Rue

Well...at least it keeps them off the streets, and maybe they're even practicing... The last photo cracked me up... https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/putting-musical-instruments-in-pants-instagram/

I dunno...playing a saran wrapped violin doesn't seem "right" somehow. Plus, I would think that would make the player sweat even more, and then the plastic wrap would get slippery and then they'd drop the violin and then they'd have to explain it to their luthier when they take it in for repairs...

Happened to me too, yesterday. MN worked on my phone, not on my laptop.

Is Tarisio always this 'iffy' on their attributions?

Why are there so many toes in the photo?

In this episode of CSI: Violin, I'd like to suggest that maybe the seller carved and added this scroll to an old instrument. Anyone else notice the carved mask in the workshop? Coincidence? I think not!

Yes! Thank you! I also rather like the idea of mammoth ivory being used, and appreciated, in a useful manner... To have, and use, a bit of an ancient artefact on a daily basis, is awesome.

Ohhh! THAT kind of meth!

...at least your pegs serve a purpose...

Under the cover of darkness, with his headlights turned off, the stealthy luthier drives across the border to attend a prearranged rendezvous with the sad vendor of the highly prized, banned, material. Reluctantly, and with furtive gazes around them, they exchange parcels. Not a word is spoken. The silence is complete but for the rustling of the leaves and the chirps of crickets. With a slight nod of his head to signal his farewell, the vendor tucks his slim parcel into his jacket pocket, turns and heads to his favourite local hangout, to drown his loss in a pint of beer. The luthier quietly drives his vehicle back over the border to his home state. Once safely there, he turns on his headlights and... ... ... ... shouts "YEEHA"!!!! It's MINE!!! It's all MINE!!!!

I need time to ponder...

1. Where's proof that it does any harm? Again, if it's protecting the underlying varnish and preventing sweat-related wood rot, why would you need to remove it? It should be preserving that area...I believe that would be a "good thing". I'm not promoting the use of polyurethane on violins (or suggesting we rush and put all Strads in a poly-dip for posterity) - just wondering why it might not have a useful use. Summoning the spirit of Mike - has anyone actually done an experiment of this nature? Or are we all (with the possible exception of Jeffrey) just offering up personal opinions? BTW - as was mentioned, it is used on guitars...even higher end ones. I think all of mine have a polyfinish...very comforting at the moment since it's so hot outside...

...or, I could just take Jeffrey's word for it...

Well now...let's see... My variables would be; 1. Shellac sweat-affected areas 2. Polyurethane sweat-affected areas And possibly 3. Shelf liner (er, on the instrument, not the player). Plus my control: Do nothing. So, in order to have sufficient data to apply some meaningful statistics to, I'd need a sample size of 30-40... Outside of finding enough more-or-less "identical" instruments - do you think I could get away with using the same exceedingly sweaty man (or woman), or would I need 30 or 40 sweaty men (or women - certainly not both, that would be another variable)? Or would all the different sweat types be another variable? So many factors to consider! But first, maybe I should start with a *rumandcoke* and carefully word my hypothesis.