4/4 Violin hunting

[Kutik73]

We've started hunting for a 4/4 violin for DS. We have visited two luthiers so far and each let us take one home. We can keep one for a week and another for two weeks.

DS likes one in particular and it costs £5500 for the violin alone. I know the price is not always mirrored to the quality of the sounds. It only makes difficult to judge as I don't play any instrument. So I did a bit of research and accidentally found the same violin being sold back in October for £1200-1800. It's auctioned so the exact selling price was not displayed. Looking at the photo, it has the same marks and scars so it's definitely the same violin we have here.

I can see the bridge, chin rest, and tuners has been replaced. But the selling notes stated the condition as excellent so I assume major work wasn't required by the luthier. But I don't know.

Surely luthiers have to make money so I understand it's common practice for them to buy something cheaper and add some work and sell at a higher price. But more than doubling the bought price sound quite a lot, especially it seemed to be in great conditions already.

Should I be careful or can I trust the luthier? I hope he is not pricing unnecessarily high... Any input/advice/sharing experiences would be greatly appreciated!

We have a Yamaha digital piano. Ds's teacher would prefer we had an accoustic and dd1s teacher doesnt appear to give two hoots. It takes up very little space and is easily moveable when we need space for guests. It's a practical solution.

I wonder about a "forever" instrument - I'm not at a stage where I can be sure of a "forever" piano. Two years ago I was very happy with my piano, but now I'm beginning to think I need one that would push me a bit more, but not one I have to fight with. But I don't know if I would do it ...

I think recent development of digital piano has opened up opportunities to many people who otherwise wouldn't have leant 'piano'. It certainly made learning piano more accessible nevertheless of your living environment. I prefer this way to limiting the opportunity to those who can own acoustic piano.

However I can see some serious irritation for 'instrumental snobbys' (and I am calling them lovingly) as there is huge difference between playing piano and 'keyboard'. Though I suppose understanding the difference between digital and acoustic and practise accordingly would help fill the gap.

DS owned only clavinova until he passed g5. The teacher would make DS aware of the mechanism of how grand piano worked by showing him the hummer action while playing and taught him to be conscious about the strings inside. DS would then play his clavinova in the same style as he would play the teacher's grand piano when he practised at home. So he was conscious about the imaginary hammers and strings. I think it made a difference in his playing and understanding.

We eventually got an acoustic piano a year and half ago but we never had any pressure to make the move from the teacher. She is all about 'practice makes difference no matter what gadget you have.' Not all teachers are like that and instrumental snobs are rightly snobby as I see the reasons but I appreciate the teacher's openness as it allowed DS to progress within his means.

NeverEver, interesting to know that piano also requires 'upgrade' according to player's progress like violin. But more I think of it, more it makes sense. Of course it should be! But outgrowing after only two years is quite an achievement, no? I imagine it's quite a pain to get rid out of the old piano? Or you get p/x like violin?

Now electronic violin would be a different story I guess? Violin has no space issue like piano so people wouldn't go for electronic as a replacement of real one?

I did consider getting one though as we'll go to a country with extreme climate and want to take violin with us. Or 'practice violin' (no electronic) could be another option. But never met one who uses it so not sure if it's worth having. Though I'm very reluctant to take DS's delicate violin... Any idea?

In the days of Empire you could have your violin "tropicalised"; wooden pins glued through the front and back at the corners to stop the instrument coming unstuck in the heat and humidity. Drastic!
You would be wise to leave the violin at home if it would suffer extreme conditions. It is humidity that is the main enemy. If it was going to be indoors in controlled climate conditions it should be fine. Otherwise, buy a decent Chinese violin for a few hundred pounds and take that and save all the worry.

Dd1 has played quite a lot og 'band' stuff on violin, with guitars, drum kit etc. An electric violin could be very fun in that context......

Hope your ds enjoy getting to know his New violin disorganised

kutikI haven't really given serious thoughts about piano upgrade.

DC tried the electronic cello and violin at the Yamaha shop in London. They loved the novelty ...

kutik if you are regularly visiting family, could you buy a student instrument out there and leave it with a family member?

On the other hand, professional violinists travel all over with their precious instruments, so maybe it would be ok for you to travel with DS’s violin if you have appropriate humidity monitors etc

We do keep it mostly indoor in controlled climate conditions however at some point we travel within the country and I would like to leave violin at our base but obviously we will switch off air-conditioning while we are away from the base, so it'll be left in a boiling room! Alternatively we can take it with us everywhere we travel but that creates another worries...

I'm afraid the destination (country) of our visit varies, Taggie. So leaving violin with a one place doesn't work sadly.

I bet DS would love the novelty of playing electronic and I think it would be great fun to use at school. Def get more approval from boys than playing normal violin I am sure...

disorganised, how is mini-disorganised getting on with his new violin and bow? I hope he is enjoying and loving it.

One of my orchestra friends has a travel violin. His violin is worth a few £k and he likes travelling to tropical places, so he got a cheapy student one he won't worry about. He says it sounds surprisingly okay with decent strings - as it's just for practising, it doesn't need a big sound. Electric sounds interesting and possibly fun to have at home too though!

Interesting. I did thought about getting a cheapish violin for school use but was always persuaded to stick with just one main violin for all purpose. However a cheapy one can also be used for travelling. Hmm. I may seriously consider the option now! I suppose you still should use your main bow for both violins as it directly affects bow technique learning?

Anyone knows anything about Gliga Gama? I heard it's quite nice for the price.

Just realised I haven't finished my reviews!

Cardiff Violins

Whoever kindly suggested this place, I just can't thank enough. First of all the trip was very pleasant. The transport, the location, the shop and the cafe we went, all were just wonderful. And DS met his violin there.

DS played the violin quite early on, and quickly decided he liked the sound. He tried a lot, some were probably too nice for him. But then the violin remained DS's favourite. The shop assistant/violinist said it actually sounded very nice when DS played. Sometimes violin also chooses player. They let DS try the violin in several rooms, let him compare it with the violin we brought from London (our fav at the time), played both violins for DS, closer and also from distance.

We needed flesh air to think properly, so popped out and sat in a cafe in front of the shop, and had tea then discussed. When we went back to the shop, it was dark and the shop was nearly closing. We were the last customer but no one tried to kick us out.

As you know (or hope you remember all the dramas happened to the violin!), we had quite a few twists with this violin. But every time, they dealt with a problem sincerely and patiently. After the last crisis, Cecil from Cardiff Violins said the matter had only straightened our relationship and faith and I can't agree more. They care about people involved in their instruments - the makers, players, and dealers (and anxious mums of the players ). They really proved me that they are trying to achieve 100% satisfaction of the customers.

I also got to know the maker of DS's violin. I communicated with him via Cardiff Violins. He always replied with all honesty to every question I asked. I described him as a young maker who had probably just started violin making. But I was wrong. At least I found his violins at a few well established dealer's shops in London and they all talked about him highly and described him as a very skilled, experienced, laid-back, humble and lovable maker. His current violins are a way above our budget. DS is so lucky to have his violin really.

Cardiff is a long way from London. But it was so worth it. DS has his dream violin in his arms now, so of course.

Now all we need is a bow!

And possibly a spare set (violin, bow and case...)...