JAVS Summer 2021

our violas to sound different during each season of the year, and to occasionally need adjustment. Using rich and specific language to describe your requests or issues to your luthier is the best advice I can give a violist. For me, a request such as, “make the A string less bright” or “can the C string project more,” tells me exactly how to move the sound post from its current position to achieve the desired change. The previous sound adjustment requests are a sharp contrast to an indefinite request such as, “please make my viola warmer,” which is more difficult adjustment to dial in for a customer due to the lack of specificity. To get your desired sound from your viola you should expect to go back and forth several times with the luthier making small adjustments to the sound post, as you evaluate the changes caused by the sound adjustment, until you reach the desired result. You should keep in mind that sound adjustments are both personally subjective and frequently a compromise. It is always possible that an adjustment of the sound post that provides the “perfect” A string could negatively affect another aspect of the timbre of your instrument, so I would suggest searching for “balance” within your instrument’s tone color and projection. Walking into a violin shop does not have to be a difficult or scary experience. A little bit of knowledge and string instrument specific terminology will go a long way toward helping you communicate with your luthier, and ensuring that you are able to keep your viola and bow in top performance shape. I would highly recommend consulting with a qualified luthier or repair person for any necessary or desired repairs, as nearly every aspect of stringed instrument repair is not “do it yourself ” or for the faint at heart. For those that wish to learn more, the resources below offer a more in depth look at the world of violin repair. Violin Restoration: A Manual for Violin Makers by H. Weisshaar & M. Shipman, 1988 Violin Making: Step by Step by H. Strobel, 1994 Violin Repair Guide by M. Atria, 2004 Violin Manual: How to assess, buy, set-up and maintain your violin by J. Gosling, 2019 Resources for Further Reading

Violin-Making: A Historical and Practical Guide by E. Heron-Allen, 2005 Kitchen table violin repairs: An emergency handbook for string players and teachers by L. D. Potter, 1997

Lanson W. Wells is the Assistant Editor of the Journal of the American Viola Society, and has enjoyed a fifteen-year career in the violin shop industry. He plays viola, violin, and guitar professionally and has performed as a member of more than ten regional symphony and opera orchestras. Lanson holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees, a Master of Library and Information Science degree, and a Graduate Certificate in Educational Technology.

Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 37, 2021 Online Issue

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