Mat Roop
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Posts posted by Mat Roop
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Depends on your definition of "worth" and "restoration". A simple rehair for $60 will make it playable then you can test it for performance and go from there. I am not into attributions, but my guess is it is a basic mass produced bow. ....check the dimensions... maybe it's a viola bow? Looks like the bore for the screw is worn.
Cheers... Mat
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Individual hairs in a hank are not the same diameter... therefore a hank of thin hair requires many more hairs than a hank of thick hairs.... so counting hairs is futile.
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Well... I would try to convince ( this always works!) the bow's owner to fit a new plate and rehair the bow... my cost would be in the order of $110... but... I would do whatever the customer wants, and document the consequences (if any)... its their bow, and their money.
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1 hour ago, Mike_Danielson said:
....The devices respondents suggest cannot be left on; so, they are not a solution.....
I leave mine on as long as I am working with glue.. and it holds the temp right on. Mind you I installed a thermometer thru the lid into the water so that I can keep an eye on the temperature just by looking... otherwise you would have to proactively take temp readings.
Cheers, Mat
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I just use a simple hot pot and set my glue pot into the water... works great. Had to adjust the T-stat though ...to lower the temp range.
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10 minutes ago, David Burgess said:
A quicky way of experimenting with downforce/ string angle. Slide the tail adjuster up and down without needing to reduce string tension, or retune:
David, with your experimentation...have you drawn any general tonal/ playability conclusions from changing the saddle height?
Thanks for sharing!... Mat
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First things first... have the violin properly set up ....by a professional. There are likely easy solutions to your problem. After all else fails then maybe look at "doohickeys" ... Mat
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Thanks Mark... appreciate your thoughts! I like the wood filler idea... do you use that to make a pattern & mold then carve the ebony to match, or trim, stain & leave the filler permanently?
Thanks!... Mat
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Just thinking about something I've never consciously thought about... When you fit a chinrest...
1-do you ajust the angle of the base of the CR to match the edge scoop of the instrument? or do you just rely on the cork liner to compensate?
2-do you ajust the angle of the clamp? .. ie the part that fits into the chinrest.. should it match the angle of the scoop where the chinrest sits?
3- then of course is the issue of the angle of the hole for the clamp
There are many opinions as to whether chin rests improve or impair the sound quality of the instrument & does the fit affect that?
Cheers, Mat
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I have never bought violins or bows on line... but... I do visit antique shops... and never pay the asking...amazingly every now and then there is a deal.
Travelling in PEI I bargained a $10 bow down to $7... I did not have my spectacles with me it was dark in the shop and when I got outside.... A nice Tourte copy with silver fittings... sold it for $700 after a cleanup and rehair.
In Florida I picked up a John Juzek viola for $75 ....well used and abused... Restored it and 3 years later sold it for $1100.
It's like panning for gold... only more comfortable
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Just feel bad my posting info about Optima is in the thread celebrating Dominant's 50th b'day
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Hey Diddle Diddle.... love that Fiddle book!
The H-A was my first book about fiddles and loved the read. Sure, it is way outdated, but I did not know that then, and it did inspire me to keep digging deeper.... Been a lot of fun over the years!
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so for the Optima Lenzner e-strings, I posed the question of why steel vs premium steel vs brassed vs gold directly to Optima..their answer...
For good to excellent players the best option is the 24K Gold strings since the strings are a bit heavier, but the sound is warm and clear at the same time.Gold coated strings don’t rust and dirt doesn’t stick to them which make them very durable.The Steel option carries the most traditional sound and its been produced the same way for over 100 years, so if a player wants a traditional sounding string then Steel is the option.They tend to get dark spots with time and usage, which is a normal thing.Premium Steel keeps the quality of traditional Steel strings but it carries a clear sounding resonance.The Brassed strings have a very thin coat of brass over Steel which curiously enough makes it sound richer than the traditional Steel and Premium Steel.The brass color changes to black with use and some people don’t like that, but they’re extremely popular in Japan for example.
All varieties com in gauges .024-.028 and in all different lengths, so they can be set onto violins ranging between 4/4 to 1/16 scales.FYI... Cheers, Mat -
7 hours ago, Rue said:
.... so was made prior to when I got it.
Thanks Rue
... got quite the chuckle out of your choice of words...your conclusion is spot on! ....it had to be made prior to when you got it... otherwise you could not have gotten it! ... tee hee!
