Maintaining an instrument

Violins and other stringed instruments are organic objects. The pliancy of wood is part of what makes fine instruments sound so rich — but it is also what makes them tricky to maintain.

There are several pounds of pressure on certain areas of the wood top near the soundpost area and under the bridge feet. This pressure is what allows the strings to resonate and the sound waves to project out in to a hall, but it also puts stress on the wood which can expose issues over time.  

Humidity is a serious factor. For lack of a better analogy, the instrument is almost like a wooden balloon that can expand and contract with moisture or dryness. A stable climate, e.g. having a consistently dry environment or vice versa, is easiest for an instrument. However, most climates around the world have seasonal swings in humidity and dryness and other unpredictable changes in weather. These changes can cause an instrument to crack, and seams can open even from minor incidents. 

Maintaining an instrument requires regular checkups with a qualified repair technician/restorer. Musicians themselves may not even notice the gradual changes in their instrument and the deterioration of the sound until things are not working properly. Typically they notice a problem when their effort to produce a once-easy sound is starting to require a lot of effort, work and fitness to overcome. An expert must use several tools to try to even out all the drastic changes and return the instrument to its best sound. 

And what if the instrument is actually damaged and needs repair or restoration? With the nature of the instruments being made of wood, cracks will happen over time. In fact, it is normal that all instruments that are played regularly, especially after several centuries, will have a repaired cracks over their lifetimes. This does not typically devalue the instrument, except if it affects certain tone producing areas like the soundpost or bass bar. 

Strumenti.com ensures all instruments are insured to cover the costs of a restoration (and/or devaluation, if any). In addition, all musicians will have maintenance and use agreements for the instruments, to keep them in their best possible condition. These agreements require regular checkups with authorized restorer or repair technician of the highest quality and expertise. We oversee and approve even minor sound adjustments and regular routine maintenance requests, limited to work from the best restorers in the industry worldwide. 

With proper maintenance and care, these incredible centuries-old instruments will continue to “live” on, providing livelihood to musicians — and enjoyment to audiences and patron-investors — for many centuries to come.

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