Preserving your violin

It's important for musicians to understand that they are the main actors in the good health of their instrument. Here are a few tips you can easily apply at home to preserve your violin. In this way, they will not only retain the beauty and sound that are dear to their owner, but also their value. Of course, these tips also apply to the entire string quartet, from violins to violas and cellos. What's more, double basses and baroque instruments will fit right in.

Variations in temperature and humidity

Across our continental northern hemisphere, seasonal changes in temperature and humidity are significant throughout the year. Although they're honestly not the worst, as you'll discover in this article about my trip to Guadeloupe.

In any case, violins and their families, which are still mainly made from wood, are quite sensitive to this. Indeed, this material tends by nature to expand in the presence of humidity and contract in its absence. The violin's architecture is designed to take this "breathing" in its stride.

However, these movements can still cause problems at the glue joints. In fact, if the glue is too strong, the wood may break before it can.

A humidity level of between 55% and 70%, with a temperature of 17° to 21° centigrade, is an ideal average for the preservation of an instrument in the violin family. Venturing much higher than this, in a warm, humid environment, could deform the wood. On the contrary, below 40% humidity, fractures become much more frequent.

How do you protect your violin from these variations?

• Check humidity levels with a hygrometer. Some cases come with hygrometers and humidifiers, but these can also be purchased individually.
• In winter, with heaters running, the room where you play may need to be humidified(using a vaporizer, humidifiers, green plants, etc.). It is of course important to place the instrument far enough away from heat sources. The main idea is to avoid any sudden change of environment...
• It is essential to avoid storing an instrument in a car.
• Beware also of air conditioning when traveling, or if your home is so equipped. Variations can be all the more brutal and fatal for your instrument.

The values described above are relative to the region in which you live. Indeed, the rates found in Asia, Europe or America will be quite different. This doesn't mean that violins can't be played. Rather, a violin needs to remain in a stable environment from the moment it is made, right through to the owner's hands, and through its many travels, with as few abrupt variations as possible.

 

 

How to preserve your violin

Regular cleaning

It's important to regularly wipe off excess rosin(ideally every time you finish playing) from the instrument with a soft, dry cloth(microfiber or silk as in the old days). This is because it comes off the wick and collects on the body, fingerboard and strings. If this resin dust is not removed, it can interfere with the sound of the instrument and damage the varnish. As a result, any subsequent attempt to clean the instrument will be more difficult, and must be carried out by a professional.

What is violin cleaning?

First of all, I believe that prevention is better than cure. That's why I advise you not to overuse rosin, which will limit the deposit on the instrument. In fact, it would be detrimental to the sound anyway, and would make the bow feel heavy. Ask your teacher for advice on the correct dosage.

Then, if you need to clean your violin, your best ally will beelbow grease and a soft, slightly damp cloth. Also, don't forget to go under the fingerboard. To do this, pass the cloth in a movement perpendicular to the violin's axis, moving up from the bridge towards the neck.

If there is a deposit on the fingerboard, you can use a little alcohol to dissolve the resin. Avoid contact with the varnish.

I don't necessarily recommend the use of popote or other "specialized" cleaning products. Especially if you don't really know how to use them. They sometimes contain substances that can burn varnish. Or they may contain oils that initially make the instrument shine, but quickly clog it up. These substances can also seep into almost invisible fractures. Making them much harder to glue back together.

 

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Protecting your violin from perfumes and perspiration

Perfumes contain alcohol and other more or less natural essences. Highly solvent and volatile, they can dissolve and soften varnishes. Perfume-impregnated clothing can also adhere to and mark varnishes, even hours after application.

You also have to be careful with perspiration, as it can be particularly acidic. As a result, some musicians even destroy metal strings at incredible speed. It can also attack the wood of the violin or bow, causing impressive damage.

 

 

Accessories

The strings

Strings play a vital role in the sound of a violin. And even when the instrument is not being played, the strings are continually ageing as a result of being under constant tension, losing their lustre and tone. Advanced or professional musicians do not hesitate to change their strings every six months, or even longer, to preserve their performance. Students generally change their strings at the beginning of each school year, but are not obliged to do so until a string is no longer usable.

