She missed playing her violin so much... Then she got out her...

[@ModernVintageFilm]

It made me so happy that your dad made that bridge. Disregard everything else, that's amazing.

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

Yes, I love finding his bridges on instruments. I'm very lucky that he is still very active and making instruments.

[@markuswx1322]

Maybe that's why you invested a bit more work in a student quality instrument. There's always a point in repair work where a judgement must be made, but here a little love was in order.

[@michaelwhisman]

I had my Great-Grandfather's violin restored in Germany. He had asked that the violin stay in the family and passed to someone who plays. He did not want it to end up in a closet or basement like so many violins do. MY grandfather inherited it from him and I inherited it from my Grandfather. I have given it to my Great-Grandfathers; Great, Great, Great Granddaughter. who plays.

[@jameschristiansson3137]

Cool story. That's great great great.

[@WutipongWongsakuldej]

Wow this is like you're taking a torch passed by your father. Super cool!

[@mendyviola]

My parents bought me a similar German made 15” viola when I was in elementary school that I played until I reached Jr High school and stopped. Fast forward many years later, I wanted to play again, and my mother still has the viola. Luckily outside of needing a clean-up, new strings, and a bow re-hair, the instrument was still in very good condition. It served me well for another decade until I finally up-sized to a modern 16” viola. I’ve been taking lessons and playing consistently now for 25+ years since re-starting.

[@alanaliyev456GT]

you have really difference for one inch in more ???? in bass songs ?..(my best Viola is a 16" too.but no just table size matters ! thickness is too important... even if 15 inch is really absolute minimum)

[@Trish204]

You're even feeding the local birds by hand - how cool is that?! :D About as cool as the fact that you're allowed to drive through the botanical gardens with your bike. Definitely need to go visit Brisbane at some point.

[@groovellous1]

Yes, cycling is banned in Adelaide Bot Gdens...

[@patrasirilukkananan7809]

I'm sure that the client will feel appreciated with your work. Amazing work and video Olaf!😊

[@revondamehovic3132]

I started learning cello after wanting to do so for most of my life. One benefit I didn't expect is that my youngest son was inspired to learn violin. Now we both take lessons.

[@harryfurphy1491]

I know what it's like to miss playing the violin. Recently my sound post fell over and I have to get a new one since to old one doesn't fit any more. So I'll be taking it to get a new post fitted and have a few scratches touched up in the next week or so. I'm already having withdrawal symptoms from not playing.

[@spottedtauren]

Funny to see his look go from happy and excited right before playing it for the first time (17:30) to one of confusion and disappointment (after all that work I was expecting him to say “wow, sounds great” vs “…sounds a bit flat… sometimes these German instruments didn’t have the best sound”). I appreciate and am impressed with the honest assessment vs pretending that all violins can be made to sound great with a proper restoration.

[@RiyaJoline]

I live in Nuremberg (Germany) and Bubenreuth is very close by. I confirm that it's a violinmaker-heaven here... the violin maker in Bubenreuth even lent really high quality student violins. they sound so good. 🤩 I was given choice of a Strad model and Stainer model from the 1930s... i choosed stainer. But I will try the Strad model too, when I am more intermediate. I dont wanna disrespect the Strad Model... 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gailrivas762]

The care you take on the fine details is quite stunning and impressive.

[@mellissadalby1402]

I can tell that you really love what you do. There is joy in your work that is clear to see.

[@roytofilovski9530]

I come from the guitar world. A 40 year old guitar is considered vintage, yet this violin is not even considered very old.

