Hello all! My name is Rob and I play Irish Whistle (only started last October…so I am learning) but the reason why I am posting here is because my wife used to play violin but has not played it in a few years. She just recently showed interest in playing again and hopefully once she gets back into it, maybe I can get her playing some Irish music so we can go to sessions together. Anyhow, her violin needs some work. Here is a snippet of her email to me about what is plaguing her violin:
As for the pegs, they either slip or don’t move easily, depending on the peg. I need to be able to turn the pegs with my left hand while I run the bow over the strings - have not been able to do that for a while. I have had to put my bow down, put the violin in my lap and use my right hand because I lack the strength in my left hand to turn the peg (I shouldn’t have to use so much strength).
Not sure what the make is. My violin is made from European Lupine (if that helps). Don’t recall the year.
Not sure which is cheaper - a new bow or getting the one I have restrung. I don’t exactly have the top of the line bow (not that I need one that fancy). I probably need some new rosin (what I have is probably dried out).
Yes, I need new strings - at least two sets I would think.
We live in Phillipsburg NJ…does anyone know of a place that can repair her violin within reasonable traveling distance from us?
I can’t help you with a luthier in NJ, since I live in Oregon. But I do wish you and your wife welcome.
Some thoughts:
If you take the instrument into a good luthier, he/she will recommend whatever needs to get fixed. New bridge, pegs, soundpost adjustment, adjusting nut and/or saddle height, etc is what is considered a basic setup, and is usually what needs to be done with older instruments in decent condition. Around here, this would cost around $150. Probably will cost more in your area because of the cost of living. The other good thing about taking it to a luthier is that it will get checked for cracks and seam separations, as well as neck angle and fingerboard scoop and the more in-depth sort of shtuff.
Strings? Try something like Zyex or Tonicas. Even Corelli Crystals. Tonicas were on sale at many places online not too long ago, and at $25, are a good deal. Warning: you will probably pay significantly more than that in a shop versus online sites.
About the bow: Have the luthier check it out to make sure it is structurally sound and decently functional before deciding rehair versus new bow. The luthier will tell you if it’s worth rehairing or not.
I agree with awildman. Find a competent luthier to do a check-up/setup, both fiddle and bow. If your local schools have an orchestra music program, ask the music director for a recommendation. Or heck, call the C.F. Martin repair guys in Nazareth; they’ll probably know.
For strings, Thomastik Dominants or D’Addario Helicores are two popular choices for trad fiddlers.
Sorry, but I can’t help with the location-related issues either, but as for the slipping pegs, get a tube of Hill’s Peg Compound. I tiny smidge will fix that problem. For rehairing a bow, best left to the competant repairman when you find him. Some old bows aren’t worth it, but many are. And I second (or third or fourth) the idea of getting a good tech to look at it, even if it means a little travel. Lots of things can get out of whack with time, and a trip to a good tech almost always pays off well.
Strings? I like Dominants, but YMMV, and probably will. Any idea what your wife had on it originally?
Thanks for the replies guys. I was able to get a listings of luthiers in PA. One of them is about an hour away, so I am going to send him an email. The strings that she had on them were Dominant.
Oh just in case you want to know, the violin was made in Austria in 1897 made out of European Lupine. There is a name on it but it is not legible anymore.
I can easily recommend someone not too far from you, in Riegelsville, PA going south on Rte 611. Bil Mitchell and Sarah Dieterichs run a little shop called Guitar Parlor, where Bil makes his own (Mitchell) guitars, and Sarah adeptly repairs anything with strings on it. And you can’t meet a nicer couple of folks either. Should only be about a 30 minute drive for you or so. Here’s their website link:
My wife and I took a ride down to Guitar Parlor and met Bil and Sarah…and greenspiderweb was right…really nice people. Sarah is going to get my wife’s violin fixed right on up in about 2 weeks time. So this is going to lead me to another posing about playing ITM on a violin…but that is going to be another post.