If you change your strings yourself, replace them one by one to minimize the chance of bridge and core displacement. The strings will then have to adapt for a few days before they hold the tuning perfectly. It is best toavoid over-tensioning the strings, tuning them too high or pulling on them too hard. Another important point to check when changing strings is the inclination of the bridge: it can be pulled or deformed by the strings. This is why it must be repositioned regularly to avoid damage to the bridge or the violin.

Finger perspiration is corrosive and harmful to your strings. To ensure long life, we recommend cleaning them after each playing session. It's even possible to use a little alcohol to clean them a little more effectively, again taking care to avoid contact with the varnish.

To help you install your strings correctly, I've prepared this article in particular. I can also do this for you, checking the pegs and string passages to ensure perfect tuning. This could also be the time to change your tailpiece for a more practical or more suitable model.

Protecting your violin from the chin strap

First of all, the chinstrap should never be over-tightened. The two tie rods should be screwed parallel to each other, just enough to give the cork pads enough grip to prevent slipping.

Protecting your violin in a case

When you play your instrument, the wood absorbs moisture from your breath and perspiration. It's a good idea to let it rest for a while with the case open, so as not to trap the moisture inside.

Afterwards, it's best to close the case by operating the locking mechanisms and pull-tabs, as many accidents occur when packing and unpacking the instrument.

 

Ankles

To tune an instrument using pegs, first pull lightly on the peg to release it, then turn it in the direction of the tension just to the desired pitch. To lock it, simply press lightly on it. It's important to find the right pitch by going up in pitch, not down, to maintain the chord. One last detail: it is not recommended to force the pegs, as they are based on a wedge principle, and too much force on them would cause the pegbox to break.

Over time, ankles can become slippery or difficult or impossible to turn. These problems usually occur for these reasons:

• First of all, hygrometry varies throughout the year.
• Secondly, ill-fitting or worn ankles or pegs.
• Sometimes it's also the strings that are badly wound.

Pegs usually become slippery in winter, as the dry air contracts the wood. Rewinding the cords easily solves this problem. On the other hand, humidity can cause the wood to expand, jamming the pegs. Simply reposition them.

If the ankles turn unevenly or are impossible to control, readjustment is necessary. This adjustment and professional lubrication(traditionally with Marseille soap and chalk) allow the ankles to achieve a balance between hold and mobility, making fine adjusters almost obsolete.

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The easel

The bridge is first and foremost the result of a complex process combining precise measurements and fine sculpting. It is also fragile, and not fixed in any way to the body of the instrument. Its construction determines the pitch, height and spacing of the strings. Here are a few points to bear in mind to ensure correct use of the bridge and avoid damage:

• First and foremost, the bridge must be upright. Generally speaking, it should be perpendicular to the table. It is important to ensure that the legs are also in full contact with the table.
• If the bridge is not straightened, it may bend, or even break in the case of lower-quality bridges. If the bridge is too bent, it must be replaced.
• Lubricating the string passages with graphite(using an 8B or 9B pencil) allows the strings to slide more smoothly, helping it to maintain its position. The same principle can be applied to the saddle string passages.

To prolong the life of the bridge, you'll need to inspect its position and replace it if necessary. The most effective and safest way to do this is to grasp it firmly with both hands and accompany it by tilting it slightly back to its original position. If you're afraid of making a mistake and don't feel comfortable doing it, visit me for help.

In some cases, the middle strings are rather difficult to play separately. This is often due to faulty, worn-out or too-flat bridges with the wrong upper curve. In such cases, a new bridge is essential.

 

 

Protecting your violin with insurance

As a luthier who regularly deals with instrumental disasters, I can only encourage you to consider the importance of insuring both your instrument and your bow. I can only encourage you to consider the importance of insuring both your instrument and your bow. Accidents happen so quickly, and are accompanied by so much guilt, that it's always a relief to know that you're covered by insurance. So, whether it's theft, damage, destruction or loss, there's always a way to get compensation, even if the sentimental value is irreplaceable.

What's more, the costs of such a service are also surprisingly reasonable. Your home insurance may even cover your instrument below a certain value. For those with astronomical values, it's possible to take out specialized insurance.

Ask around, as there are many specialized brokers who can provide you with a solution.