins!
Next, I’ll address the sound post. I watched videos from Fiddlerman and others, and it seems doable. I ordered the tools. Sound post placement appears to be an art, so it will be interesting to work on that. I do understand that sound post placement is thought to have a significant effect on tone. By the time I’m done I’ll probably be semi-competent to install sound posts, though I do expect to get it wrong a few times!
The other easy adjustment is the strings. I have tried several types of strings and so far Helicores sound the best. But violin strings are expensive so I have limited appetite for multiple experiments with strings.
Anyway, this is an interesting project and I’m happy to see that others are willing to take the plunge!
Strabo
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My teacher normally gets her viola serviced once a year, but currently it's a couple of years overdue thanks to COVID. She has to go to a new luthier, as the old one retired with Parkinson's, and when she tells me what the new one was like, I'll decide whether to go to him or not to get my Breton serviced.
Andrew
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