Violin Restoration Is Not A Task For An Amateur

By Dianna Barnett


Only a trained expert in violin restoration is qualified to work on a valuable instrument. First the structure and second the finish must both be repaired. It is a task well worth doing since the aged wood of an older instrument resonates better, giving excellent tone quality.

It has to be taken apart completely, repaired, and then glued back together. A specific kind of glue is used on the older violins. This is animal glue. For example, if the pegbox is damaged, new wood may be required to make the repair. After the reconstruction, that added piece of wood must be finished to exactly match the rest of the wood the instrument is made of.

Basic maintenance will keep a fine instrument in top condition. Often strings need replacing. Tuning pegs have to be lubricated. The soundpost must be put in the right position. Resurfacing must be done on the fingerboard. The finish must be restored to the original grain and color.

If the musician neglects this care, rosin dust from the bow will fuse with the varnished surface. Once it has fused, removal damages the finish. A rosin crust can be scrubbed off with a common cork. A microfiber cloth may also be used.

Often tuning pegs have to be replaced. A worn out peg will slip during tuning. Chalk can be used as a temporary measure. But, if the pegs continue to slip, their shafts may have lost their conical shape. They will have to be replaced in that case.

The professional violinist will carry a replacement set of strings in case one breaks. Worn strings produce a tired and unreliable pitch. The strings must be replaced intermittently depending on how much the instrument is played. Violin restoration is a job only an expert can perform. However, the musician can do much to maintain the instrument. violin restoration




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