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  #1  
Old 07-08-2021, 03:09 AM
Henning Henning is offline
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Default How often played?

Hello, how often do you think a stringed acoustic instrument (i.e. violin, guitar mandolin, ukulele etc.) needs to be played to keep its tone please?
Regards

P.S. I´ve understood that string instruments kept at conservatories are brought home by the staff to get played, once in a while.

Last edited by Henning; 08-30-2021 at 10:24 AM. Reason: Grammar
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Old 07-08-2021, 05:26 AM
Mandobart Mandobart is online now
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I personally consider this to be part of the body of fiction, folklore and fantasy that has existed around musical instruments for centuries.

Stringed instruments are completely inanimate objects. The wood has been dead since before it was built. If it was built correctly there is nothing that changes in the structure of the instrument between sitting idle or being played, with the possible exception of the string tension that changes if the tuning is adjusted. Changes from temperature or humidity occur whether the instrument is being played or not.

This doesn't prevent people from anthropomorphizing instruments just the same and insisting their instruments go to sleep, wake up, break in, open up or close down.

What does happen is atrophy of skills, muscle memory, flexibility, etc. on the player's part, which frequently results in the player blaming the instrument. Then after some period of play they say "gee I guess this guitar has finally woke up; it plays and sounds so much better now....."
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Old 07-08-2021, 05:53 AM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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As often as possible, as with any other...
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Old 07-08-2021, 10:51 AM
leew3 leew3 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mandobart View Post
I personally consider this to be part of the body of fiction, folklore and fantasy that has existed around musical instruments for centuries.

Stringed instruments are completely inanimate objects. The wood has been dead since before it was built. If it was built correctly there is nothing that changes in the structure of the instrument between sitting idle or being played, with the possible exception of the string tension that changes if the tuning is adjusted. Changes from temperature or humidity occur whether the instrument is being played or not.

This doesn't prevent people from anthropomorphizing instruments just the same and insisting their instruments go to sleep, wake up, break in, open up or close down.

What does happen is atrophy of skills, muscle memory, flexibility, etc. on the player's part, which frequently results in the player blaming the instrument. Then after some period of play they say "gee I guess this guitar has finally woke up; it plays and sounds so much better now....."
Nailed it again. I think we're done here folks...move along. :-)
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Old 07-08-2021, 11:04 AM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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I reservedly agree with Mandobart, with some reservations, as I have felt at various times that some of my instruments have "gone to sleep" and required "waking up".

fr instance due to circumstances over the last 15 months I've hardly played my dreads at all so when i first "de-case" them and have felt them to be rather dull initially.

Further, I have had little to no reason to set fingers upon my Dobro or Mandolin for some time and I suspect it might be more about the strings than the instrument.
Whilst they might look nice and shiny, maybe they've "settled" and need to be tuned and retuned again to get them responsive.

Oftenly ? Is that a word?
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  #6  
Old 07-08-2021, 08:36 PM
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I don't buy that instruments "go to sleep". Your ears may wake up to a particular instrument however. Guitar strings might oxidize eventually so if it has been a long time a new set might make some difference.
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Old 07-11-2021, 10:31 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
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“Oftenly” is not a word in the English language but English is not the OP’s first language, so allowances should be made.


whm
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Old 07-17-2021, 01:06 PM
sabatini sabatini is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wade Hampton View Post
“Oftenly” is not a word in the English language but English is not the OP’s first language, so allowances should be made.


whm
The poster is much better in English than I am in whatever their native language is.
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Old 07-18-2021, 06:32 AM
SpruceTop SpruceTop is offline
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Aside from enjoying their tone, one of my main reasons for trying to play my instruments on a regular basis is to keep an eye on their condition. Even though my instruments are kept in their cases in a climate-controlled room, damages, such as the beginning of bridge lifting, can occur and should be addressed ASAP before they progress to more serious conditions. Keeping a regular and frequent playing rotation for each instrument helps in detecting the onset of any problems.
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Last edited by SpruceTop; 07-18-2021 at 11:16 AM.
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  #10  
Old 08-30-2021, 09:04 AM
Henning Henning is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leew3 View Post
Nailed it again. I think we're done here folks...move along. :-)
So, obviously the tonerite is just another fraud and worth to take as seriously as any other frauds. Thanks!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wade Hampton View Post
“Oftenly” is not a word in the English language but English is not the OP’s first language, so allowances should be made.


whm
Thanks some grammar pages gives the obvious answer: "OFTEN is an adverb that has not got an adjective form."

Last edited by Henning; 08-30-2021 at 09:25 AM.
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  #11  
Old 08-30-2021, 10:28 AM
Henning Henning is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sabatini View Post
The poster is much better in English than I am in whatever their native language is.
We usually speak Cobol here. What is the main language spoken in your country?
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Old 08-30-2021, 01:48 PM
Br1ck Br1ck is offline
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What needs to wake up are one's little grey cells, because I suck if I haven't played an instrument for a month.
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Old 08-30-2021, 02:08 PM
bfm612 bfm612 is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Henning View Post
So, obviously the tonerite is just another fraud and worth to take as seriously as any other frauds. Thanks!
Napoleon Dynamite's Uncle Rico definitely swears by one of these.
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  #14  
Old 08-30-2021, 02:18 PM
Henning Henning is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bfm612 View Post
Napoleon Dynamite's Uncle Rico definitely swears by one of these.
I´d simply Love to hear that, please.
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  #15  
Old 08-30-2021, 02:45 PM
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I can't answer the OP question, but this thread reminded me I have an electric violin sitting here unplayed since January.....

Quote:
Originally Posted by Henning View Post
We usually speak Cobol here. What is the main language spoken in your country?
I used to speak a little Cobol, but with a Pascal accent
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