I took it to a very reputable luthier for a diagnosis, and was informed that it was going to cost a lot of money to fix it. As far as i know, the soundpost is not a structural feature of the instrument, so it doesnt actually keep the violin intact or prevent it from falling apart. It is the musician who gives the instrument the timbre he or she desires. The best way to prevent sound post cracks in violins and violas is a good. Is it okay to play my violin without the soundpost. I know from experience that even a hairline crack in the bridge can have a noticeable effect on the sound. A soundpost crack is a crack along the back of the violin caused by an ill fitting soundpost or a rubbish luthier aha, well that makes more sense at least. Repairing a crack over the sound post requires a patch on the inside of the top plate. An instrument without a sound post will sound weak, thin and hollow. Cost to repair a sound post crack in the back of a violin. Includes sound post setter vspclassic, smcello and smdb, helps to easily set the sound post in all size instrumenta from 18 size violin up to 44 double bass. You can now put on a set of strings together with the bridge and try the sound of the violin.
There are two crucial distances in the placement of the spruce sound post. I reckon that with new strings or on a new violin the bridge is still moving very slightly as the violin vibrates until it settles. Dec 14, 2016 join daniel as he travels the world exploring, helping violinists, violin makers and teachers, making and sharing videos that entertain and educate. Ask a luthier fallen violin sound post how to fix it. The violin was sealed but unvarnished, tuned to a440 and fitted with a 42 g chinrest. The soundpost and bass bar are usually equidistant from the respective edge of bridge foot. Violin set of sound post tools s setter, scissor setter. Carriage house violins guarantees all major repairs for as long as you own. What is the current thinking on the devaluation of instruments that have been damaged by sound post cracks in the back, replaced heads, etc. Can a violin without a sound post still withstand the string pressure. Page 1 of 4 sound post crack posted in viva strings. We are trade distributors of the violin family of orchestral bowed string instruments and associated accessories. If it collapses while the strings are on the instrument, it could cause serious damage. When repaired properly with a sound post patch, the instrument.
The violin i want to buy has a repair is this a problem. View of a sound post through the end pin hole at the bottom of the violin. Since it can be adjusted to meet your own particular needs and taste, its your best friend. That is why you get no sound if the sound post is directly under the foot the bridge. The quality, age, and grain width of the spruce will affect the sound of your instrument. The balance of the strings is affected by this distance. How to set a sound post, install, installation, soundpost.
Jun 14, 2011 but, dont microadjust your instrument for one concert with a slightly high or low tuned piano. Bass bass bow bow bow restoration cello neck reset ukelele varnish viola violin. It must have taken quite an impact because the chinrest was cracked in half and the bridge was broken. Good combination, helps measure length and the end angles of the sound post. Violin viola s style sound post setter, sets the standard for the very useful s setter, rubber grip, stainless steel sharpened point usa 4.
It is the string tension that really clamps the sound post into position. For the very advanced player, a diy violin upgrade to real catgut strings can make a big difference in the sounds your violin produces, but there are also many very fine metal equivalents available. How much does it cost to repair a broken soundpost in a. Also inscribed with pencil on he inside of the top is this. The sound of a bowed instrument violin family is not the sound of the vibrating string but the vibrating wood it activates through the bridge.
See our selection of strings for violins, violas, cellos and basses. Apr 23, 2018 can a violin without a sound post still withstand the string pressure, or would the belly deform or crack under the tension. Its really easy to make and comes in handy when you dont have a professional tool or access to a music store. Buy violin set of sound post tools s setter, scissor setter, gauge, and sound post retrieve vwws. But heres the thing you do not want that violin sitting around with the strings under tension for very long without the sound post in. Sound post can have enormous effect on the sound quality and loudness of the violin, thus it is often referred to as the soul of the violin. Specialized tools for standing up or moving a sound post are commercially available. Cello soundpost patch bloomington string instruments. If a sound post is too long, we trim down the sound post to prevent the pressure from cracking the top plate. It transpired that the instrument had already had a very old sp crack and 2 old soundpost patches, one large, covering the whole breast, the other normal soundpost patch being let into this.
Apr 14, 2016 violin sound adjustment daniel olsen for more information or to order daniel strings, violins, bows or accessories, please go to. Repairing an instrument with a sound post crack triangle. Remove the sound post remove the loosefallen post by rolling it toward the cbout and stabbing it with the sharpened end of the post setter. Also includes inspection camera, sml3 custom inspection light, 12 volt power supply and usb extension cable school orders accepted. Suppliers to the united kingdom music retail sector, we also distribute worldwide and are the exclusive uk distributors for larsen strings of denmark and chevalets despiau of france. Feb 10, 2011 page 1 of 4 sound post crack posted in viva strings. When i started out, a post crack in the back was seen as the death o. First, loosen all of the strings to take the tension off of.
