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Change of Season and Your Instrument

12/16/2015

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Every year around this same, the instruments in our shop tell us that the season is changing. They tell us that the heat has come on and is drying out the air, and they tell us this in a variety of ways: pegs are shrinking and thus slipping, causing the tension to release from the bridge. Bridges are then free to move about, and sometimes even fall over. With the string tension released from the bridge, the sound post is freer to move or fall over. The result is a big mess that can take time to rectify; with as many instruments hanging for sale as we have here at our shop, it can take days to rectify.

Summer has faded into fall and winter is on us. The heat is coming on in our houses. Pegs are beginning to shrink, and so is the top and back of our instruments. As the back shrinks to its winter setting, the neck angle rises, causing the strings to get closer to the bridge. This is especially true for cellos and basses, but also for violins, violas, and other stringed instruments with necks. The shrinkage of the top causes the sound post to be tighter, sometimes resulting in a more shrill sound, a more brittle type of sound. The drying can also cause glue seams to open, particularly at the upper and lower bouts where the string tension is concentrated.

This month we set up our humidifiers throughout the shop building. Ideally we would like to see the humidity level to be between 40 and 60%; this tends to keep the instruments steady. Instruments will slowly adjust to the change of season, but must be checked for slipping pegs, tight sound posts, open seams, moving bridges, and changes in neck angle. Your instrument will tell you when it is not happy or something is not right; the sound changes and the response is not what you expect, much like your car lets you know when something is not right. Keep your ears and eyes open, and take good care of your instrument as it makes the transition from heat and humidity to cold and dry conditions.

Bring your instrument in for a free check-up! 
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Amherst, MA Shop

18 Kellogg Ave., Amherst MA 01002
(800) 766 0936 or (413) 256 0936 
​info@stamellstring.com

APPOINTMENT HOURS:
Tuesday -  Saturday: 10am - 4pm
Open 4-5pm by appointment only.
Walk-ins welcome but not guaranteed after 4pm.

Closed Sundays and Mondays

Poughkeepsie, NY Shop

5 Manchester Rd., Poughkeepsie NY 12603 
(845) 337 3030
ny@stamellstring.com


APPOINTMENT HOURS:
Tuesday -  Saturday: 10am - 4pm

Open 4-5pm by appointment only.
Walk-ins welcome but not guaranteed after 4pm.
Closed Sundays and Mondays​​

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Stamell Stringed Instruments does not pay teachers commissions, sometimes called referral fees, finder's fees or "kickbacks".  To read more about this unethical practice, please click here: http://fineviolinsbydavid.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Ethics.pdf

© Stamell Stringed Instruments - 2023 | 18 Kellogg Avenue Amherst, MA 01002 | 5 Manchester Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 | 800 766 0936 | info@stamellstring.com
  • About
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Monthly Sales and Specials
    • House Concerts
    • String Teacher Directory
  • Instruments
    • Violins >
      • Professional Violins
      • Advancing Student Violins
      • Fractional Violins
      • Violin Rentals
    • Violas >
      • Professional Violas
      • Advancing Student Violas
      • Fractional Violas
      • Viola Rentals
    • Cellos >
      • Professional Cellos
      • Advancing Student Cellos
      • Fractional Cellos
      • Cello Rentals
    • Pierre Marcel Instruments
    • Ovington Estate Instruments
    • Cornelissen Estate Instruments
    • Baroque
  • Bows
    • Violin Bows >
      • Professional Violin Bows
      • Advancing Student Bows
      • Carbon Fiber Bows
      • Stamell Student Bows
    • Viola Bows >
      • Professional Viola Bows
      • Advancing Student Bows
      • Carbon Fiber Bows
      • Stamell Student Bows
    • Cello Bows >
      • Professional Cello Bows
      • Advancing Student Bows
      • Carbon Fiber Bows
      • Stamell Student Bows
  • Rentals
    • Rent Now >
      • Violin
      • Viola
      • Cello
      • Bass
    • Our Rental Program
    • Rental Rates
    • Insurance
    • Sizing
    • School Rental Services
    • Pay Your Bill >
      • Update your payment information
    • Rental Exchanges and Returns
    • Equity Quote
    • How To Videos
  • SHOP
    • Cases
    • Chair and Stools
    • Chinrest Comforters
    • Endpin Stops
    • Humidifiers
    • Gift Certificates
    • Masks
    • Metronomes and Tuners
    • Mutes
    • Rosin
    • Sheet Music
    • Suzuki Books
    • Shoulder Rests
    • Strings
    • Stands
    • Accessories
  • Services
    • Try Our Instruments
    • Restoration and Repair
    • Appraisals and Evaluations
    • Bow Rehairs
    • Shipping Information
    • Policies
  • Workshop
    • Schedule an appointment
  • Make an appointment
  • Through the f-hole: a blog by Stamell Stringed Instruments
  • Current Bow Offerings
  • Link Page
  • Product
  • House Concert with Randal Bays - NY
  • Product