Violin family instruments have tops, backs and ribs that are fairly thin. These plates expand and contract with weather changes. If they are subjected to sudden humidity or temperature changes and the plates can not gradually adjust to their new size, cracks can develop. If you develop cracks that are adjacent to the saddle, most likely it's a sign that the saddle is a little too tight and it's not allowing the top to contract. If your instrument develops a crack, it should be repaired as soon as possible. Be careful not to touch the crack edges with your fingers or get any dirt, rosin dust or polish into the crack. Many cracks can be glued from the outside, especially if it's in an area without too much stress. One of the seams may need to be unglued before the crack is repaired. Sound post cracks or bass bar cracks usually need to have the top removed and patched.
Violin Repair: It's somewhat difficult to give prices without seeing the instrument. It it's possible to glue it from the outside the range could be between $12 to $40. If the top needs to be removed it's about $300 and up for a violin. - Open the seam.
- Make a little mold to raise and even out the crack
- Glue the crack
- Put a little reinforcement cleat on the inside near the f hole
- Glue the crack that's near the bass bar
- Glue the seam
- Put a little bit of clear over the cracks. This helps protect the newly glued crack from dirt and weather.
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Usually this is a somewhat major repair. Also it would be ideal if all of the shards are still there.
The top would need to be removed. A mold made. The hole patched up with the shards or if some are missing a new piece of spruce would need to be fitted.
Then a sound post patch would need to be fitted.
Unfortunatly unless this is a really nice violin, it most likely isn't worth fixing. The repair cost would be over $500.
Thanks,
Craig
If the crack isn't too bad, then perhaps it could be simply glued from the outside, then just fit a new bridge.
Stress cracks caused by weather changes can usually be repaired without taking the instrument apart. Most of the time if you open one seam it will alleviate the pressure and make it easier to glue the crack back together. Stepping on an instrument sometimes creates cracks that are jagged and can't really be glued from the outside.
Since it's a rental you really need to discuss this with the shop you are renting from.
How long should one wait to allow a repaired crack to set?
My upright bass has had many glue-and-cleat repairs to the top. During this past steamy weekend, the bass got warm, and there's now a rattling open crack or loose cleat near the treble-side f-hole.
Assuming it can be re-glued from the outside, how long should I then allow it to dry before moving the instrument? Thank you.
Richard
I would give it 24 hours and it might just stop rattling. Most likely the crack will need to be cleaned out and then re-glued and clamped. Since it's close to the "f" hole, it's possible to repair it from the outside. If there is a cleat that's loose cleaning the crack and working fresh hot glue into it might also make the cleat solid again. If not the cleat would need to be removed.
Normally I like to keep cracks clamped for 24 hours.
Craig