Hi,

I could do with some peoples opinion about the soundpost in my violin. The violin is quite old c 100 yrs and last year (about 8 mths ago) when I took it in to be repaired, I asked about the soundpost, they said it was probably the original but was stable. Fine, but yestarday I glanced at my violin and saw there was what i would decribe as a crack, running from the top to the bottom of the soundpost. I know the last time i looked there were two indents, from I presume the intstrument used the place the soundpost, the lower intent is where the crack starts from.

The thing is I'm not really sure if it is a soundpost crack or not? If it is I know this could be serious if it doesn't get looked at. I have a friend who is a experienced violinist, so will ask him to have a look but cannot do this until tomorrow and I will not see my teacher until Wednesday. How serious does this sound to people? It's so annoying I had plans to join a orchestra next monday, but if my violins in for repair, I wont be able to!!!!!!

Kraz

I thought a soundpost crack referred to a crack along the length of the violin running directly over the contact point between the top/bottom of the soundpost & the front/back of the violin. If the sound post itself is cracked I would have thought that it was possible to put in a new soundpost. But I'm sure there are people far more qualified than me who'll give you some help

yes sorry, it is the soundpost that has the crack in it. I don't think there are any newer cracks that have formed on the front of the violin, and the back is perfectly fine. I guess I just saw the crack (its not really a crack just a kind of crevice) along the soundpost and thought the worst, becuase I hadn't noticed it before.

Kraz

In that case take it to a luthier and have them take a look. Replacement of a soundpost is a relatively minor job - a case of removing the old one and putting a new one in its place. Unless the luthier is ripping people off with his/her charges, it's not a job that will break the bank.

That's my understanding too, and that is very serious and can mean that the fiddle will need putting down if it not repairable.

However a damaged soundpost can be easily replaced and fitted and would not cost too much.

Kraz, how does it sound? If the tone is OK then maybe you are panicking/

The soundpost on my violin actually fell over (and so was rattling around inside the instrument) during its journey from England to France. I played it like this for a few weeks until I found a luthier. It took him about 30 seconds to put it back into place with a special little hook and refused payment for it.

Wow you're lucky! I've found the majority of luthiers in my town are of the 'I didn't make it so I'm not touching it' snobbish variety. I used to argue with them until I found one who agreed to teach me how to do minor repairs myself in exchange for English lessons - hurrah!

Not that this has anything to do with it, I suppose, but the only luthier who agreed to work with my instruments also was the only female luthier I found - the rest were all older men who made it clear that if they couldn't sell me an instrument they weren't interested in looking at mine. They also managed to make (often very unpleasant) comments on the quality of my violin - sometimes without even looking at it more than peeking inside the case for a second.

Some experts.

Allan

Thanks everyone for your help. Saw my mate today (who brought with him a torch) and thanks to the torch, we saw that what I thought was a crack was in fact just a pencil marking (though I swear it wasn't there before!!!). Feel a bit of an idiot, for the fuss about a crack , but I wouldn't have known if a torch hadn't been used (and I dont have one).

Least today I got my third compliment about how good the violin was!!

Kraz