A week or so ago, as I started preparation for a concert that uses the Viola d'amore, I had started to notice that thee was a bit of an unwelcome buzz and rattle coming from the instrument. Well, the humidity and temperature changes can cause a bit of havoc with the isntrument, plus it is now a few years old and the instrument is settling into it's long term shape!
Upon a bit of further inspection, I found that the neck/fingerboard had shifted angle which mean that the resonant strings under the fingerboard were now just touching the bottom of the fingerboard... causing a really annoying buzz! It's pretty interesting that it only just developed, but these things take time in the first decade or so of an instrument, plus the daily stress of about 35-40 kgs worth of string tension pulling at it constantly!
So, it was time to take it to the luthier for a quick repair before the concert!
I always hate seeing my instruments naked like this... the strings are taken off and the bridge is removed! At least this time, he didn't need to lever the entire front off! As a musician it is a little bit unsettling to see your instrument like this, but it is pretty normal for the luthier. He had a good laugh at my discomfort!
Given that there wasn't enough time to make a completely new bridge, the temporary solution was to make a new set of holes for the resonant strings in the bridge. Slightly lower, to avoid touching the bottom of the fingerboard.
All fixed, the drilling of the holes was incredibly quick. The restringing of a total of 14 strings was quite time consuming! Especially the 7 resonant ones, they are thin metallic ones and they poke you and get tangled... plus, they need to go inside under the fingerboard as well... a right pain!
It's a bit of a hack job, and doesn't look too nice... but it is functional and the instrument is in good playing condition again! When I have a chance, I will send the instrument back to get a new bridge measured up and fitted properly, the legs are also a touch out now and not quite standing as flush as they could be!
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