Step 1 check to see that both ends of the confiner line are threaded through the setter forming a loop around the sound post saddle. This nice older german cello developed a long soundpost crack. You can get this kind of repair done cheaper, but this is a serious cello, worth the money to fix. So, after your eyes are done boggling, what would you charge. Atlantic violin supplies, located in new brunswick, canada, is a violin supply business providing value and service since 1993. Fitting a sound post patch the first priority for the luthier is to close the crack as perfectly as possible and then to create a counter form which will support the instrument from the outside while the cracked wood is being excavated and also while the patch is being fitted and glued into place. Its placement, length, thickness, grain orientation, and wood selection influence the tone of an instrument. Too tight a fit can result in distortion of a fragile top table and, worse, a soundpost crack. A crack in the area of the soundpost is serious, and in the case of many but not all student. For a small piece of spruce thats about 6mm thick about 7mm on a viola, about 10mm on a cello it makes a tremendous difference on how your instrument plays and sounds.
This is time consuming, expensive, and devaluing to the instrument. The fall of the soundpost jim clinton violins greenville, sc. Our inhouse workshop is able to provide immediate repair assessment, counsel, and. Buy cello set of sound post tools s setter, scissor setter, gauge, and sound post retrieve vwws. Forget everything written here about soundposts, the op is not talking about a broken post, and these comments are not really well informed. The symptoms of an inappropriately fitted post include. Here is a viola where the top was cracked into two pieces, there was also a small crack from the f hole up near the bass bar. You dont buy them ready made, btw, they need to be made of well chosen and well seasoned wood, and cut precisely to fit the individual instrument. Jun 14, 2011 the soundpost is the dowel of wood that you see inside the treble e or a side of your violin, viola or cello. Taking care barrie kolstein discusses soundpost adjustments. It serves as a structural support for an archtop instrument, transfers sound from the top plate to the.
Mar 28, 2016 the cost of the repair depends on the size and severity of the crack, and whether or not cleats are required. The cello in question is a very good instrument, and the damage to the top very severe. If your bridge is not straight you shouldnt have to take off the tension of the strings in order to straighten it. Cello set of sound post tools s setter, scissor setter, gauge. Strings violin shop 5842 merriam drive merriam, ks 66203. The violin now sounds really flat and quiet to be honest im scared to play it in case it gets anymore damaged. Drill a small hole in the end of the bushing stickapprox. The basics of sound post setting for most of these string postings i write as an educator, but this time i write as an enthusiast. The general guide for sound post placement for full sized violins is that the near front side of the sound post should be 18 12 the diameter of the sound post behind the back side of the bridge and centered on the right foot of the bridge, or perhaps slightly outboard from this position, but inside the outside border of the right hand bridge foot. The sound post plays an important role transferring the vibrations from the top plate to the back plate.
Repairing an instrument with a sound post crack triangle strings. The bridge should be placed with the feet centered between the fholes and in line with the notches in the fholes. Let the tears dry off of the patch bed and remember that the hide glue from gluing in the patch combined with the support of the cast will close the crack back up nicely. The sound post is fit to both the back and top plates, and is precisely placed in a position relative to the bridge and the bass bar. A little worriedyesterday i tightened the e string to quickly and it snapped. This bass does not have a soundpost crack but will need a soundpost patch now due to the past do it yourselfers thinking they know how to fit a post.
Repairing an instrument with a sound post crack triangle. The colored chalk could also show itself through the sound post crack which would be a nightmare worth remembering. The sharp point at one end is pressed into the post to hold it for inserting into the instrument. Violin repairs violin restorations violin bridge cello. They have the proper tools and knowhow for proper location. If you find it has fallen, you will need to take your cello to a local luthier to get it set back in place. Fitting a soundpost patch in the back of a fine old english cello. Fit and position of the sound post is critical to the tone of each string. The loss of value associated with sound post cracks is obviously quite substantial, but in our eyes a sound post crack does not make an instrument less desirable, as long as the price of the cello reflects its condition. The instrument has been hit or dropped and an impact has occurred. They carry a large selection of quality violins, violin parts, bows, construction woods, finishes, accessories, technical books, strings, and much more. When repaired properly with a sound post patch, the instrument can continue to be a reliable tool beyond your lifetime and perhaps even improve its tone.
