Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Flip

Original poster

Advice needed about buying a violin

20 replies

pigsinmud · 01/04/2009 09:14

Ds2 is learning the violin. He has borrowed a 1/4 size violin from his teacher, but now needs to buy a 1/2 size violin.

Any recommendations for a decent violin without spending a fortune? Dh is brass music teacher, but does not know much about violins. Also, he is making it much more complicated than it need be, so I have taken control of this one!

We mentioned ebay to his teacher, but he was worried it might have a crack or something in it.

OP posts:

ZoeC · 01/04/2009 09:17

I would go to a proper music shop - they will have student violins and will set it up for you. I would avoid argos etc. Ebay as ever can be good or bad but you can't see before you buy so will always be a risk I guess. Try the music shop first and see how they are price-wise first - you won't want to spend a fortune at this age I know.

ZoeC · 01/04/2009 09:18

btw, ebay - you would get a better second-hand violin than the very cheap new imported ones on there.

brimfull · 01/04/2009 09:19

Has the music teacher not got any connections or recommendations.Maybe someone ready to sell a 1/2 size one?

mistlethrush · 01/04/2009 09:20

The best thing to do is to see if you can see any advertised locally. Its also really difficult to get a 'decent' 1/2 size. We bought ds a new 'student outfit' from the internet - not many 1/10th violins out there...

Original poster

pigsinmud · 01/04/2009 09:21

Thanks. I wondered if there was a "make" that could be recommended, so if we do go down the ebay route we know what we're bidding on.

OP posts:

Original poster

pigsinmud · 01/04/2009 09:25

The music teacher was rather vague! He's a friend of dh and waffles! He recommended a cheap one for £50 and then changed his mind. He mainly teaches older children on full size violins.

OP posts:

mistlethrush · 01/04/2009 09:30

Stentor is OK.

jennylindinha · 01/04/2009 09:32

Hi, my DP recently bought DSD a new violin (4/4 size) off ebay for around £20 (they are around £60 new). It is a Chantry and probably a cheap import as mentioned above, but it sounds great!

Prior to that, the ones she was using through school were called Stentor (Cremona make?) and they seem to be a bit more expensive new. There are some on ebay currently going for £20 upwards.

Both makes are student violins and should be fine for kids. HTH

ZZZen · 01/04/2009 10:29

I bought dd's in a music shop. They were very helpful. I know nothing about violins so that was quite reassuring. We were told we could take the violin and have the teacher look it, they would refund if the teacher advised us against it.

Dd's is a 1/2 . It is a German brand, we bought it in Germany but I can't see the brand name on it anywhere. It has a good sound, we're very happy with it. Could you go to a music store, write down the brands you like and then google for them on Ebay if you want to go down that track?

Since having bought it, I have seen a lot of notices for violins for sale or wanted at the conservatory. If you have a music school near you, perhaps you could put up a notice there?

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 01/04/2009 10:34

My DDs have Stentor. They are fine for the first few years according to their teacher. The half-size may only be needed for a year or so anyway - DD1 went from half-size to 3/4 size quite quickly. Now she has a full-size Stentor, but after she does her Grade Three this year we will upgrade to a better violin.
I think secondhand is the way to go - some music shops will do secondhand and then do part exchange when you need to go up a size.

marialuisa · 01/04/2009 10:44

DD has a Stentor Conservatoire (stentor have several different types), her teacher thinks this is more than adequate to at least Grade 5, it was around £175.

If you are anywhere near Nottingham or Birmingham this shop is great: www.turnerviolins.co.uk/contact.php

snorkle · 01/04/2009 16:05

I'd recommend calling Elizabeth of elida trading. She does very good quality stringed instruments at excellent prices and will usually let you try before you buy. I have no connections by the way, but both my children have had gliga stringed instruments from her and both their teachers were amazed at the quality for the price. Gliga are higher end price wise, but I suspect the lower range instruments are also good value too.

AMumInScotland · 01/04/2009 16:22

DS had a Stentor up to Grade 5 - his came from a specialist strings music shop, and they had a supply of second-hand ones of all sizes. They also were happy to take any back later in a part-exchange on a larger one, which reduces the real cost and means you don't then have to sell the small one on yourself.

Original poster

pigsinmud · 01/04/2009 17:08

Thanks for the replies. We've had a look online and decided to go for a Stentor Student 1. Found one for £55 plus postage.

OP posts:

karise · 04/04/2009 19:48

Make sure you know it's been set up by a violin maker or dealer!
Many internet 'bargains' turn out to be more trouble than they are worth as the bridge will be too high etc.
I often buy or exchange instruments with my students, it's often the best way to go.
Secondhand is always better as the older the violin, the better the sound. The only 'new' violins I would trust online are from Foote's Music (they have a shop in London) as I know they are set up properly.
Can your child's teacher really not find a secondhand one from another student? I keep track of those ready to trade up & they often trade up a size at no cost at all.
Ebay is a HUGE gamble and teacher's will often be too polite to tell you it's bad so your child will loose interest because it's so difficult to play!
FIND A Dealer!!!

bramblebooks · 04/04/2009 20:09

have just brought a nice Stentor 3/4 today (from a music shop!) as DS has had his grade one exam this afternoon and outgrown the loan 1/2 size violin we were using.

Good luck!

Original poster

pigsinmud · 04/04/2009 21:47

Slightly changed our minds as bargain had disappeared when we returned to order it!

Teacher had voiced his concerns about violin being "set up" correctly.

Have seen a Stentor Graduate on ebay. Might take a chance if the price doesn't go high. The seller has taken a few pictures and seems to know what they're describing.

OP posts:

karise · 04/04/2009 23:08

Set up is EVERYTHING! Find out who set it up, look them up & if you can't find them under dealers and restorers in the yellow pages don't buy it.
Far too many kids learn on instruments which a horrible, not because of how they are made but because of what has or has not been done with them. Restorers train for years for a reason!

Original poster

pigsinmud · 07/04/2009 12:42

We've just received the graduate one from ebay. It is in fab condition andson is very pleased.

Thanks for the help.

OP posts:

maggiethecat · 18/04/2009 00:37

Karise, it's interesting what you say. We've been renting a Suzuki for dd who's been playing for about 8 months. I'm not musically trained but it does make a lovely sound. There is the school of thought that for young children it does not matter much the quality of the instrument but I think that you should go for the best quality that you can afford.

Flip