Violin Costs

[classic]

So I really badly want to buy a violin to play around with, and I was just wondering how much I should be looking to spend, and if anyone has any links related to this that are worth checking out.

Thanks all!

[rue]

Hi, classic. If you can, definitely go to a music store, opposed to purchasing online. This way, you can get a feel for the quality and sound of the instrument. Secondly, don't buy something for its label -- it's about sound, and if the pegs hold the strings in place. If a violin is one-hundred dollars, I'd be a little wary, otherwise, buy the one that sounds good and, if you like playing, upgrade then. A brand name won't play the song for you. Most of what you'll be doing in the beginning won't require anything beautiful, anyhow, as the early days of playing are getting your body to work with you, and understanding the mechanics of your new instrument.

Renting is also a good option because the store can tune, repair, and replace and parts as needed if you're not familiar.

Above all, go for sound, something that will hold together, and stick to it.

[suburbanmyth]

rue said:

Most of what you'll be doing in the beginning won't require anything beautiful, anyhow, as the early days of playing are getting your body to work with you, and understanding the mechanics of your new instrument.

Renting is also a good option because the store can tune, repair, and replace and parts as needed if you're not familiar.

Above all, go for sound, something that will hold together, and stick to it.

oh god, is that ever true! i just started learning this past year too and while my violin is just a 'student' type model it still ended up costing around $250.

i totally agree that you have to go & try it out or have someone play it for you. when i was checking used violins out at long & mcquade they had a yamaha & a schoenbach, both around $500ish. the yamaha had been a rental & it sounded like utter CRAP! at first i thought it was just me but when i played the schoenbach it had such a sweet pure tone that i knew it was the instrument (could've been old shitty strings too but whatevs). so yah, try'em out first & have fun!

[Deleted]

anything under 1000 dollars (or 3000, depending who you ask..) isn't really worth buying, if you are serious about learning the instrument you will have to replace your cheap violin eventually.

My advice is to rent something good, not only will you feel more obligated to play (because you pay monthly) but you can rent a different violin every month or 2, and find
something you like.

Most places that rent will put up to 60% of what you payed for renting towards the purchase, if you decide to buy it.

[classic]

Awesome. Thanks guys!

[jules]

This all reminds me of the accident David Garrett had after performing in London in December. The German musician slipped down a flight of stairs and landed on his violin case, badly cracking the fiddle inside - a 1772 violin made by Giovanni Guadagnini, who called himself an "alumnus of Stradivarius".

As the news articale at the time said, "A violin case acts like a skull, protecting what's inside. But if too badly shaken, the violin - like a brain - can be damaged".

He won't know for months if the attempted repairs will work. So make sure you get a decent case to protect your precious instrument and buy it a plane ticket when travelling overseas.

[franx]

i read about that on msnbc -- i can't even imagine how he feels

[suburbanmyth]

oh god, i read about that too! poor, poor man. poor, hot, hot man.

i asked my violin teacher (a paragon of patience and perfectionism!) a couple months ago about costs on getting a really decent violin and he seemed to think that i could find a used (100-200 year old) German or Italian-made one for around $1000 or just under.

i just gotta say i really REALLY reccommend lessons. i thought i could teach myself & i did figure out quite a bit on my own but the violin can sound pretty damn horrible when you're just learning and it's good to learn all your technique the right way first. even if you just invest in a couple months worth of lessons. & yah, it's definitely fun! fun!! fun!!!

[sorry! bad typing..... must......edit.....]

[orangefox]

franx said:

i read about that on msnbc -- i can't even imagine how he feels

I recently dropped my bow on my cello; there is an tiny, superficial scratch in the varnish...and I feel horribly guilty. It is actually weighing on my conscience, which is not a feeling I'm used to. And my cello is about as far away from priceless antique instrument as you can get.

[orangefox]

Oh right...and to the original point...support your local luthier. Mass produced instruments are ok to rent when you are beginning if you have to. Actually most of the luthier's I know rent their lower quality instruments anyway.

[sortika]

What should I keep an eye out for if I'm buying a second-hand instrument for my (beginner) sister? I say second-hand because we usually have a sale at school with some good instruments for a decent price, and the only other alternative we have in our price range is the mass-produced stuff at the music shop in town. Additionally, what should different types of violins cost?

[rue]

Hi, sortika.

First -- how old is your sister? If she is young, there are scaled sizes that are more appropriate for smaller hands and bodies. It's important to have a size that they can play, I think, than one that they'll 'grow into,' like a bicycle.

Otherwise, it's basically as I suggested earlier -- definitely play around with it if you can. Make sure it's not shoddy construction, as in it being capable of staying in tune (pegs that hold the strings taut) and no cracks or heavy ware. Other than that, violins are sort of meant to be handed down. They can last a really long time if they're kept properly.

I wish you well with your findings.

[sortika]

Ah, thank-you very much! So I guess I'll be hunting round school for an instrument, then. Just one thing: how can you check if the pegs will hold the strings taut?

[orangefox]

Well...you tune it, if the peg just slides back down, and you are sure you did it properly (you kind of have to gently push the peg in, assuming you are using standard tuning pegs), then something might be wrong. then I would recommend playing on it for a bit just to be completely sure.

[rue]

orangefox said:

Well...you tune it, if the peg just slides back down, and you are sure you did it properly (you kind of have to gently push the peg in, assuming you are using standard tuning pegs), then something might be wrong. then I would recommend playing on it for a bit just to be completely sure.

Right -- that's what I should have said.