Sound post crack violin

Sound post crack if a violin has the misfortune to develop a crack in the sound post area this will effect the instruments performance dramatically. It is important that the soundpost be put in its default position with just light force. As a performer i always found it a little disappointing that most of us dont have any skills in upkeeping our instrument, whether its carving a bridge, rehairing a bow, or setting a sound post. Here is a viola where the top was cracked into two pieces, there was also a small crack from the f hole up near the bass bar. View of a sound post through the end pin hole at the bottom of the violin. The sound of a bowed instrument violin family is not the sound of the vibrating string but the vibrating wood it activates through the bridge. What is the current thinking on the devaluation of instruments that have been damaged by sound post cracks in the back, replaced heads, etc. Otherwise, shrinkage cracks, fhole cracks, and other cracks are common on old instruments that have dried out and seen a little bit of weather. Dec 14, 2016 how to set up violin sound post please subscribe at least one new video is posted each and every day. But, dont microadjust your instrument for one concert with a slightly high or low tuned piano. At least one new video is posted each and every day. This instrument had lots of cracks a couple of them were only a couple millimeters apart. A soundpost crack is a crack along the back of the violin caused by an ill fitting soundpost or a rubbish luthier aha, well that makes more sense at least.

Loosen the strings and take it to a competent repairman. As a performer i always found it a little disappointing that most of us dont have any skills in upkeeping our instrument, whether its carving a. Check the sound post for an improperly fitted post or a post that is too short. The correct sound post position on your violin, viola, cello and doublebass is important to get the best sound out of your instrument. The quality of the sound your violin can produce largely depends on the form and technique you use when bowing, but sound post position and other factors can help or inhibit the sound quality as well. A back crack is so much more problematic than a top crackwhich is why it accounts for a much higher rate of depreciation. The quality, age, and grain width of the spruce will affect the sound of your instrument. The wood above the soundpost needs to be sturdy to handle the pressure of the soundpost, and a crack prevents it from be strong and conducting sound well.

Ive been thinking of getting a new violin for a while now though i am quite happy to continue playing this one. The high notes come from the wood between the treble foot of the bridge and the top of the sound post. Violin repair and set up optimising sound production when sam asked me to give a talk i was thinking about how, as violin makers, we can get the best sound from any given instrument. Sound post definition of sound post by merriamwebster. I learned that the repair for this problem is very expensive. Dutch violin soundpost patch the violineri melbourne. The fall of the soundpost jim clinton violins greenville, sc. When i started out, a post crack in the back was seen as the death o. If a sound post is too long, we trim down the sound post to prevent the pressure from cracking the top plate.

Bbc news uk magazine how to repair a valuable violin. This forum is a place for violinist and fiddlers to discuss every possible subject related to playing the violin and fiddle, teaching, learning, equipment, drive, talent, music. Constantly move around the sound post so you dont take too much off of one area, occasionally stop to measure. Jun 14, 2011 but, dont microadjust your instrument for one concert with a slightly high or low tuned piano. It is the string tension that really clamps the sound post into position.

The position of the sound post inside a violin is critical, and moving it by very small amounts as little as 0. An instrument without a sound post will sound weak, thin and hollow. In other words, how can we change or adjust different parts of the instrument in. I am just wondering what could be the worst to happen to this viola if i continue playing with the cracks. The sound post is a small dowel of spruce that is held by friction between the top and back plates of a violin viola, cello, or string bass, situated under the treble side of the bridge. This entry was posted in instrument, techniques and tagged manual, setup, soundpost, spruce, violin, workshop. In other words, how can we change or adjust different parts of the instrument in order to affect the sound quality as we wish. Repairing a crack over the sound post requires a patch on the inside of the top plate. Also includes inspection camera, sml3 custom inspection light, 12 volt power supply and usb extension cable school orders accepted. Aside from the fact that the maple is twice as thick in the soundpost area, necessitating that much larger a patch, there is a greater chance of the crack reopening. Specialized tools for standing up or moving a sound post are commercially available. When repaired properly with a sound post patch, the instrument can continue to be a reliable tool beyond your lifetime and perhaps even improve its tone. The cost of the repair depends on the size and severity of the crack, and whether or not cleats are required. On the bass side of an instrument is a bass bar, a cross section of which can be seen in the illustration above.

In resetting the soundpost to temporarily get the instrument up and working again, we are embarking on a complicated procedure. It transpired that the instrument had already had a very old sp crack and 2 old soundpost patches, one large, covering the whole breast, the other normal soundpost patch being let into this. Shorter, steeper wedges are prepared en masse rather than fitted to the individual pair of studs, the principle being that the swelling of the wood changes the balance too much to make it worthwhile fitting them in advance. The violin now sounds really flat and quiet to be honest im scared to play it in case it gets anymore damaged. Check for cracks or openings in the top or back, or anywhere a fallen instrument may have landed. Top players regularly return their instruments to violin makers, who move the sound post and adjust the bridge in an effort to optimize the sound. Since the damage did not migrate through to the varnish side, there was only a small bit of filling and retouch to achieve an excellent result. With this violin the more challenging job was to glue the other crack, about a centimeter to the left of the soundpost crack. If there is a way to damage an instrument, someone at some point has done it, and we have seen it.

