1. Cello Varnish Matching: Restoring Original Finish
( General » Repairs )

Cello Varnish Matching & Restoration This cello had an unusual patch of varnish where someone had attempted a previous touch-up. The existing repair was opaque and obscured the natural grain of the ...

2. Repairing Violin Cracks with External Cleats: No Top Removal Needed
( General » Repairs )

... before applying it to the better instrument. Step-by-Step Repair Process Open the Seam: Carefully open the seam slightly to create enough space to work inside the violin. Mark the Cleat Position: ...

3. Student Cello Rib Repair: Step-by-Step Plywood Fix
( General » Repairs )

  This student cello had a significant issue—a large hole in its plywood rib, with fractures spreading through its thin maple veneer. Given the instrument’s value, disassembling it for repair wasn’t ...

4. Violin Top Restoration: Varnish Rework and Repair
( General » Repairs )

Here is a violin top where the wood was worn away, most likeley by the case's bow holder.   I wan't too happy with this one so I reworked the varnish. I'll look ...

5. Center Seams
( General » Repairs )

... would help iline up, no luck. So I removed the back. The center seam had glue and varnish between the halves. I carefully started cleaning up the seams. One photo shows the before and after of the ...

6. Scroll Ear Repair with Mold Technique - Photos
( General » Repairs )

This rental instrument was returned with one ear broken off. Just for fun I decided to take another rental instrument that was the same brand and cast a mold. Then fill the mold and glue the piece onto ...

7. Violin Edge Repair and Replacement - Adding New Wood and Matching Varnish
( General » Information )

Violin family instruments sometimes get their edges damaged. A new piece of wood can be added and then reshaped and the varnish can be matched. Here is an edge with several steps.  ...

8. Violin Repair: Cleaning Rosin Buildup and Rough Varnish Texture
( General » Information )

A nice old violin that had very ruff varnish texture on the top.     This violin had some blackish overvarnish.     Another Violin with ...

9. Violin Repair Services - Sound Post Crack, Top Crack, Edge Replacement
( General » Information )

... was cracked in half and the bridge was broken.     Another sound post crack with lots of other cracks on the top. This instrument had lots of cracks a couple of ...

10. String Instrument Corner Repair and Replacement | Spruce and Purfling Matching
( General » Information )

String instrument corners sometimes get damaged. Usually it's just the outside part of the corner. In that case a small piece of spruce can be matched and then attached and shaped to match the wear of ...

11. Cell with hole in back
( General » Information )

... the curly maple back. I decided to repair the cello by removing the top because it's a little easier and safer for the instrument to remove the top and it's a little quicker so I can charge a little ...

12. Violin Varnish Touch Up and Repair | Before and After Photos
( General » Information )

Instruments sometimes get nicks or scratches that can be touched up. The upper right rib is also prone to varnish wear. Generally, the larger the area the more time it takes to match and touch-up the varnish. ...

13. Bass Varnish Restoration, Darker and Richer Results
( 'Uncategorised Content' )

This Bass had it's original varnish changed so that the top was very light and the back and ribs were darker and very mottled. We decided to make the varnish look darker and richer. Unfortunately I didn't ...