Affordable yet good enough violin for an advanced violinist

[mrsriceball]

I am hoping to find a violin with good tones, playability, response, and ideally robust enough for travelling and playing outdoors in hot and cold weather. Hopefully under £1k, but I may stretch up to £1.5k if needed...

Some luthiers buy cheapish old violins from auction, retouch them and sell. We bought a couple of small violins like that and they were all good enough at the time. We could look for something similar but modern violins may be more robust and stable and offer better performance. I don't know.

Any recommendation, please?

Where are you?

If in London, there are a couple of shops I could recommend - who will source to you requirements if they do not have stock

Thank you, SquimOfEels. Yes in London.

www.northcotemusic.co.uk

and

bridgewoodandneitzert.london

Thank you. And sorry I spelt your name wrong...

Does anyone know any good model of modern violins within my budget?

Hi, OP, what level is your DC? And is it a full-size violin you need, or fractional?

Even though you're in London (me too), I would highly recommend Cardiff Violins. They are extremely helpful, and their hand-made modern Chinese violins are exceptional quality and value, such as these:
www.cardiffviolins.co.uk/intermediates/p/809/i/275/desc/venezziano/ My DD played on one of these up to Grade 6, and she and her teacher were very happy with the tone and sound and playability.

Cardiff can post a violin, or you could do a day trip. They are just very trustworthy.

I also second the recommendation for Bridgewood and Nietzert. They are very helpful, very professional. However, they are, I find, significantly more expensive - perhaps because of London rents. But well worth a visit.

Thank you cingolimama. I have visited both shops, and in fact we bought a really nice violin from Cardiff a couple years ago. It is so lovely but very fragile and has already suffered from opening seams and warping bridge by traveling with us. So I am thinking of getting something less fragile, less precious, (a lot) less expensive, yet reasonably good enough for someone who is so used to play such a lovely quality violin for mainly travelling and playing outdoors use.

I heard good things about modern (prob Chinese) violins, like good tones, playability and stability, and apparently they aren't that expensive. But I don't know which brand to look for. So I thought I would ask here.

Is your DD outgrown Venezziano after G6? Do you think it's not good enough for her any more? Perhaps I could contact Cardiff and ask their opinion/advice.

She outgrew it literally - it was a 3/4 violin and she needed a full-size. There's nothing lost in talking to them - ask for Cecile - she's really lovely and very helpful.

I bought my son a Stringers violin (incl bow and case) for £1k last year. He’s about Grade 7 and it’s his second study so I didn’t think it was worth spending £££ on it. It does the job!

I have always been able to buy a robust-enough violin for my DC through local luthier

The Chinese sound did not compare to older European makes, imo. We never had one fall apart or be too fragile to survive school bus, school jostle and travel

I rate Geoff Denyer in Winchester

Thanks brightbluecast and Pikachubaby.

Yes, Stringers. I remember now that they sell a set like that. Thanks for reminding me that.

Geoff Denver is new to me. I will look at it.

Chinese modern violins are a bit like CF bows for me. They may not be the best but provide great performance for the price. And usually pretty strong. Obviously I am happy to find a good reasonable old European makes though.

Northcote music has sadly closed. For this level of violin I'd have a look at Thwaites just outside Watford. The guy who runs the shop is a violinist and very good at matching instruments to players. They do the take it away loan scheme if it is looking a bit pricey and are really good at fixing things if you have a problem later.