The long term effect of sound post adjustments is misunderstood by many musicians. Why does violin sound differently after playing on it for. Unfollow sound post violin tool to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Violin free delivery possible on eligible purchases. In our experience, the biggest reason that people are reluctant to consider a used instrument is that they assume used equals damaged. Violin sound characteristics vienna symphonic library. Ive made 100 violas, yet not one sound post crack at least not to date. Violin sound post measuring system smg2gauge and smproplus setter. This article will explain what is involved in performing a sound post reset. It is important that the soundpost be put in its default position with just light force. Soundposts in student instruments fall all too often.
The soundpost serves as a kind of fulcrum for the top plate so its position influences the action of the plates, the bridge and the strings. I have worked as a professional violin dealer for the last 15 years in one of the largest and mostrespected violin shops. The sound characteristics of the violin are therefore not predetermined. The high notes come from the wood between the treble foot of the bridge and the top of the sound post. Repairing an instrument with a sound post crack triangle strings. Sound post cracks are very common in the long life of a violin family instrument. Easy to use now even i can set my violin sound post. If possible stab it at the post s pierce mark from a previous post setting. The first is the relationship of the soundpost to the bass bar. Which of these tonal options he or she uses is up to the violinist. The sound post is a small dowel of spruce that is held by friction between the top and back plates of a violin viola, cello, or string bass, situated under the treble side of the bridge.
Diy violin adjustments for better sound connolly music. Suppliers of bowed stringed instruments and all related materials to musicians. When in position and with no string tension, the sound post should stand in position without falling when the violin is gently tipped. The position of the sound post inside a violin is critical, and moving it by very small amounts as little as 0. My violin has a repaired sound post crack in the back. The sound post has a repair and restoration team comprised of luthiers with specialized training at european violin making schools and considerable international experience. Sometimes a ninja soundpost crack may occur, even months later when low. What does a back sound post crack repair normally cost a crack of about 6 inches in length. The fall of the soundpost jim clinton violins greenville, sc. Would anyone else play on an instrument that had a crack like this. If there is a way to damage an instrument, someone at some point has done it, and we have seen it. This measurement can be made with a cut business card.
Loosen the strings and take it to a competent repairman. While the cost of a violin repair may vary depending on the severity of damage, the luthiers particular costs, or the age of the instrument, this list of common price ranges for student and intermediate violin repairs should give you a general idea of a how much you can. Violin viola s style sound post setter, sets the standard for the very useful s setter, rubber grip, stainless steel sharpened point usa. We carry most of the violin string sizes and gauges from all the reknowned violin string manufacturers. What it does is help the vibrations at the top of the instrument transfer around the bod. When repaired properly with a sound post patch, the instrument can continue to be a reliable tool beyond your lifetime and perhaps even improve its tone. We have corelli, daddario, hill, jargar, larsen, optima lenzner, pirastro, prim, thomastik and westminster violin strings available at very competitive prices.
Moving it closer to the treble f hole usually makes the sound brighter, sometimes harder, the opposite direction makes the violin sound warmer, darker sometimes a little less powerful. Can a violin without a sound post still withstand the string. This question was prompted by lyndons reply to puckfans thread labeled pietro guarneio. Miles doubleday, our senior restorer, has over 20 years experience with ealing strings london, uk. Rosin buildup can mar some varnishes and can make strings sound poor. Mckean from the marchapril 2020 issue of strings magazine. As its italian name suggests, the sound post is one of the violin familys.
The bridge in particular plays a very important part in transmitting vibrations to the body of the violin. Anyway, i recently discovered a crack and came to realize that i have a wonderful sound post crack in the back. Guide to proper care and maintenance of violin family instruments and bows. The movement of a post can definitely change the sound. In resetting the soundpost to temporarily get the instrument up and working again, we are embarking on a complicated procedure.
Loosen the strings to approximately a third below standard pitch for example tuning d down to b. A few years ago, a cello i made suffered a drop that resulted in both a soundpost and a bassbar crack. The violin had well developed body modes, as well as a0, at the lower frequencies in the range of the violin as will be seen in the tap responses below. You will drive yourself, your instrument and your violin maker crazy. Here is a viola where the top was cracked into two pieces, there was also a small crack from the f hole up near the bass bar. On the bass side of an instrument is a bass bar, a cross section of which can be seen in the illustration above. First, check the top of the instrument to make sure that no cracks have formed. Sometimes your best friend is your worst enemyand its always someone you cant live without. Can a violin without a sound post still withstand the string pressure, or would the belly deform or crack under the tension. Has anyone ever encountered this sort of problem before.
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