So you just picked a full size violin for sale and nobody provided you with a manual on how to maintain it. Don’t worry because this article aim to teach you some important cleaning tips that will ensure that your fiddle keeps its aesthetic appearance.
- Cleaning tips
While cleaning is a regular maintenance practice, a violinist must void dirt especially grease at all cost. It is a good habit to wash hands before playing the instrument as it shows concern for the value of the violin. If a cloth does not completely remove some stains, cleaning products for stringed instruments may be used. These products are available from suppliers of musical instruments. If there is a huge issue with dirt, it is best to seek professional cleaning from a qualified luthier. Apart from the strings, the wooden body needs to be cleaned regularly especially its inner side. This is where dust gathers and hides. To eliminate the dirt, rice is sprinkled through audio holes and then rolled around while inside in a gentle manner. The rolling should be thorough and this allows the rice grains to pick dust as they scrub the body.
- Caring for the vanish
After every musical session, dust must be wiped off. The other approach for maintaining the varnish is by holding the instruments by the neck to prevent sweat from destroying delicate parts. You might think that your hands are so clean but end up leaving fatty and sweaty compounds on it. Swat and acidic elements make the varnish dull and eventually erode it. Special polish can be applied to eliminate accumulated dirt and oils. For severe cases, a professional luthier should be consulted as he is the only one who knows the best cleaning product and procedures to apply.
- Restringing
Careful timing is fundamental when changing the violin strings. The right time is a variable of many factors such as the type of strings which include steel, gut, and synthetics. Another factor that affects durability of the string is the intensity and frequency of playing. The strings are more likely to break prematurely if the bridge ridges and nuts are extremely angled. Good violinists can detect signs of defective strings in advance by checking sound quality and responses. If there are visible damages on the strings, replacement should be done as soon as possible before the worst happens. The process of changing strings is straightforward. If the existing string is embedded in the peg, it needs to be loosened through peg turning till it slips from the small hole. Then the string is taken off from the other tailpiece end. During this procedure, care must be taken to prevent a dangling string from scratching the violin. To install new string, the lower end should be thread first into the tailpiece. This should be done with gentle pressure to avoid slipping. The string needs to be pushed all the way.
This is the maintenance guide for a full size violin for sale.