I appear to have succeeded in replacing the tailpiece 

The new one is metal and has four fine-tuners like this one,



I know it doesn't suit the old 'strad' but for the moment I really prefer those to fiddling too much with pegs.

Removed chinrest - I used a small nail to rotate the screw-thing, it has pads on it so doesn't mark the instrument. It's a modern chinrest.

Being very very careful as advised I loosen the strings and manages to prevent them from totally unravelling off the pegs by sticking the ends in the f holes. Removes the bridge to see clear marks (made with a very fine knife?! that would not be by John the Restorer). I can see better now the convex side of the bridge. Takes the old tailpiece off, and the button comes off too but everything at that end looks sound. Old tailpiece, there's a monster crack/splinter at the E-string! and hurrah the tailgut is a screw job, notes how far the screws are along the thread, fits to new tailpiece, then slips it on the button.

Aaargh not sure which string is which! I'll need a photo...... ah, got the other violin out, that was handy

The fine tuners seem to be in 'mid' position so hooks up the strings, and at this point I carefully pull each peg out a bit so I can rub the shiny bits with the block of peg paste that I bought.

Put the bridge up (convex on fingerboard side?) and starts winding on the pegs. I can see the bridge will tilt over if this is done too quickly, spent quite a while doing little adjustments with the electronic tuner thing clipped to the scroll, keeping an eye on the bridge.

I like these fine tuners 

That was an hour ago. Going back in a bit to check tuning and try playing - still on the first two tunes 

But I'm happy I've done the job, and done no damage (the 'strad' is John the Restorer's though he said he didn't really need/want it back).

Phew!

Thanks A, got good teachers in John and you folks here. The violin was still in tune when I went back to it but I got no practice in. Maybe tomorrow night.

A, I'm too embarrassed to say 

OK, the first tune is 'Practice Time' a little ditty in the tutor book to get used to bowing on just two strings, eight notes, and the second tune is that old French children's favourite 'Sur la pont...' which takes me back thirty odd years when I learned the recorder 

I wonder if I might end up like John the Restorer, good at mending the violin but not so good at playing.

Anyway I have a few things to sort out at home/work in the next couple of weeks before I think about booking proper lessons.

John W

Thanks for that A, I was feeling a bit embarrassed there, but you're right, once I can play those tunes well then that will be progress 

Well, I've thought about that, Tommo, but it's going to take greater courage than I have at the moment to break with a seemingly unquestioned performing tradition.  They're printed in the order spring-summer-autumn-winter, as are the accompanying sonnets, and spring is traditionally seen as the true start of the year anyway.

Also, the spring concerto is a lovely way to start.  And now that you mention it, none of them provide a particularly good ending.  Maybe I could do what once I heard in a restaurant with appallingly slow service, and after winter start the cycle again - and again - and again ...

Thanks A.

The sun doesn't shine in our garage! It's under my lad's bedroom.

Not been doing much practice, and still on those two simple tunes,

Slurring? Had to check exactly what that meant with the violin. With the recorder it's playing a group of notes in one blow, no tonguing, played smoothly, and I see with the violin it means the group of notes are played in one stroke of the bow. Not tried that, I'm still sawing away 

So..... John..... how's it going?

A