Hi

well, I love my violin to bits, I love its tone, its nothing really special although its quite old. However it looks like it is starting to split next to the foot of my bridge on the side of my E string. I was just wondering if you guys could help answer a few questions because I don't know that much about this kind of stuff.



-Well i want to know can it be repaired?

-If it can be repaired, about how much would it cost?

-If it was repaired would it have the same tone that it had before it split?

-And is it worth it being repaired.



Thanks in advance

Francesca

xx

Some can and some can't be repaired. I think you'd be best off getting it (as quickly as possible) to a luthier, and get their opinion.

It sounds like a soundpost crack - which I think are the worst sort

A lot worse if they are on the back. The front is far easier to repair and less likely to de-value the instrument. A soundpost crack on the back knocks at least 40% off the value of an instrument!!

Definitely take the instrument to a luthier as soon as you possibly can. The recent hot and very dry weather may not have helped, but, it's also very to easy to blame the weather. Excess dryness of the wood usually starts because of peoples cosy centrally heated homes in the winter, when the air becomes very dry and regrettably many people leave instruments (even in cases) too close to radiators.

Placing a humidifier in the instrument case, or a Dampit inside the sound-hole provides excellent preventative treatment against shrinkage, warping and cracks - but only if you remember to re-moisten the humidifier before it too completely dries out!

Fortunately I don't have central heating at home so the risk of my violins drying out during the winter is never an issue, but I do need to be careful this time of year and at the first sign of any buzzing when I play the instruments, they are straight down to the luthier for a check on the seams, because the glue can also dry out leaving the back and front plates parting company from the ribs.

Is buzzing a reliable first sign Amanda? (Just thinking of things to watch for!)

Thanks for the advice so far, I have found a local luthier and hopefully should be taking it to him sometime during this coming week.



xx

Any buzzing that suddenly appears could be an indication that something is coming adrift. It's usually very obvious if you pluck a particular srting or play a particular note because all buzzes etc. have a fixed frequency at which they will resonate freely. Ever noticed that certain rattles and/or squeaks inside a car appear when a particular engine speed is reached? Works on the same principle.

Not all buzzing on a violin indicates the seams are parting, sometimes a string is just wearing out and will develop the odd buzz, but if the buzz persists or gets worse, take the instrument to a luthier asap.

What about a buzzing on a brand new violin? But it got a little better after two week's of playing? Although a faint trace is still there?

Could just need playing in, or it could be something to do with the tailpiece or a fine adjusters (if you have them). Without wanting to sound rude, is it a commercially made instrument, or an individually hand-made instrument? Anything put together in a large multi-personnel worskshop will possibly be unplayed before being shipped out for sale, so it is unlikely they'd be aware of any issues such as rattling or buzzing.

The buzz you describe may just be a case of the instrument settling down, but if it continues or begins to get worse again, then I would advise taking it back to where you purchased it requesting that a luthier give the violin a thorough check.

I had a cello once that had a buzz when playing the C string. I changed the string, a luthier changed the string and in the end they even took it in to check all the seams. Nothing was loose and nothing was coming apart, but the open C string continued to buzz. It was a quirk that I never sorted out, but, while it was audible to me, anyone listening never seemed to notice it. So, if you can put up with the occasional buzz and the instrument is given a clean bill of health from a luthier, then it's often best to leave well alone.

If it is an old violin, then it would definitely be worth getting it repaired if you can, bacause old violins have such a lovely tone compared to new violins, my first teacher had a violin that played absolutely beautifuly because it was ahundred years old, you'd be best off taking it to a strings specialist, such as the shop in richmonds, and seeing if you can repair it.