What to do with a Broken Soundpost?

December 12, 2012 at 03:34 PM · I think honestly that fitting a new sound post is a repair that needs to be done by someone who does that kind of thing for a living. If done incorrectly you can damage the violin. Then what?

December 12, 2012 at 04:10 PM · The string tension needs to be loosened immediately.

Part of the job of the soundpost is supporting the weight that comes from the string tension on the top plate. Without the soundpost installed, damage can occur.

I'd say it needs to go to a shop for soundpost re-installation.

December 12, 2012 at 05:20 PM · If I'm not mistaken, a soundpost setter is a special tool for the job and a luthier will naturally have one. I would expect a DIY attempt to result in damaged f-holes and a botched job. Your student will need to lower the string tension at once if he hasn't already done so and to take the violin to a luthier. It's not an expensive job: albeit in England, I had a soundpost reset recently.

December 12, 2012 at 06:16 PM · If you have no experience of this, you should not try to do it yourself. "Broken" is not a proper terminology, btw, unless the post itself is somehow snapped, which would be pretty weird. Posts are supposed to be fitted carefully so the top and bottom are precise angles matching the slope of the inside of the top and back. They are also intended to be just tight enough that they stay up with the bridge on & strings lightly tightened. If you put one in upside down or not in the precise spot, you can damage or even punch a hole in the top or back.

December 12, 2012 at 06:46 PM · Most luthiers I know don't even charge anything to resurrect fallen soundposts, although an adjustment would cost extra.

December 12, 2012 at 06:59 PM · A soundpost is crucial for a violin (it's been called the 'soul' of the instrument), both for support and for tonal quality - so not only does it need to be in place, it needs to be in the exact place.

Theoretically it's not a difficult task to accomplish ... however to do it correctly you need a great deal of experience.

This blog explains it in detail (with pictures):

http://www.grawert.com.au/myblog/?page_id=144

Take it to a luthier...

December 12, 2012 at 09:36 PM · take it to a luthier, AFTER you loosen/remove the strings, or you could have major cracks to deal with as well as the simple reset of the post.

December 12, 2012 at 09:51 PM · ... remember to put a piece of cloth between the tail-piece and the top plate before you relax the strings.

Ask the luthier to make sure that the post is long enough and that contact points have not been damaged.

Your student is a lucky fellow - it could have easily been a sound post crack - the violinist's worst nightmare!

December 13, 2012 at 09:41 PM · Hi everyone,

Thanks for the quick advice! I've let his mom know to loosen the strings if she hasn't already taken it to be repaired (I haven't heard what's been done yet). My teacher told me about how in her Russian conservatory, she learned to reset it with a safety pin and pliers, but I decided to let a luthier fix his soundpost. My teacher told me that I could be a cheap violin and experiment with repairs on that instead of a violin that is being used.

Gregory

December 13, 2012 at 10:40 PM · An amateur can set a broken arm, too, but probably not with great success...

how would pliers get into the act of resetting a sound post, except maybe to hold the end of the safety pin?

December 13, 2012 at 11:29 PM · Marjory,

My teacher is a Russian immigrant. I'm assuming she meant to say tweezers, but I took her word for it. I had similar thoughts, as pliers are very unlikely to fit into the f-hole.

December 17, 2012 at 01:47 PM · "Ploskogubtsy."

Gesundheit.

December 17, 2012 at 04:56 PM · David, that response was nothing to sneeze at.

Pat T.

December 18, 2012 at 03:45 AM · The soundpost is an important part of the instrument, contributing to tone and volume, and should be reset. It's best to do this with a soundpost setter (you can find them for between $11 and $20 depending on the make).

There are different styles of soundpost setters, some straight, some curved, and some that use a loop rather than poking a hole in the soundpost wood to hold it while you wiggle it into place.

It's better to do it sooner rather than later since wood has certain ways of changing in different humidities as well as becoming drier over time and the lack of a soundpost may cause these changes to happen in a way that makes it harder to install one of the same length and which may affect the arch of the violin in subtle ways—consider the pressure on the bridge from tight strings.

The position of the soundpost is also important. It's usually a bit south of the bridge in line with the right-hand foot, but the ultimate position should be determined by sound. That's why many of the better instruments are set up with the fittings (including the soundpost), played, readjusted, played, readjusted, and played and readjusted again to get the optimum balance between the post and the violin.

If you're handy (mechanically inclined) and patient, you can probably do it yourself. If you're not, if you think you might damage the f-holes while wiggling things around (the wood is more fragile along the edges of the holes), a professional luthier would be the best choice.

December 21, 2012 at 07:51 PM · I avoided adjusting it, just because I'm not the most patient person, so I would probably break the violin in one way or another. However, my teach had said that I should buy a violin making kit and she can teach me how to build and take apart violins! That would be fun :)