The Best Rental Values in Georgia
Back to School Special!
Instrument Maintenance
All string orchestra instruments need regular adjustments and maintenance throughout their lifetime, and ensuring the proper set-up of your instrument is key to keeping it in good playing shape.
The body of a string orchestra instrument is made of solid hand-carved wood of different types and cuts, and is varnished on the outside but not on the inside. This makes the wood susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity, usually brought along by the changing of the seasons and sometimes the transporting of the instrument from place to place.
Whether it's replacing old strings or an old bridge, gluing open seams, even cleaning old rosin off the body and ensuring that the pegs are properly lubricated, you'll want a knowledgeable person to perform regular maintenance on your instrument so it can keep sounding it's very best.
Taking Care of Your Instruments at Home
You should make sure to bring your instrument to us regularly for adjustments and maintenance, but there are some things that you can do at home to keep your instrument looking and sounding it's best between visits to the shop. Here we have a list of some of the basic things you should be doing to take care of your instrument. If you have any further questions about what you can do to take care of your instrument at home, give us a call or come into the shop where one of our experts can help you.
-
If your instrument is not in your hands or being played, it should be on an instrument stand or in your case. Do not leave your instrument on the floor or in your chair!
-
Loosen your bow when you are not playing to relieve the tension on the hair, this will help it last longer.
-
Gently wipe the extra rosin off of the wood and strings with your cleaning cloth every time you are done playing.
-
Instruments are very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity due to the type of glue used to make and repair them. Avoid leaving them near heating/cooling vents or in hot/cold cars.
-
Be aware of the changing of seasons and the effect they can have on your instrument. If you have questions about what you can be doing in different seasons, call or come into the shop for more information.