Orchestral Strings Care & Maintenance

String Instrument Family Care & Maintenance Tips

String Instruments, as with any instrument, need proper maintenance to not only sustain a great sound but also keep it working properly .

General Care Tips for all string instruments

STORAGE

Always store your instrument in its case or padded bag for proper protection when not in use.

1. Store your instrument in a clean, dry, secure area
2. Humidity & Temperature- avoid extreme and rapid temperature changes and humidity levels as these changes can have a negative effect on your instrument such as the wood tying, cracking, crackling of varnish, open seams, sound and tuning problems.

Caution:  Just because an instrument is in its case, doesn’t mean it is free from harm.  Many instruments can be damaged by swinging the case, setting it down too hard or up-side-down, leaving it in a hot care, etc. Treat it with respect and it will last a long time with low maintenance.

CLEANING

Cleaning your instrument regularly will not only help maintain your instrument’s sound quality and playability, but also contribute to its longevity and overall performance.

• Use a soft, dry cloth to wipe down the instrument after each use, removing rosin buildup and sweat.
  • Gently wipe the instrument’s body, fingerboard, and strings.
•  Never use commercial products to clean or polish your instrument as this may damage the varnish.
• Once or twice a year it is a good idea to bring your instrument in for a cleaning and sound adjustment.  The professional will look over the instrument and attend to issues before they become major problems that are expensive to repair or replace.

Schedule an appointment

BRIDGE CARE

Each time you take your instrument out of its case check to make sure the bridge is in its proper position to maintain optimal sound production and to prevent it from breaking, falling or warping.

1. The Bridge should sit perpendicular to the instrument body and centered between the F holes in general with one third of the bridge foot on the G-string side behind the inside notch of the F hole.
2. The bridge feet should sit flat and fit the shape of the top it is sitting upon at all times.
3. Bridge & string height – Bridge Height and thus string height varies between instrument family, maker preference, performer preference and instrument needs.

Sometimes the bridge is positioned differently to accommodate fingerboard placement issues and sound.

If you have any questions, please contact us for assistance.

Sound Post

It is important that the sound post is properly adjusted and remains in place at all times.

1. Inside all string family instruments is a small wooden dowel that is held perpendicular in place by the pressure of the instrument top and back.
   • Look inside the f-hole on the E string side near the bridge foot and you can see the post.
   • This post is responsible for transmitting sound vibrations of the higher strings, especially the E string.
   • If it falls or is jared out of position, you might get a buzzing, hissing, overly vibrating or muted sound.
   • If this happens, or if the sound post falls down, loosen all strings, store the bridge, and contact us so we can re-set the sound post as soon as possible.

Note:  loosening all strings will cause the bridge to fall as well.  Wrap it securely in a paper towel and put it inside the compartment inside the case.  Do not put it in the case directly with the instrument or the outside compartments as something could inadvertently break it.  

PEGS

When pegs fit properly they move smoothly.  All string instruments have peg problems from time to time for many reasons.

1. If you find that the pegs are sticking or slipping, lubricate them with a little peg dope or peg soap purchased from your local luthier.
   • One or two swipes where the pegs fit against the peg holes is all you need.
   • Caution:  Only work on one peg at a time (one string at a time) to prevent the bridge and sound post from falling down.
   • After applying, give the peg a few turns then re-string your instrument and move to the next peg.

You may experience slippage after lubricating, but after a couple of days this will subside and you should have smooth turning pegs.

Reminder:  The Tuning pegs are for major adjustments, while the fine tuners are for minor adjustments.

Fine Tuners

Many instruments have fine tuners attached to the tailpiece.  From time to time they get hard to turn or worse, wont turn at all.  When this happens, you need to loosen the screw and lubricate it.

• Work on one string or fine tuner at a time.
• Loosen the fine tuner screw, apply Door Ease to the screw threads ( a lubricant purchased at your local hardware store). Replace the screw.

Sometimes the fine tuner will freeze up and not move at all. If this happens and you can not get the screw out, try the following.

• slightly loosen the string by loosening the large tuning peg.  Sometimes this unfreezes the fine tuning mechanism or screw so you can easily remove it. Then proceed as above and tune.

Caution: Always loosen pegs slightly before tightening them.  Sometimes pegs stick and we try to force them.  When we do so, we inadvertently twist too much and break our string.  This will help prevent expensive string replacement costs.

Prevention is key: Periodically, take the time to make sure the fine tuner screws are loosened enough so they do not harm the instrument top.  Do this in the same manner as explained above.

STRINGS

Replace strings regularly to maintain optimal sound quality.

1. Don’t wait until a string breaks to change it.
2. Replace strings every 3-6 months depending on your budget, level of playing, diminished sound quality and string type.

If you notice wear on a string, buzzing, can’t tune it, false tones, it’s time to change strings.

Schedule an Appointment If you’d like to learn how to properly change your strings. A small fee may apply.

Bow Care

Bow care is another necessary maintenance issue that often gets neglected.

• Wash your hands before playing This will keep your bow (and instrument) from unnecessary dirt and oils that harm the instrument and varnish.
• Keep your finger from touching the bow hair This will prolong the hair life.
• Keep your bow in your case when not in use Many bows are placed on the music stand, chair or floor when not in use.  This leads to broken bows.  A bow in its case is a happy bow.
• Wipe the stick after playing or practicing A soft cloth to wipe off the bow before putting it in its case will add life to your bow and save on expensive cleaning and frequent rehairs.
• Always Loosen the bow before putting the bow your case This will allow the bow hair to expand and contract as the weather changes and help prevent hair slippage, stretching and deformation of your stick and the possibility of your bow breaking from environmental changes.

When do you need to re-hair your bow?

Most often when the hair gets dirty, or you notice that your having difficulty grabbing the strings, putting too much rosin on your bow in order to get a good sound (you only need a small amount) or your bowing feels like you are cutting into the strings.

The more you play, the more frequently you need to re-hair your bow.  If you are not sure, ask!

Schedule an appointment for a rehair