Teaching: How to Properly Repair Violins or Violas

Teaching on Violin-family Repairs: Course Synopsis

Teaching on Common Repairs and Set-up Issues

1. Fit a new bridge
   1. adjust for ease of playing,
   2. adjust for optimum sound.
2. Make and fit (and adjust) a new sound post
   1. Re-install (and adjust) a fallen soundpost
3. Fit new pegs
   1. Deal with slipping or sticking pegs.
4. Install a new set of strings.
5. Install and adjust a tailpiece
6. Install and/or adjust a nut
7. Install a chinrest
8. Re-hair instrument bows
9. Resurface (dress) a fingerboard, and
10. All tasks related to cleaning and set-up.

Teaching about Less Common Repairs:

1. Missing parts
   1. bellies or backs
   2. neck/scroll
   3. button
2. Broken parts
   1. Ribs
   2. neck heel
   3. necks.
3. Grafts
   1. Scroll
   2. Button
   3. Corner
   4. edge
4. Cracks
   1. f-hole
   2. saddle
   3. soundpost cracks, using “bathtub patch” method.
   4. Bass-bar cracks

• Peg and End-pin bushings,
  • traditional “plug, drill and ream” bushings as well as
  • “spiral” bushings.
• Missing wood
  • from bellies,
  • corners,
  • ribs and
  • necks.
• Open glue seams
  • center seams in both backs and bellies.
  • Rib seams
• Varnish issues
  • Heavy re-touches in cases of extreme damage, matching color as needed.
  • Complete re-finishes, in cases where someone else has stripped all the old finish off.
  • Using traditional oil varnish, and spirit varnish
  • Using glazes
• Shorten ribs at the endpin, and re-fit the plates, in a case where there is missing wood from the center seam, and the whole instrument ends up a few mm narrower (Not something usually done, but still can happen.)
• Bow Repairs
• Case repairs