[@Isabellas.Geigenglück]

You did an amazing Job, what a beautiful bridge carving!!!👍👍👍 I Just had a personal experience with an abondened Violin myself. Last weekend I found my Chinese Violin that I bought in 2011 on eBay and had completely forgotten about it. I took it out of the case and had only a few things to adjust as putting on better Strings and a chinrest. I never did play the Violin because I didn't like the Sound of it when I got it in 2011. I also did not like the varnish. It had been in the case since 2011 without even opening it because I had forgotten my unlucky purchase. As I took the Violin out of the case few days ago it was kind of "Sleeping Beauty Magic". The varnish colour had changed into a shining gold- orange and the Sound was also kind of beautiful singing. I have no explanation how this could happen. Now I prefer playing with my old "cheap" Chinese Violin instead of my European expensive one. What a great mystery of Violin making! Never give up your Violin, miracles can happen 💃🎻💕

[@WEdHarris]

Really enjoy your videos Olaf! Always fascinated by the brilliant work you do! Thank You!

[@andersjjensen]

For a student violin with plastic pegs I think it sounded pretty allright.

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

0:58 - I call that "The Smooth Criminal" ;)

[@AaliyahLynnsMommy]

oh my gosh I love Olafs shop, and his channel his tips are SO helpful even though I'm only a kid right now I can still play the violin like any other and he is DEFENETLY a BIG part of that =] I will defenetly be visiting his shop when I get older. Thank you so much Olaf you are amazing!!!

[@brianne9]

I just pulled out my violin last week, after 20 years since I last played. I was inspired after seeing some of your, TwoSet, and Ray Chen's videos. Luckily mine isn't quite so damaged thankfully.

[@alaskanfrogman]

it's nice to see someone that really knows what he's doing. He's not just some "fly-by-night" cabinet maker pretending to be an instrument restorer. I saw one guy take an old guitar and destroy it, then claim that someone offered him "$10,000.00" for the worst shoddy repair job I had ever seen. This man... well, he is the real article and is a master at his craft. What a pleasure to watch. I thoroughly enjoyed this video. His vocal presentation was a tad bit redundant, but it was so much fun seeing him do his work so masterfully. Thank you!

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

I bought one of those cabinetmaker instruments once. I sent it back for a refund.

[@JAR2.0]

Truly a wonderful story. Your enthusiasm shines throughout this restoration in support of the passion of a violin player who will now have an excellent instrument to reestablish that joy and happiness she is seeking.

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

It's nice to see that Passion is still alive and well, in both the Customer, and with you Olaf. great to see the hands of the father and the son coming in contact with the same instrument. It speaks volumes for both of you. and the customer got a lilttle more love to boot. in the repair. thanks for sharing ECF

[@GaryGP40]

I LOVE watching you work Master Olaf! I can't wait for your violin to come here! Super excited!

[@becca25]

I love these kinds of videos! Please keep making them, Olaf😊

[@wakingtheworld]

The love and 'feel good' energy you infuse into these restorations, will surely be passed to the musicians in question. How lovely that this lady will be able to play again.... which may in turn encourage her children to do likewise. I've been communicating with a young violinist in Asia and she's surprised at my knowledge about the violin, its various parts (such as the nut) and how it gets serviced, especially as I'm relatively new to this instrument. "Well I have Olaf to thank for this" I told her. "He's my source of education." P.S. How touching that this violin sported a bridge made by your Dad.

[@besthobbit]

Incredible makeover! You are an artist and a genius. 😍😍

[@LC-th1hy]

Awwwww! Sweet marriage goals! Also, you have an assistant! Glad the edge of the violin can be fixed despite the small size.

[@perrybrooks8331]

Your story touches my heart. My brother was a 1st. chair violinist so I've been around violins all my life. Love it and thanks for sharing.

[@roytofilovski9530]

The animals in Australia are unreal. What a great place!

[@cafiend]

My first violin (The Brown Violin 😉) was one that my wife got from a luthier she studied with in the 1990s because she wanted to know better how to maintain the instruments where she taught in a public school system in Maryland. It had been through some stuff, so it had a weirdly low action and she didn’t want to get into resetting the neck. It was also pretty quiet. After she moved here to New Hampshire and tried to start her own program, she started acquiring newer instruments, most purchased by students through her. She had an adult beginner program as well as the school age offerings. She upgraded me to one of these that was so startlingly loud that I actually named it Loudie. It really put me on the spot because I couldn’t just go lightly and barely be heard 😬. I never got very good, but I still like to play it when I’m absolutely sure that no one is in earshot. I mention this because of what you said about quiet German student instruments. I believe that the old Brown Violin was a German one.

