-
First, make sure the bow is secured appropriately with the hair
tension relaxed but not so loose that the hairs touch the stick.
Do not expose the instrument to rapid changes in temperature or
humidity as these changes can crack your instrument and/or cause
it to go out of adjustment. Avoid exposing it to the sun or
ultraviolet light. When not in use store in a place with moderate
humidity away from heat sources, vent registers or windows. Do
not leave an instrument in a vehicle during extremely hot or cold
weather. Remember that during winter some heating systems can
severely reduce the humidity in your living facility - always
monitor the humidity in the area where your instrument is kept.
To help prevent a mishap always keep your instrument and bow in
it's case when not in use. You should strongly consider insuring
your instrument to cover fire, theft, and/or damage anywhere the
instrument goes. Make sure your policy extends outside your home
for school, concerts, and travel.
[Back to the top]
-
Regular cleaning is key - wipe it down after and perhaps before
each playing session. Rosin dust should always be removed after
each playing, and be sure to check the surface of your violin
under the strings near the bridge for build-up. Also, take care
not to let the rosin contact the frog of your bow as that can
cause splintering. The body of the instrument can be cleaned with
a soft cloth (untreated soft flannel or a micro-fiber cloth work
well). An occasional polishing will help maintain the finish but
due to the variance in different maker's varnish formulas use
only an instrument-safe polish (ask us for our polish
recommendations). Never use alcohol or commercial cleaners as
they may act as solvents on the varnish and cause damage. If
rosin becomes hardened and won't remove easily with a cloth it
means your cleanings weren't frequent enough, hardened rosin
should only be removed by a luthier.
[Back to the top]
-
Keep fresh strings on your instrument! Worn strings sound dull
and lifeless - a fine instrument requires the strings to be in
top condition to sound it's best. Your instrument will benefit
from replacing all four strings "in concert", even though strings
under greatest tension are the ones which wear quicker. Replacing
strings as a set will afford a richer harmonic tone, and
intervals will be more accurate across the strings. With constant
or heavy use metal strings should be replaced once or twice a
year, gut strings every few months.
Tuning the strings tends to move the bridge forward. Make sure
the strings are not over-tightened and that the bridge is
perpendicular to the body. The feet of the bridge should always
be aligned with the inner notches cut in the F holes. Check the
bridge position often.
Frequent and even normal tuning will cause both pegs and peg
holes to eventually wear smooth. This causes slipping or
sometimes the pegs will stick. If a peg is slipping apply
ordinary white chalk to it, if a peg sticks Lava® brand soap
rubbed dry against the peg shaft works wonders. When pegs become
seriously worn see our luthier, do not attempt any "home
remedies".
[Back to the top]
-
Bow Rehairing
Every string player needs to have their bow rehaired from
time to time, either because the hairs no longer grip the string
(no matter how much rosin is applied) or because too many hairs
have fallen out. With use, the hair's ability to grip the strings
and extract a beautiful sound is diminished, resulting in a
harsher, scratchy sound. Your bow should be rehaired at least
twice a year and more often with heavier use.
Fingerboard
Avoid letting grooves develop under the strings - grooving on
the fingerboard prohibits free vibration of the strings. Our
luthier will assure the board has a sufficient concave dip and
will also check the grooves in the nut as they may be worn too
deep.
Soundpost
Your instrument's tone will not be accurate unless the
soundpost is fitted correctly. If your soundpost was fitted in
warmer weather it may be too long for winter use when the top
subsides. Conversely, if was fitted during colder weather it
might be too short for warm weather use when the top raises. If
the soundpost happens to fall or move: loosen the string tension
slightly and ask our luthier to restore it's correct
position.
Bridge
Like the soundpost, a bridge's correct position is affected
by the swelling and subsiding of the top. In some cases a longer
or shorter bridge may be needed to make sure the strings are
located at the correct height in relation to the fingerboard. The
bridge should be kept perpendicular to the top, if neglected it
may break or become warped. Bridges should only be replaced by a
luthier.
Cracks or Open Seams
Check your instrument regularly to see if the top or back has
become unglued from the ribs at any point.
Check your instrument periodically for cracks that may
develop.
If either a crack or open seam is found reduce the string
tension and contact our luthier for the appropriate repair as
soon as possible. It is better (and less expensive) to
repair a crack when it is small than to wait until it spreads.
Cracks usually develop during colder weather when the humidity is
lower, most times they originate in the saddle area. Do not
neglect these problems or attempt to repair them yourself. Poor
quality repairs and/or substituting adhesives will affect future
repairability, appearance, tone quality, and even resale value.
Avoid getting any polish or cleaners near cracks or open seams
until repaired.
[Back to the top]