How sound posts work on the double bass international. Using post setter, insert post into treble side fhole with post toward the tailpiece. To make the tool we need some thick wire, pliers, and waxed dental floss. Sound post cracks are very common in the long life of a violin family. Sound post cracks are very common in the long life of a violin family instrument. If you need a post, go to the best luthier you can and get it right. If you need to get in touch with me, please call 626 7952870 and leave a message on my machine. With this violin the more challenging job was to glue the other crack, about a. Occasionally these types of cracks can be glued from the outside but most likely you will need to remove the top. Violin, viola, cello and bass bass bar cracks bass bar cracks can distort the shape of the instruments top because of the strain of the bass bar. He found that if he introduced even the slightest tension to the fit of the post, the cello shut down completely, whatever the post position. Flip setter to the other end, insert into fhole and push, pull, or lightly tap post to obtain the desired position. You cant restring your cello without a sound post,as the top will deform or even crack.
The sound post is the piece marked in a string instrument, the sound post or soundpost is a dowel inside the instrument under the treble end of the bridge, spanning the space between the top and back plates and held in place by friction. And to clarify, a hairline soundpost crack on a jay haide cello would not warrant a 35k repair in my shop. What repairs are acceptable in the cello youre buying. The bridge pinged off and the sound post has broken off and is now rattling around inside the violin. The cello became much darker sounding with the french bridge but the c string response did not improve, so robin refitted the cello s belgian bridge and started experimenting with the sound post. Resettimg an existimg sound post is not a big deal and wont cost you much, if anything. The exact measurements and adjustments will be recorded in the certificate when the sound post is fitted. Jul 20, 2018 fitting a soundpost patch in the back of a fine old english cello. Violin repairs violin restorations violin bridge cello repair. Check for cracks or openings in the top or back, or anywhere a fallen instrument may have landed. Sound post patch if a sound post is too long or the instrument receives an impact, a crack in the top or back my result. Wrought copper press fittings were added to the product line in 2011. In a string instrument, the sound post or soundpost is a dowel inside the instrument under the treble end of the bridge, spanning the space between the top and back plates and held in place by friction. Check the sound post for an improperly fitted post or a post that is too short.
And to clarify, a hairline sound post crack on a jay haide cello would not warrant a 35k repair in my shop. Done properly, tone will not be diminished, although it will result in a slight devaluation of. As the sound post tension is critically important to the acoustic response of the violin a crack in this area will result in the instrument becoming unplayable. The sound samples for the three soundpost conditions were recorded as. This greatly reduces the value of the instrument affects the tone and is a very expensive repair. Another sound post crack with lots of other cracks on the top. Materials and tools block plane sharp knife wide gouge with tight sweep sharpened pencil. Ive been thinking of getting a new violin for a while now though i am quite happy to continue. Herdim deluxe small violin soundpost setter product number.
Those contribute to the acoustic richness of the guitar, but get more problematic the further the volume is. A cello is devalued if it has a repaired bassbar crack 2040%, a repaired soundpost crack in the top 3050%, a repaired soundpost crack in the back 4075%, although any of the above repairs, or any other repairs, if done properly, will result in the cello not being any weaker in the repaired area than before the damage occurred. Regardless, cracks can be repaired via a special glue or clamps that arch across the top or back of the violin. The other end, which looks like a hand, is for moving the post once it has been placed in the instrument. The sound post has a repair and restoration team comprised of luthiers with specialized training at european violin making schools and considerable international experience. My impression was that the job was to fit a patch, no more. Cello is 100% canadian owned and produces an extensive line of wrought. The scale gradations and the correct way to read them will be explained by the instrument maker on installation. The sound post has a variable scale for setting the exact length. Once inside the instrument, place the bottom of the soundpost onto the back in the approximate place where it will. If you fit it incorrectly, you can cause a soundpost crack. The cradle fits nominal 38 inch thick sound post, but can also hold 14 inch. Sound post cracks or bass bar cracks usually need to have the top removed and patched. I currently drive a late90s camry, and while its very old and crappy looking the trunk fits a large hiscox liteflite cello case perfectly.
A sound post crack is not actually in the sound post, but rather a crack in the top close to the sound post under the foot of the bridge. I can see of course, that work on a very good instrument might be charged at a. A post should never be so tightly fitted that it is forced into the upright position, as this can compromise the structural integrity of the instrument. The top of the cello is in rather poor condition and it bears this handwritten inscription. No sound post sound post at 517 position sound post at 530 position the long time average spectra, ltas, for these files are shown in figures 5 and 6. How to set a sound post, install, installation, soundpost. Also inscribed with pencil on he inside of the top is this. How much does it cost to fix a sound post in a violin. Keeping post at a slight angle move toward center widest area of body, then begin standing post upright.
