Week 4
Craft & Folklore
Fiddle and Bow Repair
Christopher Germain

This class is an introduction to the most common repairs to fiddles and bows. It consists of an overview of stringed instrument construction and demonstrations of specific repair techniques and procedures. Topics include tool set-up and maintenance, bridge and sound-post cutting, peg fitting, fingerboard planing, and removing and regluing a violin top. Common bow repairs, adjustments, and rehairing are demonstrated. Participants may bring instruments to repair. A materials fee of about $30 covers basic items; additional parts may be purchased as needed. Recommended tools can cost about $150, but students can “make do” with less.