[@groovellous1]

It's important to remember that an instrument can be quiet under the ear and loud in the room, or vice versa. I particularly chose my beautiful violin because it is soft under the ear but projects beautifully. It can get frustrating in orchestra though, because I often can't hear myself.

[@cafiend]

@@groovellous1 I’ve been across the room from Loudie being played by someone else. It’s pretty dang loud. 😄😬

[@mariavontrapp4632]

Oooooohhhh my goodness. The way you glue on the fingerboard looks so much easier than how we do it. The shop I work in uses the fingerboard band clamps and they're ATROCIOUS. I'm going to try to convert them to your way. With the band clamps, the glue starts to set before I can even get the clamps all the way on.

[@cafiend]

Multiple cool points in this video, eg: finding that your father cut the bridge, the importance of the daily bike ride, and COFFEE.

[@elalang3490]

I love this so much. Makes you want to become a luthier. Working with wood in this way and with such beautiful results is just awesome. I also appreciate the very good quality in filming this.

[@mabdub]

It seems to me that you carve the bridges a bit more elegantly than your dad did or, that just might be my perception. It's great that you are breathing new life into this instrument.

[@terrilewis172]

Great video. Maybe the children will be encouraged to play hearing the sweet music mom plays!

[@neonsamurai1348]

Mine sat around from around age 13, till around age 40. Fortunately it was fine, we had loosened the strings to hold the bridge and sound post in place, and it kept quite well in the case. Still needed about 1000$ CAD in work, but that had more do with a botched repair by a prior owner on the fingerboard where they simply planed it and did not straighten the neck first (and I had the pegs, tailpiece, and bridge replaced).

[@terencebrackstone4366]

loved your program thank you

[@ghlscitel6714]

I have such a bridge here too. The violin wasn't played for at least 5 years. The top plate and the bottom plate were off partially too. Very interesting environment where you live, Maestro.

[@couttsw]

Olaf you are a perfectionist and I suspect have a degree of OCD as you can't leave well enough alone. I mean this in the best way.

[@nelsonvh3033]

Glad I found your channel, i’m not a violinist nor a violinmaker, but a music enthusiast running a small studio. Your positive approach is quite contagious! Thanks a lot for your content. PS: where to get a hoody or shirt with your logo?

[@sandrawest2105]

I think that you are so cool! I love your shirts with whimsical designs. Also, I enjoy watching your videos. Thank you. Peace 💫

[@Chronically_JBoo]

One day I wish to play violin. Can't afford one. So to fill my need I watch your videos

[@BensWorkshop]

It would be interesting to see what she makes of it. Oddly I have just acquired a German violin by mistake from a well known auction site. It was advertised as "The Maidstone" which is on the case but was in fact made by Christian Meifel a "violinmacher in Klingenthal" which is a whole 10 yards from the modern day Czech republic. Has inked purfling and a blacked hardwood fingerboard which is disappointing but does have an attractive enough 2 piece flamed maple back and a close grained (in the centre) spruce top. Dated to somewhere in the 19xx (I presume post WW1 and before WW2). What sort of varnish would you use to deal with scratches? I do have shellac. I meant to add that it too needed a short bridge, also has a short nut and plays reasonably well to my ears.

[@rossthefiddler5890]

I came across Wittner 'plastic' (composite) pegs (client bought at a music shop before bringing it to me to repair) & I thought there was no way I was going to use them, but I did try to shape one & that was a mistake, so ebony pegs it was. The problem using those pegs would have meant just reaming the holes to fit them & perhaps changing the taper from the original to 1:30 (I believe earlier German pegs used a shorter taper) where having an adjustable peg shaper means I can change the taper to suit the violin. Glad to see you updated the tailpiece too.

