Why Does My Violin Sound Like This?! Options

[aesir22]

Hi all

These last couple of days my violin has sounded weird. As if the sound is reverberating too much - sounds like I am either playing in an extremely small place or that there is another violin playing along very quietly. It sounds almost tinny and metallic. Its not very pleasant!

I thought I was sliding on the string by mistake, but I have tried long open bows and its no different. I thought maybe the bow needed some rosin, so I gave it a couple of sweeps with the block but no different. I thought it could just be my playing, but nothing has changed this week from how I used to practice to how I now do.

Any ideas?

[MollyB]

One possibility might be that the violin is literally coming apart at the seams, ie that the glue holding the panels together has failed. It can happen at the change of seasons; the air changes, the wood flexes and the glue can come undone.

If so, it needs luthier attention as soon as possible.

[Organistin]

One possibility might be that the violin is literally coming apart at the seams, ie that the glue holding the panels together has failed. It can happen at the change of seasons; the air changes, the wood flexes and the glue can come undone.

If so, it needs luthier attention as soon as possible.

Could be, or could be that the soundpost has shifted out of place slightly.
Take it to a luthier.

[aesir22]

Where should the sound post be? I looked in the f hole. If you look at the right foot of the bridge, its not quite under that, more like a step down...

I couldn't find any obvious damage or anything, I have only had it a year, bought new and never used (its not the best violin in the world lol).

[DiscoPants]

The soundpost should be a couple of mm or so behind the treble bridge foot, not directly under it, so this seems OK. I agree with MollyB, a loose seam is the most likely culprit. Often happens when the weather changes. Easy to have fixed, and nothing to worry about.

[jojo]

The soundpost should be a couple of mm or so behind the treble bridge foot, not directly under it, so this seems OK. I agree with MollyB, a loose seam is the most likely culprit. Often happens when the weather changes. Easy to have fixed, and nothing to worry about.

I like the 'easy to have fixed' bit, I don't like the 'often happens' bit though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[KTViola]

The soundpost should be a couple of mm or so behind the treble bridge foot, not directly under it, so this seems OK. I agree with MollyB, a loose seam is the most likely culprit. Often happens when the weather changes. Easy to have fixed, and nothing to worry about.

I like the 'easy to have fixed' bit, I don't like the 'often happens' bit though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

I'm sure DiscoPants will correct me if I'm wrong, but the 'often happens' bit isn't as bad as you might think! If the thing wasn't glued in such a way, and with the right sort of glue, that the seams open with a change in temperature, then what would 'often happen' when the weather changed, would be that you'd get a crack in the actual wood. Which is far less 'easy to have fixed'!

There are all sorts of funny things that can cause your violin to make odd noises - and if you can't find anything obvious yourself from a look around the outside of it, then yes - get it to your friendly local luthier.

[DiscoPants]

The soundpost should be a couple of mm or so behind the treble bridge foot, not directly under it, so this seems OK. I agree with MollyB, a loose seam is the most likely culprit. Often happens when the weather changes. Easy to have fixed, and nothing to worry about.

I like the 'easy to have fixed' bit, I don't like the 'often happens' bit though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

I'm sure DiscoPants will correct me if I'm wrong, but the 'often happens' bit isn't as bad as you might think! If the thing wasn't glued in such a way, and with the right sort of glue, that the seams open with a change in temperature, then what would 'often happen' when the weather changed, would be that you'd get a crack in the actual wood. Which is far less 'easy to have fixed'!

There are all sorts of funny things that can cause your violin to make odd noises - and if you can't find anything obvious yourself from a look around the outside of it, then yes - get it to your friendly local luthier.

Yes, that's right. The glue is a kind of "mechanical fuse" which will break before the top cracks, provided the correct type of glue with the right strength has been used.
Read "often happens" as "not unusual".

[KTViola]

The soundpost should be a couple of mm or so behind the treble bridge foot, not directly under it, so this seems OK. I agree with MollyB, a loose seam is the most likely culprit. Often happens when the weather changes. Easy to have fixed, and nothing to worry about.

I like the 'easy to have fixed' bit, I don't like the 'often happens' bit though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

I'm sure DiscoPants will correct me if I'm wrong, but the 'often happens' bit isn't as bad as you might think! If the thing wasn't glued in such a way, and with the right sort of glue, that the seams open with a change in temperature, then what would 'often happen' when the weather changed, would be that you'd get a crack in the actual wood. Which is far less 'easy to have fixed'!

There are all sorts of funny things that can cause your violin to make odd noises - and if you can't find anything obvious yourself from a look around the outside of it, then yes - get it to your friendly local luthier.

Yes, that's right. The glue is a kind of "mechanical fuse" which will break before the top cracks, provided the correct type of glue with the right strength has been used.
Read "often happens" as "not unusual".

It's also why you need to look aghast and horrified whenever a pupil uses the words 'my violin', 'my dad', and 'superglue' in the same sentence. Particularly if 'bridge' is also used in the same sentence. Or 'ronseal'.

It's happened...

[Organistin]

It's also why you need to look aghast and horrified whenever a pupil uses the words 'my violin', 'my dad', and 'superglue' in the same sentence. Particularly if 'bridge' is also used in the same sentence. Or 'ronseal'.

It's happened...

Yes, the mother of one of mine rang up a couple of weeks ago and said the child had broken her bridge - and Dad and glue was then used in the same sentence
I had a couple of days of anxiety wondering whether Dad had glued the bridge to the violin or just glued the bridge.
Turns out he had just glued the bridge - and done a rather excellent job it must be said. Still, she has a new bridge now.

[viola-mad]

It's also why you need to look aghast and horrified whenever a pupil uses the words 'my violin', 'my dad', and 'superglue' in the same sentence. Particularly if 'bridge' is also used in the same sentence. Or 'ronseal'.

Ronseal? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) What on earth possesses people?

[miffy]

It's also why you need to look aghast and horrified whenever a pupil uses the words 'my violin', 'my dad', and 'superglue' in the same sentence. Particularly if 'bridge' is also used in the same sentence. Or 'ronseal'.

Ronseal? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) What on earth possesses people?

Been there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

Also be wary of are "my Dad tuned it", and "something was rattling inside my violin but my Dad managed to get it out. I have no idea how that little piece of wood got in there.."
I have long ago come to the conclusion that Dads and violins don't mix (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)