And how can I tell if a string is broken? How often should you change the strings on a violin and how long do they actually last?

 

 

 

This depends on many different factors:

 

– on the playing time, i.e. how long have they actually been played and at what intensity?
-What type of strings are used? Gut strings, synthetic strings or steel strings?
-Does the player have aggressive hand perspiration?
-What are the climatic conditions?

 

It is therefore impossible to say in general terms how long a string will last.
However, it is not only broken when visible damage occurs, i.e. when the winding comes undone, but it is also broken when

 

-you can see unevenness on the string against the light
-the violin gradually loses sound quality, i.e. the sound becomes sharper or sometimes duller
– the violin is less responsive than before
– the strings are no longer pure fifths.

 

If you are unsure, ask your violin maker for advice.

 

Would you like to put on new strings?

Here are a few tips on how to do it easily:

 

 

Simply rewind the strings
Do not turn down all the pegs at once to prevent the bridge from slipping or the soundpost from falling over. Instead, turn down one peg at a time, replace the string and pull it up again, then the next one.
First turn down the G-string, unthread it, thread the new string and wind it once over the end. This prevents the string from slipping out. Then turn the string outwards towards the pegbox wall, the string should still be a little way from the pegbox wall and not rest against it.
Tune the new G-string.
Repeat the same with the E string, then the D string and finally the A string. If you keep to this sequence, you will get the best results everywhere.
In between and at the end, check the position of the bridge. Has the bridge leaned forward a little due to the strings being pulled up? If so, you can carefully hold it between your thumbs and push it back into position.