Bass bar crack violins

When perfectly fitted, the bar is glued into place with violin making glue, usually perpendicular to the predominant contact surface as the curvature changes throughout the length of the bass bar. Bluett bros violins in york, pa offers repair services for violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, mandolin, mandola, mandocello, banjo, bouzouki, and more. A bass violin, also known as a violone, is a large, stringed instrument played with a bow. James koehler violins was formed upon the retirement of violin maker, william fleischer, owner of the violin shop florida. A more serious issue is cracking along the bass bar, which requires a full bass bar replacement. The violins of this maker and his father are properly very highly esteemed.

It was caused by some sort of fall or shock to the instrument. A few years ago, a cello i made suffered a drop that resulted in both a soundpost and a bassbar crack. This is a type of crack that runs along the side of the bass bar and the top of the inside top of the instrument. The bass bar is meant to prevent these by supporting the top plate and retaining its natural shape as it flexes. In a string instrument, the bass bar is a brace running from the foot of the neck to a position under the bridge, which bears much of the tension of the strings. Bass bar, an oblong piece of wood, fixed lengthwise inside the belly of the various instruments belonging to the violintribe, running in the same direction with the strings, below the lowest string, and acting as a beam or girder to strengthen the belly against the pressure of the left foot of the bridge, as the soundpost does against that. One day, from curiosity i mapped out how a normal bar, which has a. Experimental modal analysis on a violin with three different tensions of a bass bar is performed. Piedmont violins vintage and custom made instruments. Unlabeled new handcrafted workshop violin with bass bar crack for repairinstrument arrived from the workshop damaged. Now draw a line between these two new points i pencil in a line using a flexible metal ruler as a guide. If so, someone has varnished over the dirt possibly when the decoupage was applied and it has a very very badly repaired bass bar crack. The instrument is in nice shape except for this bass.

There should be a very small space on both sides of the saddle so that when the top contracts or the saddle expands. Jun 17, 2014 photos journey of setting the bass bar fiona with a fitted bass bar. These type of cracks are fairly easy if you take the top of the instrument off, but fixing it just from the outside is somewhat of a challenge, plus it. Qbcs fully handmade extension, topquality ebony body, crackresistant composite levers, elegant, precise, ergonomic and by far the best price for its superior quality. Fiber is black, pear wood is somewhat reddish, and maple is white or stained black. Tagged animal glue bass bar crack spruce top violin wood wood glue. Effect of bass bar tension on modal parameters of a violin. With quite a few cracks the bassbar crack and the line underneath the.

If you have a crack in a violin, you cant necessarily just glue it shut. Every string instrument has a bass bar, the wood piece inside that enhances the quality of sound and impacts the volume. Jun 28, 2016 under the treble foot of the bridge, the soundpost supports the top, transferring the weight to the back. Occasionally these types of cracks can be glued from the outside but most likely you will need to. James koehler violins llc is a repair and restoration shop servicing naples, fort myers, cape coral, punta gorda and port charlotte, florida. Lorraine did a great job repairing a crack along the bass bar of my cello which required hours of meticulous work, especially over the varnish. I was wondering, why a modern italian violin with a somewhat big. Fiber is black, pear wood is somewhat reddish, and maple is white or stained. The role and romance of the bass bar strings magazine. At the lower end of the bass bar toward the end pin mark this measurement plus 0. Bassbar cracks usually start at either the ends or the middle duh, but for different reasons.

Finally finished fixing the cracks and setting cleats, bass bar, and. At the upper end of the bass bar toward the neck, mark this measurement minus 0. Remote services may be available for out of state customers. A lower bout seam opening is being glued and clamped.

The new bar should have exactly the same length, width, height, profile, stiffness, grain width, etc. The second way, which we will explore in this article, is a quick fix. For violins, violas, and cellos it is important to prepare the instrument for shipping by packing the bridge. Photos journey of setting the bass bar fiona with a fitted bass bar. The proper way would be to remove the entire top by separating it from its ribs, apply animal glue to the crack joint, and secure the crack further from opening in the future by means of studs or cleats beneath the crack. Bass bar crack repair the fingerboard maestronet forums. As shown in the photos above, we have an example of a crack that runs about 2 inches above the left fhole of a viola. My clients are not well off, and dont play the violin, although her brother might want to learn.

I have the top off the violin, and the crack runs next to the edge of the bass bar about 4 inches starting at the saddle. Here is a viola that had multiple cracks in the same area. At the ends it is often a either a dryness crack, like a saddle crack, extending upward, or due. This is a crack that runs along the length of the bassbar on the top of the instrument. Bass bar cracks can distort the shape of the instruments top because of the strain of the bass bar occasionally these types of cracks can be glued from the.

Your source for stringed instrument repair in the st. Saddle cracks are normally caused because the ebony saddle has been fit too tight. Violin and viola same 3 pieces, cello 7 pieces, bass 10 pieces. Unlabeled new violin with bass bar crack for repair reverb. Several of our owners are master craftsmen who work in our workshop repairing violins, violas, cellos, and basses. Learn how violinmakers place the bass bar on fine violins, violas and cellos in. Louisarea violin repairs, as well as viola, cello, and upright bass repairs by top notch violins.

