CLEAN YOUR STRINGS REGULARLY
In order to get the very best sound and response quality you should remove any remaining rosin from the strings. During breaks in playing, we recommend that you wipe off any remaining rosin from the strings with a soft cloth. To ensure the integrity of your strings, we recommend cleaning your strings at least once a week with a string cleaner. However, this liquid may contain alcohol and should never come into contact with the varnish of your instrument. |
Use the cleaner sparingly – a small drop on the cloth is enough. Ensure that you protect the instrument with a clean dry cloth as you clean the strings; you should place it between the strings and the fingerboard. After you have cleaned your strings, please wash your hands before touching the instrument’s varnish. You can also apply a little bit of string oil to the strings at the fingerboard area. Use the string oil sparingly, too. |
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR GUT STRINGS
Gut strings should not be exposed to dramatic changes in temperature or humidity. This can contribute especially to a reduced lifespan for the strings. During long periods when the strings are not being used, we usually recommend that you tune the strings down to a 1/4 tone lower. |
You should certainly do this before the instrument is transported in an airplane, where humidity drops dramatically and the strings can draw together and, as a result, break. Gut strings are optimally stored at 45% humidity. |
HOW TO USE YOUR ROSIN Rosin should be used regularly though sparingly. As a general rule, it is enough to coat the bow once during any practice period. Be careful to apply rosin evenly across the whole length of the bow. This will ensure a good response when played at the frog and tip-end of the bow. Take care that your fingers don’t get covered with rosin and use the cloth provided with all PIRASTRO rosins.
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USE OF PEG-COMPOUND To ensure that tuning the strings remains simple and easy, coat the pegs with graphite. Our peg-compound can help with this - coat the surface of the pegs once or twice with peg-compound where they come into contact with the peg box. If it is still not possible to smoothly turn the pegs, please contact your luthier for further help. |