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 & 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.
Cleaning your instrument
Wipe the rosin dust, dirt, oil and perspiration from all surfaces
(particularly the fingerboard, strings, and the top) 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 help your fingers glide effortlessly
from one position to another, clean the fingerboard and strings regularly
with a product such as
Fast Fret.
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 3 to 8 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 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 . Too much rosin will make 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
ruin 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 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 you 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 then 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 Ltd.
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.
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