The bass bar is a piece of wood on the underside of the faceplate or belly of stringed instruments such as violins, violas or cellos it runs along the bass string of the instrument down to. When an instruments top is no longer has the correct arch then the bass bar needs to be removed. Effect of bass bar tension on modal parameters of a violins. A new bass bar and a series of cleets over cracks have been added to this repair. It caused the bassbar itself to come loose it didnt fit so well in the first place. Pegbox cracks varies according to severity and number of peg holes needing bushing. Those two factors would knock the price right down, even if it is by a genuine maker. Bass bar cracks can distort the shape of the instruments top because of the strain of the bass bar. Chalk is spread under the bass bar, and then the bar is pressed into place, removed, and inspected for even chalk on the bar. In addition to making hand crafted instruments, hershey violins performs all major and minor. Sound post cracks used to be much more common because case technology was not very good. What is the proper method of bass bar crack repair.

One day, from curiosity i mapped out how a normal bar, which has a sweeping, scooped look on the contoured violin top, would look if it were on a flat top rather than an arched one, by mapping the heights on a flat line, and was i surprised. Emmett 2011 stradivari cessol model, with a vibrant goldenorange varnish. Unfortunately, i have had the displeasure of seeing a bass bar on a double bass that had. Zaret has developed a new design for the bass bar which allows precise and effective adjustment to achieve the most desirable qualities of sound in all instruments. Michael is also a cellist at the phoenix symphony and he completed his masters at the julliard school. The fhole crack differs in this violin in that does not run all the way. Remote services may be available for out of state customers, contact us for details.

Serenata strings has performed at many wellknown establishments throughout texas and the dallasfort worth metroplex, please select. The bass bar is a reinforcing strut which is fixed inside the front of the violin and lies under the line of the g string. It strengthens the front plate and helps transmit low frequency vibrations from the string to the body of the instrument. His work is certainly very artistic and they stand far above any modern german makers.

Finishing the thickness and making the bass bar for a guarneri del gesu il cannone model. Major repairs including plate removal for crack support, fitting bass bar and all internal adjustments cosmetic repairs including missing corners and retouching we treat all instruments with respect and enjoy working to achieve the best result with patience and the best materials. It is the only way to glue a common fhole crack in violin and viola plates in an easy and clean way. Bass bar crack repair the pegbox maestronet forums. Body crack repair varies as it depends on severity, where it is located and what needs to happen for effective repair. Pegbox cracks varies according to severity and number of peg holes needing. This instrument was the predecessor of the modernday cello. Michael is also a cellist at the phoenix symphony and he. The usual repair consists of removing the old bass bar, gluing the crack, fitting a new bass bar, cleating the crack, fitting t. The instrument is in nice shape except for this bass bar crack.

Violin top crack repair fixing a short crack on a violin top. Under the treble foot of the bridge, the soundpost supports the top, transferring the weight to the back. New 5pcs violin bass bar clamps bassbar tool,violin viola. Under the other foot, the bass bar carries the weight, distributing it along the length of the. On this repair cleets are shown over a center crack on a violin top. There should be a very small space on both sides of the saddle so that when the top contracts or the saddle expands slightly there is a little extra room. The bass bars i fit and shape are significantly more robust than those found in violins from the baroque period and earlier. The best way to prevent sound post cracks in violins and violas is a good suspension case is a great idea. The bass bar tension is the only intentionally introduced modification of the instrument. A new bass bar needs to be carefully considered, usually a new bar will improve the sound of the instrument but when done it may take some time to play in. Quite regularly, a concerned player comes to the workshop with a buzzing instrument, that they just. Occasionally these types of cracks can be glued from the outside but most likely you will need to remove the top. I recognize that a bass bar crack is a serious crack, and will devalue an instrument. The plexiglass brackets hold the bass bar in position while checking the fit.

Bass violin is the modern term for various 16th and 17thcentury bass instruments of the violin i. The owner of this cello wanted it repaired, even if it cost more than it was worth. Then, remove the top and the bar and fit another bar parallel with the center line. My violin back plate comparison with two gennaro violins bw and two amati ii violins color. Repairing an instrument with a sound post crack triangle. I brought this up quite a while ago, and a couple of readers suggested just glue it, it might hold. Andrews fine violins offers a wide variety of bow repair and restoration thanks to the great cooperation with bow maker michael davanzo. Under the other foot, the bass bar carries the weight, distributing it along the length of the top. Why diy wont do when your violin suffers a major malfunction. When an instruments top is no longer has the correct arch then. Added a missing button, supported a bass bar crack, removed, regraduated and reinstalled the bass bar, did some. In order to do this you will need paper towels and masking tape. Oct 14, 2014 the bass bar is a piece of wood on the underside of the faceplate or belly of stringed instruments such as violins, violas or cellos it runs along the bass string of the instrument down to the bass end of the bridge, counterbalancing the pressure of the sound post under the treble end of the bridge, reinforcing the top plate and allowing extra string pressure. Cello bass bar crack repair wallace violins wallace.

It must have taken quite an impact because the chinrest was cracked in half and the. Bass bar occasionally an instrument will need a new bass bar, sometimes to improve the sound and sometimes due to damage, a crack running along side the bar, or sinking of the front. This required arching correction for the top of my violin, to smooth out those bumps caused by the uneven buckling across the top of the violin. These type of cracks are fairly easy if you take the top of the instrument off, but fixing it just from the outside is somewhat of a challenge, plus it saves the customer some money. A repair to a bass bar crack has been carried out in the workshop, and the whole instrument has been thoroughly reworked to bring it to optimum playing condition. Bows violin bows violin repairs basses cellos glendale hollywood pasadena rehair repairs violas. If you need to get in touch with me, please call 626 7952870 and leave a message on my machine. Set up the violin with the bass bar as it is and play it enough to familiarize yourself with the sound. I prefer to preheat the bass bar and top plate to about 100 degrees f.