|
It may not always be possible for somebody interested in pursuing a historically-informed performance practice to acquire a suitable instrument at the outset. There may be financial contraints involved, or there might not be access to instruction. Although using an early style of bow requires a certain amount of instruction, playing a violin or viola in an historical setup which may involve a shorter, thicker neck, wedged fingerboard and the absence of a chinrest or tailpiece is a much more serious undertaking and involves acquiring a technique quite different in almost every way from that used on a modern violin.
There are nevertheless several intermediate steps which can be taken to avail oneself of a setup which will deliver much of the tonal results obtainable on an historical setup, without having to resort to a full conversion which involves an early type of neck and fingerboard. Some of these alterations are easily reversible, and in certain instances the services of a luthier may not even be required.
|
|