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59 minutes ago, Marty Kasprzyk said:
A speaker cone is an example. It doesn't work without having a flexible edge mounting.
I have an old gramaphone from the '40s ... no electrical, just physical...the speaker cone is a hard mounted pyramidal inflexible wood box. The bottom of about 12"x12" is fully open in vertical plane at the cabinet front. The only volume control is the opening & closing of the cabinet doors... works amazingly well!
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22 hours ago, GerardM said:
Thank you Duke I don’t feel to bad about things after those kind words. I was feeling I’d made a laughing stock of myself. But as I’ve already said I’ll be back with a violin that shows my true capabilities.
Gerard.... keep in mind that capabilities is just a part of making a violin. Knowledge of what to do with the capabilities is equally important. When you watch great videos like those of Davide Sora, you see his exquisite capability, but you do not necessarily see the knowledge behind his master strokes. Every minute aspect of the violin has its secrets .... secrets that are revealed only when you study, ask and learn from the experts. Although some of the detail may seem unimportant, but I can assure you it is important. So, when you set out to make your next violin, take your time and study every step in absolute detail and make every step as perfect as possible... no shortcuts or "good enough". Also, be aware that there is a lot of bad information on the web... take time to sort out what is professional level and what is not.
Good luck, keep us posted and ask, ask ask!
Happy Easter!... Mat
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On 3/7/2021 at 7:34 PM, Strad O Various Jr. said:
Stuck pegs if you put the violin in the fridge for an hour or two, they will usually shrink enough to loosen up.
yes, and its also possible to split the top in the fridge
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David is right... all depends on where & how data is collected... We use the # of known active cases compared to total population by county. Our area has 151 active cases per 123,000. pop. or ... 1.2%... higher than we would like. we were at 50 cases just a week ago.
I applaud our gov't for the " Draconian" lockdown... If it saves just one life... it is worth it. .....Cheers everyone!
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19 hours ago, Televet said:
@arglebargle I am sorry if I said something to offend. The race is to survive long enough to be vaccinated and see this awful pandemic end. I live in a hotspot. Every day I go into work and face another day of fear and stress with my coworkers. I have been lucky to stay employed. Has it been a struggle, yes it has. I have lost family and friends. I have not visited with anyone outside my immediate family for year. Have not travelled except to my work. Have been working insane hours. I will gladly defer getting my life back until it's safer to do so. It does not feel safe yet. Again sorry to have caused offence.
No offense here... I understand exactly what you are saying. I would love to get my life back by opening my shop to the public again... but I will not, until I get the vaccine. My adult children all work, and my bride (of 49 yrs) and I look after the grand kids while they are committed to work. If we catch the bug, the entire family will be legally mandated to isolate and that would be a major disaster including financially. Masks, sanitization and distancing is a religion for us.
My shop is still busy, .. just all delivery & pickup is via curbside. Its a hassle , but it works.
Stay safe everyone!
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this isthe concept of how to safely "un-stuck" pegs... no tapping , undue pressure or force.
http://rezx.biz/photos/pegreleasebrochureweb.pdf
... shameless self promotion...
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I don't see a lot of broken bows... but with the crackline dramatically cross grain, are we sure it is a crack... maybe a wear mark of sorts from movement in a case against something? ... or maybe just a flaw in the wood?
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7 minutes ago, PhilipKT said:
Agree but as long as they will be there no reason not to look.
and there’s almost nothing in north texas. Sad, really.
Well then.... Time to get trained!
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Always wise to try to deal Local or at least in range... in case follow up quick service is needed.
Cheers! ... Mat
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I don't know of any teacher that receives "back door" commissions. ... Maybe I am blind. What I don't understand is why would a teacher accept a commission as that would drive up the cost of the instrument for the student, making the cost of lessons( for the student) even higher and possibly triggering the student to quit.... they should assist the student to get the very best price. I've had teachers call me saying their student is not well off and what can I do... and I always do something.
In any case, the Student is already paying the teacher to teach and selecting and using the tool for the task is part of what the teacher is already being paid for.
Successful teachers. luthiers and businesses don't need to manipulate the system for every penny.
Spirits of Wine
in The Pegbox
Posted
maybe you can suck the alcohol out using a closed vacuum system... no heat to set off a "splosion"