Dwight Brown

As you do..... :-) DLB

I refer you to Dr. Funkenstein... DLB

Because I am a terrible person......... DLB

One thing to think about is that as far as I know Dendro is only done on the spruce (or other softwood) top. As far as Maple, Willow, or Poplar used for the back and sides I don't think the dendro experts for stringed instruments do that. Even Stradivari it would appear made instruments to price using less expensive wood for less wealthy customers or perhaps in times when supplies were low. Even the Messiah Stradivari violin has a flaw in the top along the treble side of the fingerboard. I have a vision of that flaw turning up when the master was almost down to the final scraping I think there may have been some very colorful Italian spoken in the shop that day. I haven't seen any Stradivari instruments with very irregular looking spruce for the tops. Neither have I seen any with very wide grain. The 1672 Viola "Gustav Mahler" does have less than perfectly straight spruce that is a bit wide the back and sides are quite plain poplar. DLB

I have a tendency to switch bows depending on how I feel and what I’m playing. I kind of spread the wear around some. I’ve been so disgusted with my playing recently that my bows don’t get much wear. DLB

The ribbon of hair is looking worn or really dirty. It may also be getting narrower. The trick is to get your bow rehaired before it gets bad. It's easier on you and certainly easier on the bow. Hopefully you have a good luthier who does a good job on bows. DLB

Polarisers will strengthen colors sometimes. I think I know where everything is I will try it. Just getting the angle right to capture the colors of the pearl may also be helpful. DLB

It might be precisely the wrong thing! I have a beautiful Emmanuel Begin Viola bow with beautiful pearl. I can try it on that . This photo just shows the eye and it's just an iPhone picture. DLB

I haven't tried it but perhaps a polarizing filter? Just a thought. DLB

I am inclined to agree with this on second viewing. As to pins vs splines I will leave that to Jerry and Josh. I think Jerry uses a double spline. DLB

If it is a good bow you probably need a bow restoration specialist to put a spline in. Sounds like a job for Jerry P. Or Josh Henry. It will certainly reduce the value of the bow but it should play quite the same. DLB

I wonder if wood would age/cure/dry faster if you roughed out plates first? You would have to decide what instrument it was for ahead of time. Maybe just a couple as an experiment? Different species for ribs/ back are also interesting. I have a wonderful viola by William Whedbe with a willow back ( he said it was a bear to work). I know Stradivari used willow and poplar for violas and cellos. The Stradivari "Gustav Mahler" viola. 1672 has poplar back and ribs. I don't know the reason for him to use this wood maybe it was cheaper and this was an economy build? Just a few disjointed thoughts. DLB

I think this is likely. I usually clean the screw carefully and then lubricate with graphite from a pencil. DLB

If it helps set the after length to 1:6 then if one string seems weak or not as you would want it to be see if you can improve that one. People get really caught up with this and design all sorts of wild tailpieces to compensate. They usually wind up back with a regular tailpiece. As always YMMV and if it works for you and it seems to help go for it. DLB

It happens! I opened my viola case a zillion years ago in my teacher’s studio to warm up for my recital check audition. My D string was broken. I put another string on and got on with it. Sometimes they just fail. Check to make sure the tailpiece, bridge, or nut haven’t got any problems and are nice and smooth. DLB