Instrument Maintenance FAQ
 What should I do to care for my instrument and keep it in great shape?
We suggest a check-up every six months to keep your instrument sounding its best, and this service is free. We look for developing problems and check your soundpost, bridge, strings, and bow. If you are an active player, you should consider rehairing your bow and changing your strings at that time.
Instruments never "go bad" without a reason. If your instrument doesn't sound well or is difficult to play, it probably needs a little TLC. To learn more read our free Guide to Instrument Care - A brief introduction on caring for your instrument and protecting it from harm. We wrote it so that children can understand it, and adults will find the information useful as well.
How often should I change the strings on my instrument?
Strings start unraveling internally as soon as they are put on the instrument and eventually will sound dull and lifeless and not play in tune. You should change them long before they fall apart or break. The more you play, the faster strings wear out. Each time you finish playing wipe your strings clean with a soft cloth- if you feel the cloth catching on the string, it is starting to unravel and its time for a new string!
Teachers tell us they want their violin & viola students to change their strings at least every six months if they play 30 minutes per day or 3-4 hours per week. (Some professionals change their strings once a week!)
Cello strings usually last somewhat longer, and if you play 30 minutes per day or 3-4 hours per week you should probably change the A & D strings every six months and the C & G strings once a year. When strings break prematurely it is an indicator that there is a problem with the instrument that needs repair.
How often should I get my bow rehaired?
If you are playing 5 hours a week, have your bow rehaired twice a year. If you have a stain on the hair by the frog, it's time. If you have an important performance coming, bring it in three weeks before to allow time for the new hair to break in nicely before the performance.
Why won't my bow tighten?
This is usually not a major problem and there are several possible causes. If you try to tighten the hair and it becomes hard to turn before the hair tightens, STOP - the hair is too long to be tightened and continuing will break the bow!
Bow hair stretches from use but also gets looser in warm weather. Loosen the hair until you can push the frog as far as it will go towards the grip. If you hold the stick level with the hair facing up, and the hair sags below the stick, the hair is too long and you are ready for a rehair.
If the frog will not move when you turn the adjuster, the eyelet is stripped and must be replaced.
I opened my case and found a lot of hairs were broken. What does this mean?
Your case is probably infested with moth or beetle larvae which are eating the hair and will also eat whalebone and tortoiseshell. If you open the case and find many loose hairs, pick one hair and look very closely at the broken end. The bug eats hair at an angle, while broken hairs have a square end.
This is tricky to see, but try this- break a hair and compare it with one you chose- if you see one slanted end, you have got bugs.
If you can still use the bow, vacuum out the case, put it out into the sunlight wide open for an afternoon, and later wrap a mothball in a tissue. Put the mothball into the case in an accessory pocket away from the instrument as the fumes will damage the varnish. Leave the case shut for a few days and you should be OK. And please take these precautions before you come for a rehair!
Are broken strings covered by your guarantee?
The Long Island Violin Shop guarantee offers protection against defects in workmanship and materials, and for the first year after you buy an instrument we will glue open seams and adjust bridge heights for free. Damage due to environmental conditions such as cracks are not covered. Wear and tear such as worn or broken strings, rehairs, etc are not covered.
What do I do for maintenance if I am not local?
Many of our clients ship their instruments here or time repairs with trips to our area. You can also call us for a referral to a good shop in your area - we have contacts all over the world.
How do I learn more about caring for my instrument?
What about insurance for my instrument? Everybody I ask has a different opinion.
Instruments and bows are easy to damage and expensive to repair, and insurance is vital if you have a nice instrument. We see many badly damaged instruments and bows each year and believe that you should carefully consider a separate policy for your instruments. Some of our clients have suffered accidents three days after taking their dream instruments home, and smashed them beyond repair.
If you have valuable instruments, consider insuring them with a musical instrument specialist, rather than homeowner's coverage. Our Guide To Insurance for Your Musical Instrument contains critical information about how to protect your investment.
Some well respected companies that supply this insurance include:
Clarion Associates (800-VIVALDI) www.clarionins.com
Heritage Insurance (800-289-8837) www.heritage-ins-services.com
Lark Insurance https://www.larkinsurance.co.uk/contact-us/musical-instruments
Merz-Huber (610-544-2323) www.merzhuber.com/musical.htm
As with any insurance, be sure you understand the "exclusions of coverage" which can invalidate your coverage.
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