Instrument Set Up

Comfortable & Correct Set Up

When people come into my shop and I see their instrument, I can see by looking at the instrument whether for a violinist or violist, it is likely to make their left wrist tired, for a cellist or bassist whether they are having trouble holding up their left arm correctly. I can tell on all of the string instruments if it is likely to be painful to push down the strings, or if there is a likelihood of feeling tension in the left hand, and whether it is hard to keep the instrument in tune (If the strings sound false it does not mean the problem is with the strings). These are all correctible adjustments on the instrument for the player.
Many people who attempt to play a violin, viola, cello or bass give up because they never get comfortable with the instrument. Their hands feel cramped, their fingers hurt from pressing the strings down, and their jaw, neck, shoulders and/or upper back can become tight and painful. This is almost always completely unnecessary! In all likelihood, the true problem is that no one ever spent the time working with them to find out what would make them comfortable.
Some of these issues are due to a lack of attentiveness to basic instrument assessment and set-up. The neck must be of the proper thickness and width, and not too squared off, and the length must be proportional to the instrument so that fourth position falls in the right place. The bridge and top nut must be of the correct height so that the strings are not too far off the fingerboard (nor too close or buzzing will occur). The curvature of the bridge must be correct so that when you bow, the hair won’t hit the edges of the instrument or the other strings. If the fingerboard is too rounded on a cello, it becomes impossible to hold up your left arm correctly. Using a bow of poor quality will often force the player to raise their right elbow in order to make the bow track well, causing additional tension.
Then there are the adjustments which must be made for each individual player. The musculoskeletal system of the human body makes each player’s comfort level unique. For cellists, the end pin height and sturdiness must work to provide stability and correct positioning. As for violinists and violists, the several types of shoulder rests and dozens of models and sizes of chin rests allow nearly everyone to hold a violin comfortably. Each player must have the correct combination! At Paul Stevens Violins, we will spend as much time as necessary to find the correct combination. It is our utmost desire to use our first-class expertise to help you achieve satisfaction in comfort for an enjoyable musical experience.

Comfortable & Correct Set Up

When people come into my shop and I see their instrument, I can see by looking at the instrument whether for a violinist or violist, it is likely to make their left wrist tired, for a cellist or bassist whether they are having trouble holding up their left arm correctly. I can tell on all of the string instruments if it is likely to be painful to push down the strings, or if there is a likelihood of feeling tension in the left hand, and whether it is hard to keep the instrument in tune (If the strings sound false it does not mean the problem is with the strings). These are all correctible adjustments on the instrument for the player.
Many people who attempt to play a violin, viola, cello or bass give up because they never get comfortable with the instrument. Their hands feel cramped, their fingers hurt from pressing the strings down, and their jaw, neck, shoulders and/or upper back can become tight and painful. This is almost always completely unnecessary! In all likelihood, the true problem is that no one ever spent the time working with them to find out what would make them comfortable.
Some of these issues are due to a lack of attentiveness to basic instrument assessment and set-up. The neck must be of the proper thickness and width, and not too squared off, and the length must be proportional to the instrument so that fourth position falls in the right place. The bridge and top nut must be of the correct height so that the strings are not too far off the fingerboard (nor too close or buzzing will occur). The curvature of the bridge must be correct so that when you bow, the hair won’t hit the edges of the instrument or the other strings. If the fingerboard is too rounded on a cello, it becomes impossible to hold up your left arm correctly. Using a bow of poor quality will often force the player to raise their right elbow in order to make the bow track well, causing additional tension.
Then there are the adjustments which must be made for each individual player. The musculoskeletal system of the human body makes each player’s comfort level unique. For cellists, the end pin height and sturdiness must work to provide stability and correct positioning. As for violinists and violists, the several types of shoulder rests and dozens of models and sizes of chin rests allow nearly everyone to hold a violin comfortably. Each player must have the correct combination! At Paul Stevens Violins, we will spend as much time as necessary to find the correct combination. It is our utmost desire to use our first-class expertise to help you achieve satisfaction in comfort for an enjoyable musical experience.
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