1: The influence of humidity on musical instruments

The violin is made of wood, and the response of natural wood to temperature and humidity is naturally higher than that of artificial composite materials, which does not need to be repeated. The result of moisture absorption in wood is expansion, while on the contrary, the dried wood shrinks. It is believed that under moderate climate change, moist and dry "breathing" can enhance the maturation of the instrument itself, which is good for the sound. But in reality, we are facing excessively harsh weather conditions for musical instruments.

2: Deformation (refers to the sinking of the board)

The problem that almost all violins must face in high humidity environments is the phenomenon of "fingerboard sinking" caused by increased humidity. The symptom is that the bridge seems too high, resulting in a large distance between the strings and the fingerboard. In fact, the sinking of the fingerboard is a misuse of the term. Some people believe that the sinking of the fingerboard is due to the dampness of the piano body, which affects the fingerboard under the tension of the strings, causing the neck to tilt forward and the fingerboard to sink. It seems reasonable. But this is not the correct cause. After the body of the piano becomes damp, the spruce on the panel must expand after absorbing water. However, due to the frame of the piano body, the panel cannot expand to the sides and has to develop upwards. As a result, the bridge is lifted, increasing the height of the strings from the fingerboard, which exceeds the standard value and makes it difficult to press the strings. In the past, it was popular to insert a paper or leather pad under the cardboard to "prevent" the finger board from sinking. However, this was not appropriate. After knowing the cause, you should understand that this not only fails to prevent sinking, but may even cause the panel to crack under pressure.

3: Moldy

Mold is another common phenomenon of dampness, especially in areas that come into frequent contact with the body such as chin rests, string plugs, and tailboards. In addition to careful cleaning, it is recommended to replace the chin rests for hygiene reasons. If the mold is severe and the body of the violin is covered with mold, it is necessary to seek the assistance of a pianist. In addition to cleaning oil specifically for violins, it is not recommended to use various cleaning agents or liquids to avoid damaging the violin.

4: Degumming

Degumming is another troublesome phenomenon of dampness. Small scale debonding can cause unknown noise. This is the most headache inducing part, and it usually takes a lot of effort to identify the area of detachment, and one may even expect it to be easier to detect once its scope expands. As long as it is confirmed to be debonding, regardless of the scale, the strings must be completely loosened immediately, otherwise it will pose a great danger to the structure. Although, like the sinking of a fingerboard, debonding may not necessarily be caused by climate, it could also be due to poor adhesive material or workmanship. But regardless of the cause, this problem can only be handled by professional musicians, and do not attempt to repair it in any way, otherwise it is highly likely to cause irreparable damage.

5: The influence of the bow

The most direct condition for the bow to become damp is the elongation of the bow hair, a decrease in the biting force of the bow hair, and a tight ponytail. The humid climate can also make the curvature of the bow more susceptible to deformation under stress, causing it to lose its proper curvature. However, excessive dryness can cause greater damage to the bow. While studying in the United States, I once heard from a classmate that when someone was in California, due to the nearby desert, when dry air with zero relative humidity blew in from the desert, they only saw the contracted bow hair gradually arching the bow pole, and if they didn't relax the bow hair quickly, the end would be a collapse. Due to the weather conditions, whether dry or wet, it is necessary for the archer to adjust or replace the bow hair.