Just a quick question: is the soundpost supposed to be completely vertical or is it natural for it to lean slightly?

All the ones I`ve ever seen are completely vertical - a slight lean is in danger of becoming a bigger lean and then a fall.

thanks, Martin

leaning=bad. it should definately remain straight. if its leaning just adjust it a little yourself. no biggie. just make sure it doesnt lean or it might pop off or even split in two- that happened to my violin once; the bridge was leaning and while i was tuning it with the pegs it just snapped in two- sounded like a gun shot!:-p so make sure them bridges be straight!

A leaning sound post is in danger of becoming a sound post crack which means that sound post will become lose and the violin will cave in from the immense pressure from the strings. Can anybody say firewood because that`s all what the violin is going to be good for if it collapses from a crucked sound post!!!!! Not only doen a sound post have to be straight, it also has to go in a certain spot.

Straight of caz.