It's about time, everyone! The Dampit season has come. One of old my teachers used to say "A week before your heater turns on, that's when you need to start using Dampits".
For those who are not familiar with Dampit, visit their website here. In the green tube there is a sponge that keeps humidity in an instrument. Around this time of a year violin pegs start to go loose because of the dryness (the pegs shrink and the peg holes expands).
That's not the only reason to use dampits though. String instruments are very sensitive to humidity and dryness. Basically, both are bad for them. Once it gets too dry or too humid, instruments can have open seams which usually keeps widening. Luckily my violin has been very strong against such issues (considering the age of my violin, I have to say I'm very lucky)
That's not the only reason to use dampits though. String instruments are very sensitive to humidity and dryness. Basically, both are bad for them. Once it gets too dry or too humid, instruments can have open seams which usually keeps widening. Luckily my violin has been very strong against such issues (considering the age of my violin, I have to say I'm very lucky)
You can see how to use dampits on the website.
Sometimes I immerse mine in water this way. You only need to give it water when it dries up. Depending on the humidity, I usually do that once or twice a day.
Sometimes I immerse mine in water this way. You only need to give it water when it dries up. Depending on the humidity, I usually do that once or twice a day.
Turn your instrument upside down to insert a dampit. This way it won't touch or possibly move the sound post.
When I use one dampit I put it in the hole of the G-string side. It could come out of the hole while you play due to some vibration on the instrument. When that happens from the E-string side hole, it will be in your way to bow.
When I use one dampit I put it in the hole of the G-string side. It could come out of the hole while you play due to some vibration on the instrument. When that happens from the E-string side hole, it will be in your way to bow.
For a week or two, remember to take it out when it rains. That would be too much humidity.
