Restoration & Repairs

Instrument restoration and repair.

Owning a violin, viola or cello is a devotion of love to not only the beautiful music it makes but to the beauty and care of the instrument also. To keep it in optimal playing condition I advise you to have the instrument inspected when there is a season change specifically when the weather differentiates for any extended period of time. Not only is the weather changing but your instrument will be ever so slightly which could have a dramatic effect on the sound but if there are any small cracks these could be prone to becoming a large crack if not attended to appropriately. If in the wrong place it could ultimately reduce the value of your instrument!

To maintain the longevity of your instrument it is important to find a qualified and experienced restorer like myself. It is also important for you to feel at ease and able to entrust your prided instrument in the hands of your luthier. I have trained at the Newark and Sherwood school of violin making where repair techniques are taught and furthered myself in other workshops around the world including Frederick Phelps of London and worked for other respected establishments in the south east and south west of England.

Common repairs I do for my customers are

Cracks, peg bushings, neck grafts, re-angling necks, new bass bars, new fingerboards, bridges and soundposts.

Violin restoration, viola restoration and cello restoration are all restored or repaired under the same principles, it’s just the scale of things that change. When I take on a restoration or even the simplest of repairs I provide you initially with a fully detailed estimate of all the things that the instrument needs with clearly shown prices that. The total of the estimate is the most you will pay so there aren’t any risks of spiralling costs which you may get in other industries. The estimate is split into two sections. Some repairs may be considered of high importance and to be carried out as soon as possible and others will be suggestions that should be done either now or some point in the future. Not only will I list these but will take the time to guide you through what they are and mean for the instrument. More often than not the top of the instrument will be carefully removed to gain access to the inside of the box and also for ease of repairing any cracks on the front.

My goal for every instrument brought to me is to be able to return it to the owner in first class condition and sounding fantastic. All repairs are carried out with the upmost attention to detail, keeping the instrument in the most original condition possible and with the appearance that nothing has happened. All glued repairs are done with hide glue which is water based and reversible should it ever need be. Cracks are re-enforced to prevent the crack re-occurring with studs or cleats. They are both the same thing and are usually made of the same material it is being glued to. They are then shaped and made thin as possible at the edges to prevent new cracks being started.

When the restoration is complete, a new bridge and post is likely to be needed.

The sound can be greatly changed with the soundpost length and position as can the thickness and cut of the bridge. The bridge pivots over the soundpost and twists at high speed as the strings osolate. Having the bridge trimmed in the correct places can be the difference in a muted slow nasal proforming instrument and a clear, loud and immediately sound.

Bow Rehair

At Edward Gaut Violins you are fully catered for. You are able to have your Bow rehaired and returned to you on the same day for those players that cant live with out it for long. I have rehaired bows for many years now and produce a fine result at a competative rate.

Fantastic Quality Bow Rehair

Edward Gaut is the only person I allow to rehair my bows as his workmanship is second to none. My best bow has a curved bottom to the frog which most re-hairers have struggled to cope with. Edward had no difficulty whatsoever. The bow hair comes back immaculately evenly spread, including around the difficult curved part, something no other re-hairer has managed as well. In addition to this the hair itself is always of super quality and lasts really well.
Edward lives a long way from me but this is not a problem as I post my bows to him in a drainpipe! He has them back to me within a day of receiving them.
There are several other re-hairers in my area but for the quality of work I always use Mr Gaut.

Anni McAuliffe, Peterborough

If you would like me to have a look at your instrument or bow to either quote for repair work or to see if the sound can be improved please call or email me to arrange an appointment for your free estimate.