Mounting on student violins

 

What is mounting on student violins?

Assembly is the final part of violin making. It consists of meticulous adjustments made to :

• The easel
• The soul
• Ankles
• Grommets
• The key
• The strings
• The tailpiece
• And many more finishing touches

So even an inexpensive violin in the hands of an expert luthier can easily rival much more expensive instruments in terms of sound and playability. In fact, it's all a question of attention to detail! It's also the time spent on these details that costs the most. Of course, a student violin may not have the potential ofa fine Stradivarius, but a good set-up will still enable it to exploit all its possibilities.

 

 

Why are study violins often poorly mounted?

General music stores, both physical and online, offer student violins at very low prices. In order to offer affordable prices, these are mostly made in Eastern Europe or China. Production can take place in small artisan workshops, or in assembly-line factories(for the less skilled).

In the case of lutherie workshops, violins, violas or cellos may be built by very good craftsmen, but their skills are often limited to manufacturing. For the most part, they have no expertise in assembly or adjustment. This is why even the best instruments arrive in France with little or no assembly. On the other hand, perfect assembly in Asia would be a waste of time, since a few weeks in transit could seriously compromise it. In fact, in sea containers with highly variable hygrometry and temperature, instruments don't always emerge unscathed...

This means that if the store where you buy your instrument does not have a specialized lutherie workshop, you are likely to get only the very approximate assembly that the violin, viola or cello was provided with before leaving its place of manufacture. You'll probably only get the very rough assembly that the violin, viola or cello was provided with before leaving its place of manufacture. Generally speaking, the results will fall far short of the true potential of the instrument in which you have invested.

 

What are the advantages of a well-mounted instrument?

There are obvious reasons why you'd like your purchase to deliver its full sonic potential. But expert assembly does much more than enhance the sound quality and timbre of your instrument. It also enhances playability and comfort, enabling you to practice in good conditions for longer. Finally, why torture yourself with a bad set-up when the instrument is already so difficult to learn?

Here are 5 reasons not to neglect the assembly of your instrument:

• Your violin's lifespan will not be compromised by unsuitable parts(core, bridge). So you can enjoy your violin for longer!
• Enhanced tone and timbre for maximum playing pleasure.
• Optimum comfort and playability, so you can play for a long time without hurting yourself and learn faster.
• Ease of tuning and superior string life
• A more attractive resale price should you decide to part with it.

 

 

Assembly in a luthier's workshop

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When you see different prices for the same instrument. It's a good idea to ask yourself where this difference comes from: the assembly elements are not often mentioned, but they represent a large part of the value of a student violin.

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The assembly of student violins represents a large part of the initial investment. It can easily reach the value of the instrument itself. Depending on the workshop, the cost of assembly work can quickly rise to between 150 and 300 euros. That's why properly assembled instruments always cost more to buy. However, they will be much more pleasant to play and will require less intervention in the future.

A contentious luthier will never be satisfied with the assembly of instruments that come from distant factories or workshops. He will always prefer to apply his own techniques and materials to achieve the best possible results. The parts involved are often the following:

 

Bridge size

The bridge is of enormous importance to the sound and playability of a violin. Pre-installed bridges are often coarse, with too much material and cut from unsuitable woods. They therefore act naturally as a mute. Minute adjustments of its curves or thickness can make very big changes.

In fact, it's a piece that has to be meticulously carved, specific to each instrument, and made to measure by the luthier to give the best results. In addition, the choice of wood and its drying is of crucial importance.

Adjusting the soul

A core is a small piece of wood fitted between the top and back of a violin. If it's hastily cut and forced into the instrument, not only will the sound potential be limited, but the chances of fractures are also increased. What's more, an inappropriate core is more likely to fall out, leaving you with the embarrassment of finding a luthier to reinstall it.

 

Key rectification

It is often necessary to re-glue a deviated fingerboard, to straighten it(flatten its surface, restore the correct arching and eliminate imperfections) and to polish it. It will also be necessary to rework the saddle so that it becomes one with the fingerboard. The saddle will also be used to adjust string height in low positions.

 

Peg adjustment

Pegs must be perfectly adjusted and lubricated in order to function properly. They must be able to tune all strings perfectly without the aid of tensioners, without squeaking or jerking.

 

Study strings

The strings that are sometimes factory-fitted are barely good enough to hold the bridge in place. It is almost indispensable to replace them to get anything out of a violin, viola or cello. They can really enhance the sound of an instrument without the need for additional changes. A wide range of quality strings at affordable prices are available for student use.