TIPS ON CARING FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS

Temperature, humidity, etc.

A stringed instrument is comfortable where you are. Ideally they should be treated as dearly as an infant. If temperature or humidity conditions are too extreme for you, most likely they will be more so for your instrument. It is better to err on the side of too much humidity than too little. During low humidity conditions,. cracking may occur. Using a humidifier or Dampit in your instrument when the humidity is below 35% is recommended. A good emergency humidifier can be made by placing a wet paper towel into a perforated zip lock plastic bag. This can then be placed into the case's accessory compartment.

Do not leave a stringed instrument in an automobile. The inside temperature of an automobile can easily reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit. This would be hot enough to melt or bubble most varnishes. If the instrument is frozen do not take it out of its case right away. Allow the temperature to stabilize for a few hours before removing it. This will allow it to thaw slowly, reducing the chance of seams opening and condensation formation.

Maintenance

Always wipe the rosin and perspiration from the instrument and bow before putting them away after playing. A soft clean cotton flannel cloth is ideal for this purpose. Cleaning cloths are available at most violin shops. The rosin will build up along with dirt to form a gray-black encrustation as seen on a lot of older instruments. Perspiration is acidic and will degrade varnish, it will also corrode strings. A light polish can be applied to the instrument just about everywhere except the bridge and where the horse hair contacts the strings. Use only a dedicated violin polish, but even these can be risky. Keep alcohol and other solvents away from your instrument; they must be used carefully. It is best to have a professional luthier clean and polish your instrument. ( see our services page )

Repairs

Cracks and other damage should be repaired as soon as possible. A clean new crack is much easier to repair and hide than an old dirty one.

Allow only a seasoned veteran repair person to handle your instrument needs ( see our services page ). It is better to spend a little extra, than to pay for bargain destructive repairs. I have seen repairs so bad the instrument owner should have been paid by the repair person to ruin their instruments. On the other hand, expensive repair doesn't guarantee quality workmanship.

Storage

If an instrument is to be stored for a long period, proceed as follows. Loosen the tension from the strings, leaving the bridge in place. The bridge can be wrapped in paper and placed under the tailpiece to protect the varnish in this area. Although this can cause more varnish damage to instruments with soft or gummy varnish. The same is done when an instrument is shipped, although sometimes the sound post is removed. It is a good idea to place several moth balls (in a perforated plastic bag) in the accessory pocket. This will prevent bow bugs (moth larva and carpet beetles) from destroying the bow hair and case lining.