The Player or the Instrument?, A better violin is better for the player? Options

[elidatrading]

The player is vastly more important than the violin. The time when you need to change violins is when the violin you have is causing you constant difficulties. As a retailer I spend far more time talking adult learners down in price than up!

Liz

[ViolinQueen]

The player is vastly more important than the violin. The time when you need to change violins is when the violin you have is causing you constant difficulties. As a retailer I spend far more time talking adult learners down in price than up!

Liz

It's already causing me difficulties, but I suspect that its down to my technique (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

PS: The difficulty for me is that (in first position) when I am switching from D on the A string (third finger) to G on the D string - especially if they're in a slur (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
PPS: Vibrato is not compulsory till grade 5... right? Coz I've not been practicing it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

[BadStrad]

PS: The difficulty for me is that (in first position) when I am switching from D on the A string (third finger) to G on the D string - especially if they're in a slur (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

In that situation I might place my finger on the "invisible" string that lies between the D and G - so kind of a double stop - to get a smoother sound over the slur.

Out of interest - how long have you been playing violin?

[elidatrading]

It's already causing me difficulties, but I suspect that its down to my technique (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

PS: The difficulty for me is that (in first position) when I am switching from D on the A string (third finger) to G on the D string - especially if they're in a slur (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
PPS: Vibrato is not compulsory till grade 5... right? Coz I've not been practicing it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

1. is technique, and the answer to 2 is, right.

liz

[ViolinQueen]

Out of interest - how long have you been playing violin?

I started around Easter, practised for 3 month... and then dedicated all of my time to the Grade 4 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clarinet.gif) exam - so I took a break of maybe 2/3 month?

I'd say I played it for half a year, but I played for 3 serious months.
(So proud of myself since I'm edging into the Grade 2 syllabus! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif))

[AntonPiano]

Sorry to intrude, but this thread relates to something that I'm thinking about at the moment.

I have been pondering taking up violin again. The last time I played purposefully was in 2007 when I did my grade 6 exam. Not coming from a background where I could provide a 'decent' instrument for myself, I played the exam on a Sparkly Green Stentor Student 2 and much to my surprise came out with a distinction. This is the violin I have at the moment and after abandoning it for so long it has become unplayable which leaves me in need of a violin. My intention would be to sit my grade 8 exam at some point, so I need a violin which would get me through that venture. However, I am a student and a student budget wouldn't accomodate some of the suggestions that I have received. It may sound shocking, but I literally couldn't go over ?200, and that is for violin, bow and case. I've looked at some of the higher level Stentor models but I am unsure as to what is worth the splurge.

I don't intend on becoming the next Perlman! Possibly use it in a teaching role within a school environment (I am training to be a Primary School teacher), but hardly destined for Carnegie!

Suggestions would be great!

[miffy]

Antonpiano - unplayable in what sense? Does it maybe just need a good set of strings or a set up and some playing in again. If you can get it back to how you remember it, perhaps just spend some money on a better bow.
I'm sure your future primary school students would love to see their teacher with a bright green violin! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[BadStrad]

Does it maybe just need a good set of strings or a set up and some playing in again.

That would probably cost more than the violin is worth.

[miffy]

Does it maybe just need a good set of strings or a set up and some playing in again.

That would probably cost more than the violin is worth.

Depends where you go. There are some horrendous over-chargers out there. A basic set up should only cost the strings and a bit, and if this violin (and player!) was once good enough to get a distinction at gd6 it's worth looking into how to keep it going. I can't see you'd get much better in a new one for ?200.

[AntonPiano]

I'm sure your future primary school students would love to see their teacher with a bright green violin! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I'd thought the same! Hahaha!

It's the pegs that are the main issue - they are quite slack so the strings aren't staying at correct pitch. Plus there's a crack in the back of the violin. The bow is in a laughable state, but I don't think I used that bow for the exam..

I replaced the strings a couple of years ago but with the pegs as they are it was a pointless venture.

[Sunrise]

In that case I think a new one might be in order. A Stentor Conservatoire II might be a good idea....see if you can get a second hand one on ebay. One of my students has one and it sounds quite alright.

[miffy]

Yup! Sounds like a new one is the only way! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
The cheapest person I know would repair the crack for ?100 but then there's new pegs, bow, strings..not really viable! Be careful you ask lots of questions from the vendor before you buy on e-bay. A pupil of mine recently was assured by the seller that the violin was all set up and ready to just 'pick up and play'. She trusted them because it was an actual shop, but when the violin came the bridge didn't fit and it didn't even have a soundpost in it. The vendor is denying everything.

[elidatrading]

A pupil of mine recently was assured by the seller that the violin was all set up and ready to just 'pick up and play'. She trusted them because it was an actual shop, but when the violin came the bridge didn't fit and it didn't even have a soundpost in it. The vendor is denying everything.

Distance selling regulations. This is a shop and they are bound by those regulations. The buyer has the right in law to return the violin for any reason at all within 7 working days (assuming it was a fixed price sale and not an auction). Unsuitability for the purpose does not have to be proven. In fatc, contrary to popular belief, you are actually safer in law buying at a distance, assuming you are buying from a business and not a private individual.

Liz

[miffy]

A pupil of mine recently was assured by the seller that the violin was all set up and ready to just 'pick up and play'. She trusted them because it was an actual shop, but when the violin came the bridge didn't fit and it didn't even have a soundpost in it. The vendor is denying everything.

Distance selling regulations. This is a shop and they are bound by those regulations. The buyer has the right in law to return the violin for any reason at all within 7 working days (assuming it was a fixed price sale and not an auction). Unsuitability for the purpose does not have to be proven. In fatc, contrary to popular belief, you are actually safer in law buying at a distance, assuming you are buying from a business and not a private individual.

Liz

Thanks Liz. The trouble is they bought it before Christmas as a present for their daughter and therefore none of this was discovered until a couple of weeks later. It's a slightly more complicated story since too involving another rip off shop along the way but I won't put it up on the thread for obvious reasons (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[michael N]

Not only that but under EU distance selling rules they are also liable for postage costs both ways. As an instrument maker I was caught out with this just recently. It ended up costing me ?80 with shipping/insurance costs. Now I ask for a ?1 deposit as proof of a direct commission, a way of getting around the rules that were probably not intended for craft workers.
Given the nature of the problems with that Violin I'd be returning it, it's irrelevant if it was before Christmas. It's not fit for purpose.