Check your bridge, pegs, and soundpost:
Because of the fluctuating dry heat and cold temperatures, many players spend a lot of time tuning their instrument.  The constant tightening and loosening of tension can shift the bridge and potentially warp it.  The pegs also tend to shrink over time, which can lead to slipping and seams may open up, which will cause a buzz.  Bring your instrument to Stamell Stringed Instruments and get your violin, viola, cello, or bass checked over for these possible adjustments.  At Stamell Strings, this will be a free service.
Get yourself a humidifier:
​A humidifier is a good option to keep the humidity level between 40-60% during the dry months.  While we highly recommend a room humidifier ($100-$200), economical options are Boveda, Stretto, Oasis or Dampit, which go inside the instrument/case.   You can view our offerings below:

D'addario Planet Waves

$6.99
This humidifier protects instrument from damage using an open cell phenolic foam to regulate humidity. Holds water without becoming drippy and is easily refilled with an included syringe. Ideal for acoustic or classical guitars, violins, violas, clarinets, and other small to mid-sized woodwind instruments.
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Dampit

$15.75 - $16.75
The Dampit is made of the finest materials, long-lasting and easy to use. With proper care your Dampit will give you years of good service without needing frequent replacement. Because of the unmatched reliability of the Dampit, musicians all over the world have trusted it to protect their precious instruments.
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Oasis Case Humidifer

$19.95
This style of Oasis® humidifier attaches to the inside of your instrument case. To accomplish this, two powerful neodymium magnets are inserted in the seam of the humidifier. The magnets attach to either a steel clip or a stainless steel strip with adhesive backing (both are provided with the humidifier). The steel clip fits over the side of your case, providing a flat vertical surface to which the magnets can adhere. The neodymium magnets are strong enough to keep the humidifier attached to the clip or strip, but still allow the user to remove the humidifier with ease.

​This humidifier can be used in stringed instrument cases such as violin, viola or cello by attaching the stainless steel strip to the inside of the instrument case with the double sided tape. The steel clip and strip give the user a wide variety of ways to attach the humidifier to the case. Like all of our humidifiers, we provide a 10 cc syringe for distilled water filling control.

The Case Plus Humidifier is the same size but has 50% greater humidity output (which also means it will have the be filled more frequently).  This humidifer comes in handy when the humidity is 25% or less. 
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Because tap and bottled water have dissolved minerals that can clog the liner, distilled water is recommended to extend the useful life of your humidifier.
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*New* Boveda Wood Instrument Humidifier

$16.99 - $22.99

Boveda's new leak-resistant holder is the elegant solution for easily placing and removing Boveda where they're most effective.


Made of a soft material similar to a polishing cloth that won't scratch your instrument, the holder not only makes placing the Boveda in the sound hole and near the headstock incredibly simple, the holder also provides a measure of protection in the unlikely event of a Boveda leaks due to impact or puncture from a sharp string.


The Wood Instrument Starter Kit contains 2 Boveda humidipacks and a Boveda pouch holder which can hold up to two Boveda packs. We recommend that violin and viola cases use 1 Boveda pack at a time and cello and bass cases use 3 Boveda packs.


Boveda then goes to work responding to ambient humidity by adding or removing moisture as the conditions require to maintain the perfect 45-55% environment for your instrument. And because Boveda requires no activation or maintenance, you'll spend more time enjoying your passion. When the Boveda lose most of their soft spots, it's time for replacements.


Pro Tips: Your case needs moisture, too. Keep the Boveda closed tightly in the case while you're playing. Write the date you installed the packs on the paper margin of the product.
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Stretto Humidifier and Spare Bags

$12.95 - $38.95
The Stretto family of humidifiers is designed instrument to instrument to afford a perfect environment for yours. Stretto products offer ideal protection for any string instrument.

The Stretto Humidifer comes with 1 bag.

​Spare bags are available (4 bags in each set).
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Frustrated with your pegs?
Friction Pegs vs. Geared Pegs
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Traditional lutherie is our passion.  However, we do believe that there have been many innovations in material science over the years (i.e. carbon fiber bows).   While traditional friction pegs have worked since Stradivari times, they only work well when they are properly fitted and regularly maintained throughout the year. 
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We waited to voice our opinion on Wittner Geared Pegs (innovative tuning pegs that look like a regular friction peg to the eye but have planetary gears inside) until we thought they were perfected. We now feel that they are a great option for those who are looking for:
  • More precise and easier tuning
  • The elimination of fine tuners
  • Immunity to temperature and humidity changes
"The modified physical action makes geared pegs suited to players with limited strength or mobility, including older people and young students" - Strings Magazine

​Interesting Fact: When Stamell Strings installs these pegs, we do not ream out the peg holes so you can always go back to your original pegs!
Email us - info@stamellstring.com
Call us - (800) 766 0936
Clean your violin, viola, or cello:
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From time to time you should wipe down the strings and instrument of excess rosin with a microfiber cleaning cloth.  Excessive build-up can bond to the varnish and potentially damage the instrument and affect the sound quality.  For instruments with excessive build-up, a good polishing will do the trick. The luthiers at Stamell Stringed Instruments will be able to safely remove rosin, oil, dirt, and dust and bring a shine to your instrument.  We recommend Nikco polish and polishing cloths, for those who would like to polish their instruments themselves (although it is wise to check with us first).

Nikco Instrument Polish: Comes with a free polishing cloth!

$10.99 - $36.99
Imported from France by Stamell Stringed Instruments.  Apply a small amount to a soft, lint-free cloth.  Rub onto a small area to remove dirt and oils.  Polish with another cloth to achieve desired luster.  Repeat as necessary.
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Stamell Polishing Cloth

$3.00
Keep your instrument clean with a polishing cloth from Stamell Stringed Instruments!  Yellow cloth with our black logo.
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Get your bow re-haired:
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Depending on how much you play, it is always a good idea to get your bow re-haired at least once a year.  Hair breaks and stretches over time and eventually will stop engaging the string; this could potentially damage your bow.  New hair can also improve the playability and sound of your instrument.

Rehairs and bow repairs are done at Stamell Strings on Thursdays at our Amherst shop.  Rehairing takes a few hours so we advise our customers to make an appointment to drop off the bow and then pick it up at the end of the day on Thursday or the next day.   You can make an appointment below or call us directly - 800 766 0936.