April 13-17, 2026   Instructor: Ryan Hayes-*BIO HERE*
Cost: $1,000.00
Capacity: 12 participants
Questions: info@huthmakerviolins.com
*REGISTER HERE*

   Setup is absolutely crucial to the tone and playability of an instrument. No matter how well an instrument is made-if the setup is poor, so is the tone and playability of the instrument. The goal of this course is to learn and improve on the fundamentals of professional set up. Participants will be required to provide their own instruments in good condition and in need of set up. Instruments should have reasonable neck projections and neck sets though many things can be compensated for.  Participants should also c0me with quality fittings (Bridge, pegs, tailpiece, sound post stock etc..) and as many tools as possible.

    This Course will cover the fundamentals of setup including dealing with neck projcti0n issues that does not require a neck reset, planing fingerboards, making and adjusting nuts, finding the correct placement and size of  the bridge, the post and how it relates to the bass bar, fitting soundposts, and carving bridges. Basic common sense tonal issues and scenarios will also be discussed, touching on some basics of tonal adjustment.

Topics to be covered include

·     Correct position and alignment for bridge and post, and how this relates to the instrument

·     Addressing neck projection issues that can be resolved without a neck reset

·     Dressing fingerboards

·     Making and adjusting nuts

·     Fitting soundposts to high standards

·     In-depth bridge carving techniques

·     Fitting new pegs, and adjusting old ones

·     Trouble shotting set up problems pertaining to playability and tonal issues

·     Simple, basic, common sense tonal adjustment

Course Schedule and Information

Sunday arrival: The workshop will be open at 5pm for dropping off tools and meeting colleagues.  A casual group dinner (not included in registration fee) will be held at a local restaurant at 6:30pm so everyone can get to know each other.

If you won’t be arriving until Monday morning, please arrive around 8:30am so you can get set up for class start time of 9am.

Weekday schedule: The class will run Monday through Friday from 9am-6pm, with the workshop opening at 8:30am.

Lunch will be provided each day at the shop. Please inform us of any food allergies/restrictions and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Breakfast/dinner is on your own each day.  The hotel has breakfast options available when you reserve your room.

There is a basic kitchen (microwave and fridge) if you need to bring your own food.

There will be coffee and water available.

Friday evening Huthmaker Violins will host “Firepit Friday” in the back yard for attendees with snacks, drinks, and Fiddler Whiskey.

Tools and materials

Materials/tools supplied by Huthmaker Violins

• Alcohol
• Deionized water
• Paper towels
• Cotton
• Sharpening station for tool sharpening: Tormek, stones, etc
• Basic bridges
• Soundpost material
• Hide glue and glue pots

Materials/tools supplied by student

• Personal tools
• Projects
• Special needs for projects: high-end bridges, fingerboards, etc.

If traveling with instruments is a pain and you are in need of any projects, we have plenty of “naked violins” here at the shop that need setting up.