How do you fix a loose cello string?

Answer 1

Firstly, bent the tip of the string slightly so that it can "hook" or anchor on the peg. Next, place the end of the string into the bottom hole where the fine-tuners are. Turn the peg clockwise, until the note is reached. Make sure that the string is on the bridge, and in its respective positions.

Answer 2

Unless you are in an emergency situation, do not repair a cello bridge that is broken. If the decorative corners are broken off, don't worry: they aren't important to the function of the bridge (to the point where putting them back on is necessary in the short-term realm.)

If a portion of the bridge is cracked or if a break affects the bridge standing upright and supporting the strings in the proper location, and you are in an emergency (gotta perform today!) situation, a competent woodworker can apply a good wood glue, line up the parts and clamp them. The resulting repair has the capacity of being stronger than the original bridge (at least at the break) and the effect on the tonal quality of the instrument is not likely to be crippling for a day.

For the long-term, however, the bridge should be replaced by a competent instrument repairman. Bridges are made observing certain characteristics of the wood in order to provide both the strength to support the strings and the acoustic qualities needed to transfer the sound from the strings to the top plate of the instrument and from there to the air. The feet are cut specifically and shaped to fit the top plate without gouging into the wood and to spread the contact over the entire foot. The top of the bridge is cut and shaped to appropriately match the fingerboard, placing the strings at the proper height for playing quality and sound quality.

All that being said, there are bridges with moveable feet, which can be fitted to a cello by a competent woodworker who is copying the curveature and slot placement from the original bridge which form a medium-term solution. It is imperative that the grooves for the strings be placed properly and finished so they don't have sharp edges in them nor pinch the strings! (This is one of the major reasons to want a bridge to be replaced by a competent instrument repairman!)

There is another matter not to be ignored: the bassbar may have fallen when the pressure is let up on the top plate. Its repositioning is a job for a competent instrument repairman. Your music teacher may be so qualified! But if the bassbar is loose in the cello, you can damage the top by placing full tension on the strings over the bridge, since the bassbar both supports the top, somewhat, and provides the acoustic connection between the top plate and the back plate of the instrument. At the very least, playing without the bassbar will make the cello sound like it has a bad cold!

Answer 3

you cant /Yes you can. Use a good permanent type glue, not hide glue used in violin making. Join the piece or pieces together (if you can ) and let dry propped up so that the bow is aligned properly. When dry, Take a strong, thin thread, nylon or any man made string is good, I used plain old sturdy cotton twist thread used in repairing carpeting, for example. When dry, lay a bead of glue across the fracture and lay down the thread parellel to the length of the bow. Let it dry. Then slowly, carefully, neatly wind the thread aroung the break to the extent you feel you have the break well covered and begin winding the cord (or string) sround the bow. In my case I wound the cord about 2 1/2 inches across the break. Spread the glue liberally across the winding. Using some paper tape at the end of the winding to hold cord in place.

Continually wipe off the excess glue at least until it becomes tacky ( too much glue could compromise the use of the bow ( it at least could be a practice bow ). When the tacky glue is well driven into the bow, let it dry until firm. Neatness is essential for a good repair. I have done this and had no problem with the "fix". Keep it as light in weight as possible . In many ways the "fix" will be stronger than the original undamaged bow at that point. Good luck !

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All the above assumes a cracked bow stick which is a huge assumption based on the question. There are so many kinds of repairs that can be done to a bow it would take an entire book to cover it all. So be more specific. If however your bow did crack, the above repair method is a sure way to ruin any value the bow might still have and was obviously written by a DIY musician and not a trained bow repairman.

Dave Lashof

Answer 4

My father owns a shop. The bow hair is horse hair and what the do with the hair is lace/tie it to the fine would. then he would add the frog that tightens it. i don't no what the black piece is called but it ties up the hair.

Answer 5

Take it to a local violin shop...how hard is that.

Answer 6

With your thumb in the frog's mouth and the rest of your fingers stretched out on the end of the stick.