Guide to Buying a Violin

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[annettenelson]

OR....you could do what I did and place your trust in the pros at the Fiddlershop to select a beautiful sounding violin for you like I did. And, I love all 5 of my violins. I have every confidence in the expert help at this shop...not only for purchasing an instrument, but also for all of your string family needs.

[jtelevenoyd]

Good point on the whole "bright Strad, dark Guarneri" thing. I have a Strad-pattern violin from--as far as I can tell--a decent 20th-century Markneukirchen workshop (Albert Knorr), and a 2012 "Il Cannone" copy from a decent Chinese workshop (GCV). The Strad copy is noticeably the darker of the two even when both are using the same strings. The GCV is subjectively louder, as in "rattle the windows and scare the banjo player, " but I've never actually compared these fiddles on a dB meter to see what the measurable difference is and I'm not sure that would even prove anything.

Love your channel. :)

[TurtleMyrtle]

Gibbles is adorable! The sound/tone part was hilarious. It reminded me of when I managed a winery and heard people describe the wine. "This has a floral nose" "Very oaky finish" I was not a drinker but it was fun learning about the wines from the guests descriptions and use those phrases when later guests requested certain wines.

[Zxouf]

I really need an upgrade..so bad.. thank you for your video it's a great help 💕🌻

[DieterLo]

Thanks for that very informative video! I started to learn violin since one month ago. Only was having one violin in my hands and learned a few basic things. It was a very cheap model. Yesterday I went to a Violine maker and tried another Violine and that was much better to handle. Took it for 750 Euro and can learn more or give back after some time to take a better Violine. As an total beginner I knew nothing about those instruments, but I love to learn it and getting better slowly. It was very helpful to listen your advice what to consider if we choose a Violine. Greetings from Germany!

[henrypagan]

I would by a new one from you guys befor I do that. Thank you for your help.

[cliffwhite]

Thank you for such an intelligent and thoughtful video on this topic. Excellent.

[perrythacker]

A very good analysis of how to buy a violin, especially about how the sound is the most important. Unfortunately, that wonderful thought has little mileage in the great violin selling business, where a tiny piece of paper called a label has WAY more to do with the price of a violin than the sound. That little piece of paper can be worth thousands, tens of thousands of dollars - raising the price of a violin that sounds like a standard Mirecourt violin up to $50, OOO or more. And more curiously, even when the label is fake. A violin seller will gladly sell a violin with a fake name label for much more than a poor label-less one. And an "apocryphal" labeled violin is worth more than a "fake" labeled one - even though they're exactly the same thing. And it's common knowledge that a violin "with an Amati label" is not really a violin label, yet a violin shop will gladly sell the violin for half the price of an Amati, even though the sound doesn't merit it whatsoever. In Europe, the gypsies have a bad reputation for honesty in dealing with violins, but it's nothing compared to the dishonesty of even the most "reputable" violin dealers.

[bennyblanko]

One other thing to keep in mind, is if the instrument is new, it will tend to "open up" with some hard playing, and will sound either a little or maybe even quite a bit better after it has been played on for a bit. I'm not sure why that happens, probably a combination of the strings seating really well in the nut and over the bridge, and the bridge feet settling in, as well as the sound post. And, even the wood fibers getting flexed and vibrated - I got a new "edgar russ" German factory fiddle (not one of his personal hand made things, which I think cost 35 to 40k), which was a bit stiff, dark, and even a little nasel, and it took about one month or two of hard playing, or maybe a little more - but it is a really nice/decent violin now. The response is much better, and it is a joy to play (It is my #1 choice this last few months, and I'm really loving it). I noticed some of the better china violins are pretty thin out of the box, and don't need much breaking in.

[seonaidoriada]

I can’t wait to visit Florida so I can visit your shop, among other things!

[jennymacaluso]

Thank you so much. Youre a good teacher. Educator

[echm]

Hello! I am a high school student looking to buy a violin. Sadly, there are no violin shops around me and the only way I can possess a violin is by renting from a place near me. How can I find or upgrade a violin elsewhere?

[LeviathanG]

Are older used violins generally better as people say they are or is it just a myth? Does age matter?

[akhil___abi]

Hi Fiddler shop, i really want to buy a violin.. Im looking for it online since I don't have nearby places to buy a violin from.. I would really appreciate if i can get a violin through your suggestions

[biswa]

Which violin is the best one to learn high pitched song

[steelwitness]

Nice video but I still feel under equipped. I have to assume this advice can apply to all genres but would there be any separate tips for someone looking to play "fiddle" style music compared to traditional violinist tunes?

[jonidadolohov]

If I were a beginner and I needed a violin which one would you suggest ? 👀

[jrsforest]

There are two things it's worth going into debt for; a house and a musical instrument. Figure out what your budget is, and figure out how to buy a violin that's double that.

[amirhamza]

I want in Pakistan ...please help me....

[WhiteDragon]

Ain't it true that those old violins were mass produced in factories in Europe at the end of 19th century and were put together rather fast and are falling apart now? I'd rather put the mullah into a well made modern instrument. Looking at the Soloist package you a'll have.