Are old violins better than new violins?
This is probably one of the biggest questions luthiers get asked all the time. From listening to thousands of violins and doing sound...
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Services
for violin viola and cello
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Improving the sound and playability
of you violin, viola or cello
- Maintenance - Set up -
The sound and playability of an instrument are hugely influenced by the set up.
Let me know about your concern, and after examination of your instrument we will discuss the best approach for your needs.
The aspects that will be taken in consideration are: The size and the proportions of the instrument, the general state, the bridge, soundpost, strings, fingerboard, nut, saddle, tailpiece, tail gut, finetuners, pegs, endbutton, endpin, wolf eliminator. Any work done on the set up might take from a few minutes to one week.
In some cases, to bring the instrument to its maximum potential, a deeper work might be required, like changing the neck angle, or changing a bass bar. In that case, the work might take around one month.
I pride myself in delivering the best customized work to the musician's requirements.
About soundpost adjustments:
Moving your soundpost half a millimeter can make a significant difference to the response of your instrument. This is a delicate and precise operation that should only be undertaken by an experienced luthier. I can provide this service with you on site, allowing you to play the instrument before and after each adjustment to enable the sound to be customised to your liking.
Normal maintenance:
I recommend checking the whole set up and the general condition of the instrument every year or so, depending of how much the violin is played. Because most of the set up parts are wooden, the wood can dry or move over time and the friction that occurs when playing will cause wear.
Normal maintenance will typically include refiting or changing some or all of the following items: Bridge, Soundpost, Tailpiece, Tailnylon, Fingerboard, Top nut, Pegs, Tail Saddle, Fine tuners, Wolf eliminator, End button, Spike and Strings.
I can work with you to agree on the parts of the set up that should be worked on or replaced.
I can normally complete a full set up within a week.
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REPAIRS AND RESTORATIONS
Violins Violas Cellos
Violins and cellos can last for centuries and will often not loose value with time if they are built properly. Alsothe sound qualities should improve over time, as the instrument is played. BUT, instruments need to be properly maintained.
If your instrument is damaged, the sooner it is brought in for repair, the easier the repair and the less negative impact the damage will have on the instrument and it's value.
Repairs might be required as a result of an accident or as a result of the natural process of the wood drying or as a result of normal wear and tear such as on the edges, or by the shoulder.
Even if an instruments breaks into pieces, I can return it to an "as new" condition. Be sure to keep all pieces, even the tinest bits (carefully wrap them in a soft tissue or fabric, and then into a plastic bag or a box).
I recommend having your instrument checked every 6 months or year and I offer that as a free service.
I can repair any part of the violin: plates, ribs, scroll, pegbox, internal blocks... and can provide a quote for undertaking such work (after discussion with you to agree the best approach).
My techniques of repair follow the traditional and ethical methods of professionally trained luthiers. I use animal glue and conserve as much as possible the original parts of the instrument.
A repair might take as little as a day or extend to a few months depending on the level of work to be undertaken.
TOUCH UPS:
The whole body of the stringed instrument should be covered by varnish to protect against damage.
Only the neck should be unvarnished so as to allow better sliding of the left hand. The neck will have a different treatment which involves other products for aesthetics, protection and functionality.
Retouching the varnish might be needed after a repair, as a result of normal wear or as a result of a superficial knock.
I enjoy retouching instruments to bring them back to a condition that matches the style of the instrument.
Depending on the depth and the extent of the part to be retouched, it might take anywhere from a few minutes to a few weeks to complete the work. Some parts of an instrument will need colour while other parts will only need clear varnish.
I am an expert in retouching - many customers are amazed at what I can achieve.
Some violins have an easier varnish to iqual than others. In some ocasion, we will need to fill a gap before retouching and that will increase significantly the time of the work.
RESTORATIONS:
I undertake restorations to bring instruments back to their original state. I work on instruments that have been repaired in a unappropriate way, or that have been abandoned for years, or have been severely damaged. This might require a specialized technique and tools and it generally takes longer than a simple repair. At Le Violon Rouge NZ, we have the knowledge, the precision, the professional and ethical techniques and tools to take the best care of your instrument.
Depending on the condition of the instrument, a restoration job normally takes a few months to be completed
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Book an expert service for violin, viola, cello
For a musician, the relationship with their instrument becomes so intimate, that it ends up being an extension of their body and the window for their soul.
Day after day, the musician and the instrument evolve and develop one into the other, growing together, adapting and responding to each other. This relationship might last for decades, and might be the most important relationship of the life of a musician.
For that reason, choosing the right violin needs to be done carefully. I often ask myself if it is the musician choosing the violin or the violin choosing the musician - like the magic wand choosing the wizard in Harry Potter!
How to make sure the violin you are about to buy is going to fulfil its purpose and keep its value for many years, or even centuries?
You can find many instruments on the market, in store, in a private sale, on trademe and other online platforms, but how do you know if the violin is in good condition? Is it properly built? What do you need to look for to make sure it is the right violin?
Too often people buy second hand instruments to find out later that it has a bad crack putting in danger the life of the instrument.
I OFFER MY EXPERTISE TO CHECK THE VIOLIN YOU ARE ABOUT TO BUY.
If you can bring the violin into my workshop, I will check it for free.
If you can't bring the violin into my workshop, I offer the same service, for a fee covering the transportation and time involved.
If you have any other concern about your violin, viola or cello, I am happy to help.
From my blog
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