Besides looking at the instrument itself, my sound adjustments focus on troubleshooting the setup first- strings, bridge, soundpost, and even the materials used for fittings.

I especially enjoy doing soundpost adjustments to concert standards, but also to accommodate the way you play. Here are some of the qualities that time can be spent finding the ideal overall position for:

• The violin has a healthy balance in response across all four strings. For example, many players come wishing to reduce the focus of their E string, where it often causes the G to suffer in ways.
• Being able to allow you to carry a clean tone without resistance from both the lightest and heaviest bowing.
• Ideally it can enable the contrasts in playing/technique that you desire without also resistance – for example with nuanced string crossings, or tonally with dynamnics and changes in colour.
• Finding the response that meets your preferences for articulation.
• Most importantly, a good adjustment can often make your violin a joy to play on, and players often *know* when it feels right.
  
  There shouldn’t be any barriers between you and your playing.
  
  This is said generally. Every instrument, its setup, and its player’s preferences are all individual.