Open seams- help!

May 30, 2013 at 04:55 AM · I don't have the expertise to advise you, but if it were me, I'd probably try to move the chin rest a bit to clamp it down for the time being to avoid any buzzing or further opening of the seam until I can get it repaired.

May 30, 2013 at 12:30 PM · An open seam usually is not such a big deal, but might be a sign that your instrument has been in an extremely dry or humid environment. Make sure that humidity stays between 40 and 70%, with no abrupt changes.

What sometimes happens is that one open seam is followed by another, then another; so a good inspection by an experienced luthier is essential. In some cases, instead of gluing 4 seams, it is better to glue the whole top properly.

Unless there is a strong buzzing sound, a delay of a few days should not be a problem.

May 30, 2013 at 12:39 PM · It's hard to predict, but do get it repaired as soon as you can. It won't get better by itself. If you need names of repairers in NJ, let me know.

May 30, 2013 at 01:32 PM · I do have the same experience as you do, exactly on the same spot. I noticed the open seam since last year but got it repaired only about three weeks ago lol. It costed me €. 60,- and my violin had to stay at the luthier for one night.

May 30, 2013 at 02:48 PM · Whenever I have an open seam (which is rare) and I don't have the time to leave my violin for a few hours, my luthier uses a disposable clamp that can be easily removed by the player and thrown away (or returned later) after sitting on the instrument for enough time.

I never get my open seams repaired when I'm at school in Rochester - I always wait to go home to New York City before letting anybody stick knives in my instrument. A friend of mine had a good bit of purfling in one of the C-bouts of her J.B. Vuillaume get shorn off by a luthier with an unsteady hand (who then denied responsibility after the act), and another luthier in Rochester managed to leave a scorch mark on the ribs of my viola when he closed one of the open seams (which opened back up again after only two weeks). So, definitely go to somebody who knows what they're doing!

May 31, 2013 at 02:50 PM · Brian you have seen some real bad luck with just open seams! I have never had any trouble getting them fixed, other than sometimes they open up again but that may not be a bad repair,could be too much tension in the instrument itself.

A very small open area may not cause any problems other than a buzz sometimes. I have seen people leave open seams for months. Or use a rubber band over the corners to hold things together.

Personally the larger the open seam the quicker i would try and get it fixed.

May 31, 2013 at 04:43 PM · If the opening extends across the lower block area, I'd get it fixed right away. String tension can distort that area in a short time if it is loose, making it difficult to get it back into the original position

June 1, 2013 at 06:42 PM · Thank you all so much for your input! John- the viola was made in 2005, and was briefly owned by one other person. Unfortunately, the maker has retired after getting Parkinson's. I did carefully check over the viola before buying it, and didn't see the seams opening. I think that the change in environment caused the problem, although i have been monitoring the humidity.

But, just my luck, i called my luthier and she's out on vacation until late next week. So now i looks like i'll have to wait another week to get it fixed. I'm being as careful as I can so it doesn't get any worse in the meantime!

And no, I didn't drop it. Knock on wood, i've never dropped one of my instuments!

June 1, 2013 at 07:30 PM · I'd advice you to loosen the strings in the meantime. If i remember correctly that is what i was told when my violin had an open seam in the same area.

June 2, 2013 at 04:13 AM · Be grateful when your seams open, since the only alternative is generally a crack, when the glue is too tight to accommodate changes in humidity/temperature--all things relative.