Restoration, Maintenance & Sound Excellence
We provide careful restoration and routine maintenance to keep your instrument and bow in perfect playing condition.
Our Services
Violin Restoration
We treat your instrument like a piece of history. Our goal is to fix the damage without erasing its past.
Restoring an old instrument is slow, careful work. We treat every violin with the respect it deserves, taking our time to repair cracks, open seams, and daily wear. Our rule is simple: we fix the damage without touching the original wood or the maker's varnish.
We want to make sure your violin is structurally strong, healthy, and completely safe to play every day. We use traditional methods so the repairs hold up for years. But just as importantly, we go out of our way to preserve its history. We never strip away the old finish or try to make an antique look brand new. We carefully match the varnish so your instrument keeps its unique character exactly as it is.
Sound Adjustment & Setup
The setup is usually the difference between a good instrument and a great one. We adjust everything to fit you perfectly.
The difference between a good instrument and a great one lies in the set-up. We treat this as an iterative process:
- The Bridge: Hand-carved from premium aged maple to direct string vibration with maximum efficiency.
- The Soundpost: Positioned with precision to balance the 'soul' of the instrument’s resonance.
- Ergonomics: Neck shaping, Fingerboard planing and nut adjustments tailored to the player’s hand size and technical requirements, reducing physical strain and enhancing playability.
Acoustic Optimization: Beyond the bench, we test every instrument in our dedicated Concert Space. This allows us to hear how the sound travels in a professional hall setting, ensuring that the 'Atelier sound' translates perfectly to the stage. "
Bow Rehairing
Your bow needs regular care to sound clear. We do not just replace the hair; we carefully calibrate the tension.
The bow is the breath of the instrument. Over time, hair stretches, loses its grip, and accumulates oils, causing your sound to become 'muddy' or inconsistent. At Deciso, a rehair is not a mechanical replacement—it is a precision calibration of your bow’s tension and response.
Our Rehairing Standard:
- Premium Mongolian Stallion Hair: We use only the highest-grade unbleached hair, selected for its consistent thickness and superior "bite" on the string.
- Tension Balancing: Each hank of hair is meticulously sorted and weighed to ensure perfectly even tension across the ribbon, preventing the stick from warping over time.
- Cleaning & Polishing: Every rehair includes a complimentary cleaning of the frog and a delicate hand-polish of the stick to remove years of rosin buildup.
- Plug Precision: We hand-carve fresh maple plugs for every rehair to ensure a secure, flush fit that preserves the integrity of the mortise.
Acoustic Optimization: Beyond the bench, we test every instrument in our dedicated Concert Space. This allows us to hear how the sound travels in a professional hall setting, ensuring that the 'Atelier sound' translates perfectly to the stage. "
Instrument Care for the Malaysian Climate
Our hot and humid weather is tough on string instruments. The best way to avoid costly repairs is to prevent damage before it starts. Here are the three most important things you need to do to keep your instrument healthy.
Humidity Management
We provide expert advice and tools (dehumidifiers/case hygrometers) to keep your instrument within the safe 45%–55% range.
Varnish Preservation
Guidance on removing rosin buildup without damaging the delicate spirit or oil finishes.
Seasonal Check-ups:
We recommend a "Health Check" every 6 months to catch open seams or slipping soundposts before they become costly repairs.
Why Trust the Deciso Workshop?
Your instrument is an extension of your body and your voice. We treat it with the same reverence you do.
Transparency
You receive a detailed condition report and a clear estimate before any work begins.
Documentation
For major restorations, we provide a photographic log of the process for your records.
The Luthier’s Guarantee
All structural repairs performed at our atelier are backed by our commitment to lasting quality.
Book an Evaluation
Is your instrument feeling ‘tight’? Noticing a new buzz or a drop in projection? Bring it to the Atelier for a professional evaluation.
- Step 1: Schedule an appointment
- Step 2: Initial 15-minute diagnostic with Tan Chin Seng or our senior luthiers.
- Step 3: Receive a tailored restoration or maintenance plan.
When Should You Rehair Your Bow?
You do not need to wait until the hair is completely ruined. Here is a quick guide to know when it is time for a fresh rehair.
Timeline
Frequent players should rehair every 3 to 6 months. Students should do it at least once a year.
Warning Signs
It is time for a rehair if the hair breaks easily, slides near the frog, or if you find yourself using way too much rosin just to get a clear tone.
Turnaround Time
A standard rehair takes 2 to 3 days. If you are a traveling performer and need it fast, just ask about our Express Rehair service.
Bring Your Instrument to the Workbench
A well-cared-for instrument does not just sound better—it makes playing much easier. Schedule a routine health check or a fresh bow rehair to make sure your instrument is perfectly set up for your next performance.
