h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It would appear that mine has come lose which isn't surprising as I've not had it out in 8 years or so.

Now the last time I had to have one fitted was in primary school and my teacher did it

What I want to know is if I invest in a tool, how will I know if I've got it in the right place I've watched several you tube videos and it looks easy enough but I'm still feeling a little dubious about it.

What damage could you do if you try to do it yourself

I'm not sure that's why I'm reluctant to do it , I know the sound of the violin could be out if it's not placed correctly but I'm not sure if this in turn could cause other tonal damaged If that makes sense.

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'Ask h2g2' to 'Towel Shop open for business'.

Why have you moved it I'm asking for advice, I thought that's what ask was for?

Me to odd the way the machine works some times

The wrong place so the moderators tell me. I'm so confused now. I'm really not doing it on purpose

Don't worry about posting in the wrong place. Even veteran researchers like me are not used to the current arrangement.

I'm still not sure where the problem lies. Is your violin flat? Sharp? Are you using good-quality strings? My grandfather had a violin, and my uncle inherited it, and he's been taking lessons in his eighties. It's no Stradivarius, but a family heirloom is a family heirloom. Is the bridge warped? Are the screws rusty?

None of those things Paul. The sound post inside the violin has come lose and is now rattling around inside it. It's quite important as it effects the tone of the instrument.

My advice, take it to a shop to get it sorted.

You'll be faffing around more than you can imagine. It's not an expensive job, and you'll know it's done right.

There are no shops in my town I'm afraid that's why I wanted to know how easy it is to fit

None at all or even nearby?

I know from experience (the wife's, not mine) that there's loads of places that can fit them. Might be worth asking in a local music shop for recommendations? Often there's Little Old Men that repair instruments from their garages/front rooms.

The little old man who used to do it has passed away.

The nearest place is an hour and a half away. They have quoted £25 as long as there is no other "tonal damage"

I personally think £25 to do something that literally takes a minute is very steep (baring in mind it's only £35 to get your bow rehaired which obviously takes longer) and this other mention of other possible damage is a worry. I'm afraid they'll end up charging me an arm and a leg.

Restringing the bow doesn't take as long as resetting a sound post.

When you reset it, you then have to check the tonal setup and then adjust the post until it's right. And you have to do that whilst continuously tuning and retuning the violin.

It can take quite a while, and is a serious faff.

That quote's not at all bad, I've seen £50 regularly paid.

Ah ok then

We've got 7 violins and 2 violasviolas in the house, you start to pick up on how much maintenance they need

Yes, I have two violins. One is the one I originally learnt to play on, and is now very old and needs restoring but I can't bear to part with it. I can't make the other half understand why I'm so particular about how and where they stored.

>> I can't make the other half understand why I'm so particular about how and where they stored.<<

Move her sewing machine and quilting kit to the garage floor where it might get kicked...

The her would be me Rod

Oops QOTD alert