[@No-pm4ss]

What a lovely repair for a lovely story! Quick question, I understand the though of winding the strings tight into the wall of the pegbox but I worry it would eventually make indents or marks, thoughts on this? Thanks :)

[@taipo101]

Love the videos but wish it was a few inches further back to see the bench

[@tzeentchauseebacher1302]

That was a big improvement in the quality if the sound, from the soundpost adjustment

[@DivaDeb1234]

Great work. Very interesting

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

0:47 - it's incredible how sturdy a nut is if it's done right and the strings are pushing/pulling on it with the right tension. I've seen many violins with fingerboards that've come off but the nut is so solid that I don't have to do any work on it!

[@mrgolftennisviolin]

I thought a nut was supposed to come off very easily normally, to make resurfacing the fingerboard an easier task.

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

@@mrgolftennisviolin Yes but in combination with the strings holding it down, it often stays in place even if the fingerboard has come off. If the strings were removed then just a few light taps with a small tool would remove it very crisply. Often just one tap will do it.

[@rossthefiddler5890]

@@liamnevilleviolist1809 The nut 'should' come off that easily. 😉 A pain when they've used a glue that won't let go.

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

@@rossthefiddler5890 Yes, it's a shame when someone uses superglue on ANY part of the violin. The nut almost doesn't *need* any glue, as the fingerboard plus string tension is holding it in place. Of course, a decent fine dab of glue holds everything securely, in the event that all four strings have to come off like when switching a tailpiece or fitting a bridge. I've had a nut that was superglued with something unbelievably strong that I had to cut and then file away the whole thing.... much like how a bass bar has to be carved and scraped out if it's being replaced. Some [amateur] luthiers without such knowledge will try to soak and/or pull a bass bar off..

[@rossthefiddler5890]

@@liamnevilleviolist1809 Superglue for filling tiny spots in the ebony fingerboard can be effective though, but that's all.

[@adamabele785]

That student instruments are a bit thicker, so they are a bit more resistant to rough treatment, and they do not resonate as well. That saves the ears of teachers and family members when the student exercises. The student also can blame it on the instrument if it does not sound so well. At times schools would teach violin classes and it sounds terrible. The instruments fit that purpose well. I found out with recorders it is the same. The recorders for schools are cheap and not very loud. Today there are also some made of plastics. The instruments for orchestras are much louder and have a richer sound that is not so boring.

[@davidbrandt6925]

Great work Olaf! I've been using a viola by Cecilio as my student instrument until I can afford a better one. I paid $25.00 for it new. It's purple lol. It plays well and sounds ok.

[@GaryGP40]

I have a natural wood Cecilio that was a bit more. It needs a restring, but I love the sound. Good luck with it. I love the sound of a good viola. Mozart did too. Master Olaf is a machine!! Love his work!

[@davidbrandt6925]

@@GaryGP40 Olaf is definitely a master. And thank you! Good sounds to you too!

[@lexzbuddy]

Ya, ya. You're just too skilled for your own good :) Nice job to say the least. Luck lady.

[@wayneholmes637]

If it says Western Germany then it was made after the Berlin Wall/Iron Curtain divided Germany. That was the only period where West/Western Germany was put on things. Another thing is the western part of Germany borders on Holland, Belgium and France. That is the opposite side of the country and quite a distance from your guesses near the former CZ countries.

[@AaliyahLynnsMommy]

by the way Olaf, I was wondering; how do you adjust where the strings should be on the bridge? I was hoping you could make a little video on that if you haven't already, that would mean the WORLD to me. I totally understand if you can't or don't want to and i won't be too upset at all. =) and I appreciate all the work and love you put into violin making and sort of stuff like this it is truly amazing =]

[@durstondarden8765]

Can any of the public order a t-shirt? That's a great logo...!

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

Yes, Thank you. I just used t-spring and you can order it there.

[@simeondavidschaub99]

Been spotting this double bass in the background of a couple of videos now. Are we going to be seeing it in a video?

[@selenabullis9422]

Hello! Loved the video but I am curious, so I just restored a strad copy. Its marked the usual way with 1747 as the date and then it says made in Germany. It sounds quite nice. And I wanted to ask, are all the German strad copy’s made poorly? I spent a good amount fixing it. So I want to know if it was worth it

[@roytofilovski9530]

Compared to a lot of your jobs this one is pretty simple.

