Violin buying advice please!

[RedAngel19]

Hi there, my DC will be starting violin lessons soon and we need to buy a violin. We've been recommended a Stentor as a good starting point. I'm happy to invest in a decent violin and with this brand. My DC has been measured as 1/4. He's 7. Does anyone know how long a violin size would typically last at this age? My DC is a slow grower (only 117cm tall still). If 1/4 would last a year, I'd be happier to spend more and buy new. If only 6 months, I'll look into renting.

Reason for asking is that I've spent a while now searching the secondhand market and the only ones I can are on eBay. I've had a couple of not so great experiences where I've driven to collect and the violin has been nowhere near the condition the buyer described it as. So I'm reluctant to look at eBay again (I'm only looking at sellers within driving distance as I don't want to risk damage during postage and buying without viewing).

New Stentor violins start at £90 excluding accessories! I'll bite the bullet and pay if it means lasting a year at least. Also because I know sticking to the violin isn't going to be an issue for my DC. I know it depends on how fast a kid grows but I'm wondering whether those with experience have found kids to move between sizes in a matter of a few months or whether it's more like one size a year.

Thanks in advance!

Hi redangel my DS started a year ago aged 7 on a quarter size and is still comfortably on it, I think we might get another year out of it as he’s also small and a slow grower. We got a primavera 100 as that was what the local shop stocked and it’s been fine, I know stentor is a popular one too. Hope it goes well 🙂

Have you asked your son's violin teacher? They sometimes have 2nd hand instruments to sell.

My dd started on a 1/2 at 7, moved to 3/4 at 9 and 4/4 at nearly 11 - massive growth spurt.

Stentors are absolutely fine for a beginner.

Thanks. This is really helpful and it sounds like I'll get at least a year out of it. We've already asked at the music school where my DC go and, right now, none of the parents are looking to sell. Quite a few parents rent which doesn't make sense to me as the rental over the year would be the same as buying a new one.

Thanks again, I feel much better shelling out for a new one!

My DS is a small 7 and has been on his 1/8th for a year. His sisters 1/4 size is too big for him and she is still comfortably on her 1/4 size at 9 1/2 which she got at nearly 8 !! She is 132 cm.

Our local violin repairer/maker used to sell the cheap Chinese ones that came on the market, but restrung to a better standard. They were about £100. When you needed a bigger one, you traded it in for the next size up. Sometimes there were traded in second hand ones too.

We rent a violin but the cost is much less over a year than buying one.

I do have a speedy grower though!

I'd go for the stentor personally. I bought this one www.amazon.co.uk/Stentor-Student-Violin-Outfit-Size/dp/B002R0K7Z4/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?s=gateway&crid=Y8GRJ6KYR9M6&keywords=stentor+1%2F4+size+violin&sprefix=Stentor+1%2F4&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1553524314&sr=8-3 in a full size for myself a couple of years ago and it's great, makes a lovely sound!

I did find that the bow shed quite a bit so I did replace that after about 18 months.

Where do you live? Best to go to a shop for help if your teacher can't sort it out.

Our local music shop sells second hand stentors - same ones as they rent out - and will part ex them for next size up. That's a good way for 1/4 and 1/2. We've promised DD a new one for 3/4. We had more than a year from each - arms seem to grow slowly before puberty!

Stentor's are fine to get going on, but definitely worth paying for a strings upgrade (Helicore or Dominants). If you can go to a Stentor II, even better. My DD is a slow grower and has been on her half size for 2.5 years! Admittedly it was a little big when she got it. In our case that has taken her through almost 5 grades, so it was a good thing we invested well this time. But she was on stentors for her first 3 violins.

Agree with folk - decent strings make a big difference! But get the shop to put them on for you as they are incredibly tricky on little violins. DS2 had a primavera 1/4 from age 7-9 ( I think it was about £120) and then a significantly better 1/2 size.

I would also agree with others- get it setup by luthier, new strings etc....stentor ok to begin with- but past gr4/5- I would look for an upgrade.

Update! We ended up getting a new Stentor 1. I did call around all the shops within reasonable driving distance of where we are and only a couple sold secondhand violins (even then, at only £20 less than cost of new!).

Haven't replaced the strings though. Will see how DC gets on and think about changing strings later.

Thanks for all the advice!

At 7 he won't be far off a half so find out if there's a rental scheme through the county music service - until you know he's going to stick at it. Even my dd who's very small was on a half by 8 (she plays on a 7/8 now as she's adult but tiny hands). Stentor are fine but also check out local violin dealers who have others - I can recommend a couple in the east mids