Not sure what you did with the new bridge, and sound post placement, but it has made a good instrument exceptional. After a lot of thought and some experimentation, i made a tool to easily insert the sound post on a violin. Instrument accessories free delivery possible on eligible purchases. In order to repair a sound post crack the violin top must be removed, and a support cast made to assist in the fitting of the repair patch. The sound post and yeah, you can do it yourself will help focus the tone by coupling top to back.
When chalk fitting, especially as the fit gets close, you have to look carefully to find all of the chalk on the patch. Determining the height and fitting the post part 3. In some circumstances we just glue the crack and hope it holds, as would be the procedure on an inexpensive instrument. These are the worst belly cracks in violin building, they run above the sound post itself and can only be repaired in a very laborious manner. This instrument had lots of cracks a couple of them were only a couple millimeters apart. The top was filled with wood putty under the post as a repair. How to set up the bridge on a cello linda west cellos. Jul 12, 2018 this would likely enhance the depth and warmth of the bass, but maintain the point to its sound. I asked the original question because i want to know, not to raise eyebrows. In my opinion, the fitting of the sound post is the most difficult part of the procedure, requiring the experience of an individual who has cut thousands of sound posts for all designs of basses, so that it has become second. Below is a step by step pictorial description showing the proper use of the tool. You will need to rotate it slowly under the perfect lighting and, boom, there it is. For a cello, the price penalty is more like 10% for a sound post crack in the front and 40% for a sound post crack in the back. To place the post inside the instrument, insert the sharp end of the setter into the post, about 23 of the way to the top picture a gently lower the sound post into the instrument picture b.
My wife and i are looking to get another vehicle with modern safety features, and it seems like trunks have shrunk even in very large cars. I have now just got to learn how to get the best out of it. If sound posts are poorly fit and remain that way too long it can come to the damage seen in the photo above or even lead to socalled sound post cracks. At all times maintain awareness of post setter and edges of fhole to avoid damaging its edges picture 12. Instrument repairs t he sound post has a repair and restoration team comprised of luthiers with specialized training at european violin making schools and considerable international experience. When re fitting the post it was tricky to get the post standing vertically due to the flat arching of the cello, which could well explain why the previous luthier had fitted a short post. Acoustically, the sound post transfers vibrations from the top plate to the back plate of the instrument. Miles doubleday, our senior restorer, has over 20 years experience with ealing strings london, uk. I have been playing some of the bach cello suites this week and the tone and resonance is outstanding. Pull setter out of the post and out of the fhole, being careful not to damage fhole edge. Repairing a crack over the sound post requires a patch on the inside of the top plate. Email me your questions about this topic, and i will answer in the text of the document. It serves as a structural support for an archtop instrument, transfers sound from the top plate to the back plate and alters the tone of the instrument by changing the vibrational modes of the. Check for any loose glue joints on the instrument seams, fingerboard, neck mortise.
If a sound post is too long, we trim down the sound post to prevent the pressure from cracking the top plate. When a top crack passes over the sound post area it is the usual procedure to inlay a patch on the inside so that the pressure from the soundpost will not reopen the crack. Pittsburgh on its way to the grad school cello studio. Like a broken bone, a crack in the face of a violin can be an incomplete fracture or a complete break through the wood. The soundpost is the dowel made of spruce that transfers the vibrations from the top of the instrument to the back. Cello sound post patch rates the pegbox maestronet forums. T he sound post has a repair and restoration team comprised of luthiers with specialized training at european violin making schools and considerable international experience. It must have taken quite an impact because the chinrest was cracked in half and the bridge was broken. Youre likely getting a combination of overtone series now, some off the top and some off the back. Cello soundpost patch bloomington string instruments. Its somewhat difficult to give prices without seeing the instrument. A soundpost crack is tough to repair and results in. Fitting a patch to a crack that is not level will ruin the instrument. Cello products was founded in 1946 in cambridge, ontario and is a manufacturer of wrot copper and cast brass solder fittings.
A post that is too tight can actually crack the top creating a serious and expensive sound post crack while a post that is too short can cause the treble bridge foot area to cave in the thickness of the top at the soundpost area must be thick enough so that that area will not collapse around it. While a century ago, many shops didnt think twice about installing. The sound post setter is a small metal tool about 23cm9 long. Almost invariably, the sound post crack opens up in the patch bed. Apr 06, 2017 the soundpost is an integral part of any stringed instrument. The gemini sound post setter is a simple, easy to use tool for replacing or resetting the sound post in a stringed musical instrument. Homemade sound post insertion tool the pegbox maestronet.