Maintenance Guide
A guide to the care and maintenance of stringed instruments
Protection
Always keep your instrument and bow in its case with its blanket and/or instrument bag when not in use. A wall hanger is another solution for the home or studio, as your instrument is readily accessible, yet protected from accidental damage. A hanger should be placed in an area that has a stable temperature and humidity, and will not be in direct sunlight at any time (see below).
Temperature and humidity
Your instrument is very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity – extreme changes can affect the tone and playability, and cause cracks in the wood. Take care that it isn’t exposed to rain or direct sunlight (the inside of a car can get very hot!) If you do not have air conditioning, an instrument humidifier should be used to maintain the humidity level in the 45-70% range. It is also highly recommended that you keep your instrument in a silk bag within its case. Silk is breathable and an excellent insulator, and therefore helps to regulate changes in temperature and humidity.
Cleaning your instrument
Wipe the rosin dust, dirt, oil and perspiration from all surfaces, particularly the fingerboard, strings, and the top of the instrument with a clean soft lint-free micro fibre cloth, immediately after each use. If a treated cloth is used, take care not to wipe the strings or get it near the hair of the bow – the oils in the cloth will stop the bow from gripping the strings. Use a separate micro fibre cloth to occasionally clean and polish the body of your instrument with a specially formulated instrument cleaner and/or polish. NEVER use furniture cleaner or polish on your instrument.
Cleaning the strings and fingerboard
With regular playing the fingerboard can get quite grimy over time. Rosin also builds up on the strings. To maximise the life of your strings and to help your fingers glide effortlessly from one position to another, clean the fingerboard and strings after each use with a soft clean cloth. If you use an alcohol-based product to clean the strings be very careful to first cover up and protect the varnish of the instrument. You can also ask Virtuoso Strings for free help in cleaning your fingerboard and strings with specially formulated cleaner.
Cleaning the inside of your instrument
Over time, the inside of an instrument can collect a layer of dust. To clean it, pour a couple of tablespoons of dry uncooked rice into your instrument through the f-holes. Swish the rice around so that it picks up dust inside the instrument, then turn the instrument over, and shake the rice out. Simple but effective!
Strings
Strings begin to sound lifeless as they get older. They can also go ‘false’, sounding unclear or ‘muddy’. Replace them with fresh strings approximately every 2 to 6 months, when they begin to lose their responsiveness or sound. A string needs to be replaced immediately if its windings are broken or coming loose. Remove and replace each string one at a time - this helps to retain the exact position of the bridge and also minimises the chance of the soundpost falling down due to a sudden release in tension.
To replace strings, place the ball end of the string into the fine tuner or tailpiece hole, then pull the string over the bridge and up to the pegbox. Poke the string through the hole in the peg until a little bit comes out the other side, and turn the peg so that the string winds around the peg towards the head of the peg. Try to get the string close to the edge of the pegbox, but be careful that the string isn’t squashed hard against the pegbox. Put a little graphite (pencil lead) in the topnut groove and the groove on the bridge to help the string slide more easily, thus equalizing the tension along the length of the string, for better tuning stability and prolonged string life.
Topnut and bridge grooves may need to be adjusted by an instrument repairer if strings are replaced by ones of a different thickness. Virtuoso Strings Ltd. has a range of strings available each with different tonal qualities. Please feel free to ask for advice on what strings would best suit your instrument.
Rosin
Rosin causes the bow hair to grip the string when playing, and needs to be applied regularly. If there is too much rosin on the hair, flick the hair once or twice so the excess comes off. If you are rosining a bow for the first time, don't forget to apply rosin to the side as well as the bottom of the hair. Use a clean tissue to remove excess rosin. Too much rosin will make the tone gritty and the instrument sound dull. There are many different types of rosin available to suit every taste. Hypo-allergenic rosin is available for allergy sufferers. Rosin the bow sparingly each time you play, or as necessary. After playing wipe the stick of the bow with a clean soft cloth.
Tuning
Use the fine tuners to make small adjustments in pitch. When using the pegs to make bigger adjustments in pitch, push the pegs into the pegbox as you turn them, so they won’t slip later. Be careful not to tune the string too high in pitch, or it may break! Occasionally check the fine tuners to make sure they are not wound too tight. If so, then loosen them and retune with the pegs. A vibration-sensing tuner is very helpful for students inexperienced at tuning. It is also extremely handy for teachers and orchestral string players.
Bridge
The back surface of the bridge should be perpendicular to the top of the instrument. Constant tuning tends to tilt or warp the bridge which will badly affect the sound, or the bridge may break, seriously damaging the instrument. Ask your teacher for help in straightening a leaning bridge, or get an instrument repairer to replace a warped bridge. A bridge that is made from good quality aged and treated maple, has been well cut, fits properly, and is located in exactly the right place, greatly influences the tone of an instrument. A good bridge is the result of an expert’s experience, training and understanding of acoustics.
Pegs
Pegs should be properly fitted in the setup process. However, pegs can sometimes dry out or warp and stick. This can sometimes be corrected with a little peg compound which lubricates sticking pegs. On the other hand, peg drops (used with care) will stop pegs slipping without removing them from the violin. Badly fitted pegs must be corrected by an instrument repairer.
Bow
The bow hair should always be loosened after each use to preserve the proper curve of the stick. Bow hair should ideally be replaced approximately every 12 months by a specialist bow rehairer to maintain a clear, resonant tone. Never touch the horsehair with your fingers – the oil in your skin will stop the rosin from sticking to the hair! Just a small amount of grease can ruin the bowhair. A common mistake is to overwind the bow – in general, the distance between the stick and the hair at the middle of the bow should be only slightly wider than the stick. A bow that is regularly overwound will quickly lose its spring and be rendered useless. Be careful not to knock the tip of your bow as this very delicate part breaks easily and is difficult to repair.
Soundpost
The soundpost is the heart and soul of the instrument, and its correct fit is crucial to the performance and health of the instrument. The soundpost may need to be adjusted as an instrument changes with changing weather conditions. An experienced stringed instrument specialist is always required to fit or adjust a soundpost. Always release the tension of the strings if the soundpost falls over to minimise the risk of damage to the instrument.
Adjustment and repairs
Never attempt home repairs on a valuable instrument. Virtuoso Strings can arrange an experienced stringed instrument specialist to make any necessary adjustments and repairs. It is also recommended that string players periodically get their instrument checked over by a professional in the field so that any issues can be remedied before they necessitate expensive repairs.
Instrument accessories and sheet music
In addition to products which assist in the care and maintenance of your instrument, Virtuoso Strings Ltd. also offers a huge selection of high quality stringed instrument accessories and sheet music for sale. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if there is any item you would like to purchase that you are unable to find in our online shop, or if we can help you in any way.