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A stringed instrument is a very fragile music making device. Extreme care must be taken to maintain the structural integrity of these instruments. The larger ones, (cello and bass) are actually more fragile than the violin and viola. The wood on the lower pitched instruments is proportionally thinner and easier to damage. In addition to be more fragile they are bigger and bulkier and tend to get bumped into much more. It is rare to see a rib crack on a violin or viola, but with a cello and bass these are quite common.
- Cleanliness
- Protection From Damage
- The Bridge
- Pegs
- Buzzes, Unusual Sounds, Etc.
- Strings
Cleanliness
Always wipe off your violin and the strings with a soft, clean lint free cloth after each practice session. If you do this consistantly, it shouldn't be necessary to use a violin cleaner/polish. If you do use a polish, choose one formulated only for violins. If you keep the instrument absolutely clean you can apply polish. If rosin and dirt have built up and you then use polish on top of this it will form a heavy coating under the strings which will tend to mute the violin. If there is a big build up, you should take it to a reputable repair shop for a professional cleaning.
Protection From Damage
The best place for your violin, viola, cello or bow when you are not playing is in a closed case. For a cello without a hard case, place it on its side near a wall. Don't let it rest vertically with the scroll on a wall and the endpin on the floor. Cellos are big and bulky and easily knocked over or bumped into. Some of the most serious damage we have had to repair has happened because an instrument was left on a chair, in an open case (with a shoulder rest on), or worst of all, hanging or leaning on a music stand. Always be aware of what is going on around you. Serious damage can happen because a music stand hits part of an instrument. Especially vulnerable is the soft spruce top. The edges can chip and break with more ease than the harder maple back.
The varnish on your instrument does a great deal more than add beauty to the bare white wood. It protects it from the elements. If bare wood is exposed, either because of wear or damage, it is important to have an experienced violin repairperson add color and varnish to those areas.
Always keep your instrument away from extremes of temperature and humidity. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heaters. Avoid putting it in the trunk of a car or in a closed, unoccupied car. Heat can damage the varnish and cause serious cracks among other things. If cracks occur, they should be repaired as soon as possible. If not, the problem may well become worse, and more expensive, to fix. During the winter, if the temperature drops below 20 degress Fahrenheit it is a good idea to keep it humidified.
If you have a case with two bow holders and one bow use the bow holder that lies opposite the chinrest. Many instruments are damaged by the bow falling onto the instrument when the case is closed. If it falls from this bow holder, it will strike the chinrest and not do damage to the spruce top. Many a violin and viola have come into our shop with a hole the size of a quarter right where the bow has fallen.
Be careful when playing not to nick the C bout where the bow passes. Many violins, violas cellos and basses have been damaged when the frog, with its sharp edges and metal fittings rams into the edge of the c bout. If this happens often, bring the instrument in to have a piece of strong clear plastic put on the edge of the c bout to add protection.
A high quality case is an excellent investment and will go a long way towards protecting the instrument. We have seen too many instruments damaged because they were in an old, poorly padded case. Many of the more inexpensive cello's have bags for a cover and the bag offers much less protection than a hard case. Bumping a cello in the bag will cause almost as much damage as bumping it without the bag. As for the bass this situation is even worse as there are virtually no hard cases available for the bass and the bass is bigger and bulkier than the cello. Extreme care must be used at all times as the bass must be carried in a bag which offers little protection.
For the violin and viola the best protection is provided by a "suspension" style case. A suspension case supports the instrument on the upper and lower bout of the back, not on the peak of the arch.
The Bridge
The bridge should be individually cut and fitted to your instrument so that the feet fit the top exactly and the strings are at the correct height above the fingerboard. The correct positioning and fit of the bridge is very important to give the optimum sound to your individual instrument. Over time the bridge will have a tendency to pull forward towards the fingerboard as the strings are tuned. When this happens the bridge may warp and eventually break. Examine the bridge from the side. If the bridge has pulled forward, very gently pull it back with the thumb and forefinger at the top of either side of the bridge. When viewing the bridge from the side, the back (facing the tailpiece) should be perpendicular to the top. The front of the bridge will have a slight slope. If the bridge falls, loosen the strings and place a soft cloth under the tailpiece to protect the top from the tuners. The feet of the bridge should be equidistant between the inner notches of the f-holes. A well maintained bridge should last many years and it shouldn't be necessary to replace it. If it is necessary to replace the bridge it must be done by an expert.
Pegs
Properly fit pegs should be easy to tune and shouldn't slip or stick. If pegs are difficult to turn and stick, apply some "peg dope" to the areas of the peg where they come in contact with the peg box. If the pegs slip the problem is a bit more complicated. Bring the instrument in for an examination. It may be necessary to replace the pegs because they no longer fit the peg holes correctly.
Pegs tend to stick in the summer and slip in the winter. If either of these scenarios occur very frequently bring the instrument into a repair shop. For a student who is very young and or inexperienced using a tailpiece with 4 tuners built in greatly helps in keeping a string instrument in tune. Most of the adjustments in pitch are done with the tailpiece which is much easier to manipulate than a peg. This type of tailpiece is readily available and works much better than a tailpiece with 4 tuners added. In the latter type of tailpiece the ends of the tuners can damage the top of the violin when brought to an extreme position.
Buzzes, Unusual Sounds, Etc.
Occasionally your violin may develop a buzz or lose volume and quality of sound. There can be a number of causes for this, but the most common is an open seam. The glue that holds the violin together can dry out. Gluing a seam together is not a difficult repair for an experienced violin repairperson.
It is best not to try to do this if you have no experience in violin repair. If for instance the wrong glue is used a great deal of damage can be caused. It can ruin the varnish and damage the wood itself.
Buzzes can be very elusive to find and quite often are very frustrating to both the player and the repairman. Among other things, buzzes can be caused by a loose tuner, something metallic touching the instrument, or a fingerboard that needs resurfacing. In unusual instances, the linings, bass bar or interior blocks can come loose. In that case the top of the instrument must be taken off in order to do the repairs. There are many more things that can cause a buzz. Don't waste too much time looking for a buzz -- bring it in to the repairperson.
Soundpost
The soundpost is fitted inside the violin just behind the foot of the bridge on the 'E' string side. Its correct placement is critical to giving your instrument the best possible sound and its adjustment should only be done by an expert. If the post falls down, loosen the strings immediately. Then bring the violin in to have the post set up properly.
Strings
Always use good quality strings. Cheap strings can make even a Stradivarius sound terrible. For more on this topic, see my article: A Survey of Strings for Violins, Violas, Cellos and Basses.
The longevity of strings is determined by many factors in addition to their quality such as the dermatology of the person playing the instrument (sweaty hands will corrode a string very quickly); long fingernails or pounding the strings when stopping them. These and other factors will cause a string to either break or go false.
When you replace a set of strings don't take all of the strings off at once. Replace them one at a time, keeping some tension on the top. If too much tension is lost the soundpost might fall down and require a trip to the repair shop!
Finally, never allow anybody to repair or adjust your instrument who isn't a qualified and well trained string instrument repairperson. Someone who also repairs wind instruments for instance probably doesn't have the training and experience to do the quality of work necessary and could do more harm than good.
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