Viol Care: A Short Guide
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THE BOW
Tightening the bow. Every time you play, you must tighten the bow hair by turning the button clockwise a few times until there's considerable tension on the stick. The correct amount will vary from bow to bow; ask an experienced player if you're not sure how tight yours should be. Always loosen the hair when you're done playing. 

Rosin. This product of pine tree sap is rubbed on the bow almost every time you play. One good technique is to "bow" the rosin as if you were playing a string. Make sure you get enough rosin near the tip and on the near side of the hair. The brand of rosin is not very critical, although stickier types may work better on bass viols.

Rehairing. Bow hair wears out and becomes slick. If you think your bow needs rehairing, bring your bow to a bow maker or luthier.

THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT
Sunlight and temperature. Never expose the viol to direct sunlight, draughts, or extremes of temperature, which can damage the varnish and crack the wood. Be wary of transporting a viol by car in the heat of summer or cold of winter.  (And as a general rule, never leave a viol in a car!)

Humidity. The ideal humidity level for a viol is 40% to 50%. Dryness not only is harmful to the instrument, causing cracks and separations, but also makes it harder to play. The response on an overly dry viol is terrible and the sound is tight and raspy. Dryness is essentially a winter problem, because humidity is high in summer. Winter is double trouble: Cold weather itself is drying, and winter heating makes rooms dangerously dry

You can check room humidity with a hygrometer, sold in many music and gadget stores. Dampits, described below, also come with a primitive humidity gauge. If you find that the humidity in your home is very low, you probably should get a humidifier--and keep it running near your viol as long as the heat stays on. (Bionaire, Vortex, and Hunter are reliable brands.)

An alternative to a humidifier is a Dampit, a sponge-filled rubber tube that is moistened under the faucet and inserted into one soundhole (usually on the bass side). It musty be throulgly dried before insertion. Humifiers by Stretto and Planet Waves, are kept inside the case. All types must be periodically moistened.

The case. Always fully engage the locks before picking up a case. And make sure you don't leave your case in a tippable position!