The sound output and the response of a violin were measured for three positions of the soundpost. Moving it closer to the treble f hole usually makes the sound brighter, sometimes harder, the opposite direction makes the violin sound warmer, darker sometimes a little less powerful. In some circumstances we just glue the crack and hope it holds, as would be the procedure on an inexpensive instrument. Another sound post crack with lots of other cracks on the top. Mar 06, 2020 a back crack is so much more problematic than a top crackwhich is why it accounts for a much higher rate of depreciation. In our experience, the biggest reason that people are reluctant to consider a used instrument is that they assume used equals damaged. One case with my involvement was a ruggeri cello with a soundpost crack in the belly. Shorter, steeper wedges are prepared en masse rather than fitted to the individual pair of studs, the principle being that the swelling of the wood changes the balance. Shop for bows, instruments, books, sheet music, strings, shoulder rests, chinrests, instrument cases and more. Includes sound post setter vspclassic, smcello and smdb, helps to easily set the sound post in all size instrumenta from 18 size violin up to 44 double bass. The basics of sound post setting for most of these string postings i write as an educator, but this time i write as an enthusiast. In some circumstances we just glue the crack and hope it holds, as would.

Once the broken fragments are eased back into place, the next step is to apply pressure so the glue holds. This article will explain what is involved in performing a sound post reset. How to set up violin sound post please subscribe at least one new video is posted each and every day. I agree with most comments that advised you to stop playing the viola with a sound post crack. Making a soundpost triangle strings violin, viola, cello. They carry a large selection of quality violins, violin parts, bows, construction woods, finishes, accessories, technical books, strings, and much more. This instrument is a 1927 violin by kurt gutter, one of the better markneukirchen makers. It must have taken quite an impact because the chinrest was cracked in half and the bridge was broken. Repairing an instrument with a sound post crack triangle. There are three major cracks from the top to the bottom, as well as a couple of cracks on the side, which dont really affect the sound that much, but they look very ugly. As the sound post tension is critically important to the acoustic response of the violin a crack in this area will result in the instrument becoming unplayable. Join daniel as he travels the world exploring, helping violinists, violin makers and.

Please visit our website and see our other violins for sale. Mar 28, 2016 the cost of the repair depends on the size and severity of the crack, and whether or not cleats are required. Stradivari, gagliano, contemporary made or your lousy factory. What makes repairing a violin so fiddly is its arched body. I tried about 30 violins in a shop yesterday, and i was reminded that price is no. The movement of a post can definitely change the sound. When in position and with no string tension, the sound post should stand in position without falling when the violin is gently tipped. Good combination, helps measure length and the end angles of the sound post. Like a broken bone, a crack in the face of a violin can be an incomplete fracture or a complete break through the wood. When repaired properly with a sound post patch, the instrument. The long term effect of sound post adjustments is misunderstood by many musicians. The violin i want to buy has a repair is this a problem.

How to set a sound post, install, installation, soundpost. Violin viola soundpost adjustment pliers product number. You will drive yourself, your instrument and your violin maker crazy. Join daniel as he travels the world exploring, helping violinists, violin makers.

A dead giveaway that it was for export was the made in germany label. Drawing the absolute best sound from your violin is the goal of every violinist. What does a back sound post crack repair normally cost a crack of about 6 inches in length. Diy violin adjustments for better sound connolly music. A soundpost crack is tough to repair and results in. It also provides a measure of support similar to the bassbar, for the top plate at a position that is subject to the downbearing of the strings through the bridge feet. Sound post definition is a small post in an instrument of the viol or violin family set nearly under the bridge as a support and as a transmitter of vibrations to the back.

Also inscribed with pencil on he inside of the top is this. The instrument has been hit or dropped and an impact has occurred. That is why you get no sound if the sound post is directly under the foot the bridge. The sound quality was assessed with long time average spectra that showed small differences. The post causes the instrument to vibrate in asymmetric patterns which project sound very powerfully. Violin set of sound post tools s setter, scissor setter. I have purchased sound post blanks from other vendors. The bridge pinged off and the sound post has broken off and is now rattling around inside the violin. Regardless, cracks can be repaired via a special glue or clamps that arch across the top or back of the violin. Yinfente violin tool brass hold repair violin crack clamp luthier tool violin making adjustable size 1pcs. Simple spruce cubes are glued on either side of the cleaned crack without prior chalkfitting. How much does it cost to fix a sound post in a violin. Soundposts in student instruments fall all too often. Violin sound post measuring system smg2gauge and smproplus setter.

Sound post cracks are very common in the long life of a violin family instrument. Have the sound post checked to make sure it is not correspondingly too short or too long. Repairing an instrument with a sound post crack triangle strings. A trade violin is a fiddle made in a factorytype setting in germany for export to the us for sale. They were always rough cut that is you would have to spend time to sand them down to a proper diameter. Stewmacs sound posts come finished in a diameter appropriate for most fiddles. An instrument with a wellexecuted patch in the top can be a very healthy instrument indeed. First, the crack is cleaned out and glued not illustrated. Just a few last words about soundpost patches in violins. Suppliers of bowed stringed instruments and all related materials to musicians.

Violin free delivery possible on eligible purchases. Cost to repair a sound post crack in the back of a violin. The soundpost serves as a kind of fulcrum for the top plate so its position influences the action of the plates, the bridge and the strings. Violinviola soundpost adjustment pliers product number. Easy to use now even i can set my violin sound post. When a top crack passes over the sound post area it is the usual procedure to inlay a patch on the inside so that the pressure from the soundpost will not reopen. Fiddle talk violin discussion forum playing the violin. Buy violin set of sound post tools s setter, scissor setter, gauge, and sound post retrieve vwws.