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What is a Professional String Instrument Setup?
For string instruments to sound great and function properly, it is essential that they are setup by a trained Luthier (violin maker/repairer).
A professional setup involves making adjustments to the bridge, nut, fingerboard, pegs and sound post of a string instrument; all of which affect its playability, usability and sound quality.
If a string instrument hasn't been setup correctly it will be difficult to play, difficult to tune, and sound terrible, which can be very discouraging for the player (especially for a beginner).
We are yet to find a manufacturer of student violins that offers a playable setup out of the factory. The setup therefore needs to be performed by an experienced Luthier.
At the Sydney String Centre, every string instrument is set up by one of our trained Luthiers, and played by one of our sales staff before it enters the showroom or is shipped to a customer.
We also provide free ongoing servicing with every instrument purchased from us, to ensure your instrument stays in optimal playing condition. Click here to learn more about what is carried out in a service and why string instruments require regular servicing.
Below are the 5 adjustments we make to all of our instruments during a setup, and how each adjustment contributes to a positive playing experience.
If you're looking to purchase your first violin, be sure to checkout our 'Beginner Violin Buying Guide' for tips on our to tell if you're buying a quality instrument.
1. Cutting & Shaping The Bridge
The bridge is one of the most important elements of a string instruments, as it affects both sound quality AND playability.
It sits in the centre of a violin, viola, cello or double bass, underneath the strings, on top of the belly, and provides a pathway for string vibrations to travel down into the resonating chamber.
To get the best sound, the path from the strings must be direct and uninterrupted. Our Luthiers use bridges made of good quality maple and the feet are cut and shaped to fit perfectly flush against the belly. They also reduce the weight of the bridge by making it thinner, which allows vibrations to travel through the bridge more easily..
We often get customers asking whether they can buy an 'off the shelf bridge', and unfortunately these don't exist. Bridges come to us as ‘blanks’ and need to be carved to fit the unique shape of the individual instrument and height to fit eh projection of the fingerboard.
In terms of playability, the bridge can affect how easy it is for the player to press their fingers down on the fingerboard and also how easy it is to perform string crossings (without hitting other strings).
Our Luthiers ensure that the bridge is cut high enough that the strings don't buzz against the fingerboard, and low enough for the player to easily press their fingers down without using too much force.
2. Dressing The Fingerboard
The fingerboard is the long black piece of wood that runs down the middle of the violin. It supports the player's fingers as they push down on the strings to produce different notes. Because of this, a fingerboard should be made from a very hard wearing wood such as ebony.
***Beware of cheaper instruments such as those found on eBay which may have white wood fingerboards, painted black to look like ebony.***
In a setup, our Luthiers will 'dress' the fingerboard by planing it down and removing any lumps that may be there.
This is to ensure that the strings have plenty of vibrating space in order to produce the best possible sound. If there are any lumps in the fingerboard there is a possibility that the strings will buzz.
3. Soundpost Fitting
The soundpost plays an integral part in both the sound quality and structural integrity of a violin, viola, cello or double bass.
It is positioned inside the resonating chamber, behind the bridge on the treble side, and helps transmit vibrations from the top plate to the back plate. The continuous reverberation of the vibrations in the hollow chamber is how the rich sound of a violin is produced.
The pathway between the top plate, the soundpost and the back plate must be direct and uninterrupted to produce the best sound. Our Luthiers use soundposts made of good quality spruce, and cut them to fit flush up against the top and back plates.
The soundpost also helps to preserves the shape of the instrument. If a violin doesn't have a soundpost, the top plate will start to cave in under the pressure of the strings. The sound of the violin it will also sound very 'thin'.
It takes great skill and many years of practice to cut and fit a soundpost properly, and with over 50 years combined experience, our Luthiers are experts in fitting sound posts and getting the best sound out of every instrument.
4. Peg Servicing
The pegs of a violin, viola or cello are used for tuning the strings. They have a tapered shank (reduced thickness at one end) and are held in place by friction when the peg is pushed in.
To tune with the pegs you must simultaneously push the peg in (towards the peg box), whilst turning (think of a cork screw action - pushing in whilst turning). Only then will the peg stay in place. To see a demonstration, check out our video on how to tune a cello.
Pegs that are Ill fitting can be difficult to turn and can easily slip out of place, which can be very frustrating for the player.
Our Luthiers ensure that every peg is cut and fitted correctly, so that they are easy to use.
They also apply a special compound called 'peg paste', which simultaneous helps the pegs run smoothly and hold their place.
5. Nut Sculpting
The nut (usually a small piece of ebony) is located between the scroll and the fingerboard. It is used to space out the strings and lift them off the fingerboard, creating space for the strings to vibrate.
An incorrectly sculpted nut can lead to broken strings (getting snagged in the grooves while tuning with the pegs) and can also cause the strings to buzz against the fingerboard (if it is cut too low).
Our Luthiers ensure that the nut is set to the correct height, and that the string grooves are perfectly spaced, smooth and properly lubricated with a lead pencil.
Once all these steps are carried out, we string the instrument up and have it tested by one of our sales staff before being sold.
If you have any questions about our professional setups, or would like to book a workshop appointment, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Click to view our online booking form.