[@donatolepore3520]

So I missed you doing the feet ?!! On t 12:45 he bridge .

[@riverbard8287]

I’ve used an A string from a D’adarrio electric guitar in a pinch. Don’t judge me. 😅

[@coolinva]

Thanks very very much for the interesting video. Did you clean internal of violin, dusty there?, how many hours you spend for this work and how much people should pay for this work? Thanks.

[@groovellous1]

Please tell us what happened when he gave his wife the violin. Has she been playing it?

[@kriswaller4676]

I've been watching your videos for the past few weeks and find them really interesting and informative. I played the violin and then viola in school (in the U.S.) but have not played in years. Although I have a student violin what level of instrument do you recommend for adult beginners (starting over)? Also I noticed you have an assistant in the background of your videos. Is that your new apprentice?

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

Hi, Great to hear that you are getting back into playing! If things are financially fine, I would get an instrument that really gives you joy rather than a beginner instrument... That's the great thing about being an adult learner. A lot of players spend around $1000 to $2,000. Instruments like my Piere Lomont Master violin. If you do have stick to a tighter budget, just make sure that the instrument sounds nice and is really well set up.

[@stevehead365]

Would the violin sound better with a higher bridge? ie more pressure on the front. I know this would mean a neck reset or wedge ubder the fingerboard. Excellent repair on the edge.

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

Yes it probably would, but I would also have to raise the fingerboard action

[@raymonath]

My Sophia 7/8 Master Art Violin has a corner chipped off the top plate. It doesn't go all the way to the purfling. Can a patch be grafted on? Sorry, I don't know how to attach a picture.

[@randolphfriend8260]

💙

[@michaelwhisman]

what kind of wax do you use?

[@roytofilovski9530]

What would this instrument be worth, in it's repaired state? I imagine a decent chunk of money. Maybe 1500? 2000?

[@MR-ub6sq]

Fingerprint image Buffoon. There are others like this, and the reliability of none of them is very high.

[@pmichael73]

I steamed a good bridge that had become curved over time, weighted it, and it's been fine (and straight).

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

Yes, That can work, but it's often not exactly the same anymore. Slightly duller sound and it bends more easily.

[@parkman29]

That bridge be like mj

[@mysterymete]

The bridge got knocked by the fingerboard. I guarantee it.

[@moplum]

I’m asking Olaf if lemon oil is good to use for cleaning my violin?

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

It's really hard to say, because it depends on the varnish. I don't know of lemon oil being used to clean violins. If it's had some cracks, you often end up with the problem of oil opening up cracks. It could also dissolve the varnish depending on the recipe

[@zainab58]

Obligatory digression: Tell us about the first T-shirt! (The conductor-swirly one.)

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

I love that tshirt... It's someone drawing himself 😀 It fits a lot into my philosophy... Found it at a market in Byron Bay

[@danubioseneolitic8668]

Reghin?

[@DivaDeb1234]

I really don't understand it when people say they love playing the violin. Because in reality it's a hell a lot of work. So many challenges, blood, sweat, tears, . I really love going to the spa. I play the violin because I have no other choice... nature has forced me and called me.

[@johncoupland3334]

Was the old "student" violin really worth the time & expense spent on it. Did it have a known maker's label? It didn't seem to make a good sound. In the UK for example a German student violin with a reputable brand, R. Paesold if their cheapest model and from 20 to 50 years old in good condition sell for between £100 to £200. I bought a 3/4 size one only needing new strings. Later I bought a new hand made violin direct from a Luthier who made it, for my daughter when she needed to go up to full-size. It cost £900, plus a set of Larsen Strings and it has a great sound and would be worth such attention to restore it, if needed at a much later date, but some of these unidentified old student violins can easily be overvalued

[@ssb73q]

Hi, interesting video, thank you. That violin doesn't sound too good. IMO a ~