Paint + Violin?

Question:Would it be safe to spray paint my violin body black? Like would it affect the sound?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Would it be safe to spray paint my violin body black? Like would it affect the sound?

Oh, my, please do not paint your violin! Luthiers don't even like violinists to use furniture polish to clean their instruments as even that can adversely affect the sound. There have been articles printed about how experts think that the reason Stradivarius violins sounded so wonderful is due to the wood and finish Stradivari used! I can't imagine what spray paint would do to a violin, even a cheap one. Aesthetically, the paint probably would not stick to the varnish, in any case, you'd end up with a very ugly instrument.

You don't say how old you are, but I am assuming you are a student violinist. I don't know if you plan to go further in your playing, or what kind of instrument you have. If you have a good quality instrument, painting it would definitely cause a lot of damage that would have to be repaired if you ever wanted to sell it. On the other hand, if this is a $200 (or less) beginner violin, and you will be acquiring a better quality student violin, and you don't care if your beginner instrument is rendered un-sellable, go ahead and paint it, providing whoever bought the instrument in the first place knows that you are doing this and has given you permission.

If you really, truly want a black violin, you can save up your money and buy one. I even found one (it's probably just a Violin Shaped Object) on ebay for about $20. I also attached a site (nashville violins) that carry colored instruments for about $300 (probably a better bet!) If you don't know what a Violin Shaped Object is, please see the articles below (the ones with vso in their address), especially before you buy a $20 instrument and expect to play it!

My friend spray painted his violin black and it still sounds good.

Just don't spray the inside chamber. And do a clear gloss coat AFTER the black has dried. It will look nicer and the paint won't come off everytime you touch it.

BLACK CAUSES FIRE,FLAMMABLE,MOODY

Possibly ; the extra layer of paint may act to muffle the sound by preventing the top and back plates from vibrating.

Why would you want to do that anyway ? I hope this is not an old or valuable violin ?

If it is a new and cheap violin (under $200) then it probably has a very thick layer of polyurethane varnish on it so another layer of paint will not make too much difference.

If you want anything done to your violin, take it to a violin shop.

~Lisa

Yes, it will effect the sound.

The varnish of a violin plays an important role in it's tone. Adding an extra layer of paint will dull the sound some. I've done it. It won't destroy it, but it won't improve it either. I did it to a violin that I put a pick-up in and I use it as an electric violin now, so the acoustic sound doesn't really matter. The violin I did it to also had a large repaired crack on the back that I wanted to cover up. I would not do it to a good violin.

Also, you can put masking tape on the back of the violin in a cool design, your band name or whatever, then spray paint over that. When the paint dries you take the masking tape off and you have a black violin with your design showing in natural wood, which is pretty cool.

Good luck!