Commonsense Instrument Care

This guide, by master violin maker and restorer James N. McKean, takes you step by step through the basics of how to care for your violin, viola, or cello, and bow. McKean tells you how to get your stringed instrument in top condition for optimum sound and how to treat it properly to ensure that it will provide a lifetime of higher-quality playing and enjoyment. Includes:

• Basics
• Preventing accidents
• Insurance
• General maintenance
• The bow
• The bridge
• The soundpost
• Open bouts
• Retouching
• The fingerboard
• Pegs
• Buzzes
• Strings
• Repairs

"As an adult beginner of the violin, I found this short guide to be very helpful. I particularly found the explanations given to the importance of each part of a stringed instrument interesting. Every part was covered and most of the questions I had pertaining to care and maintenance were answered. I recommend this guide not only to adult beginners and parents of young beginners, but also to amateur and professional players who might need a refresher course on care and maintenance."
—customer at Barnes & Noble.com