It is time to buy a new violin... I have an Antoni Debut right now, and I want to upgrade it. Baring in mind that I have just about played the violin seriously for only about 3 month and is Grade 1/2 standard (I can play all pieces in Grade 1 syllabus and sight read a few, and play most of the Grade 2 pieces), Which of the violins would you personally suggest? I will, of course, try a few in a few days when the half term starts, but I need to have a general idea of which violin's will be okay till grade 5/6 ish. I have set a budget of about ?250, because I do not know what will suit my playing as my techniques develop... By the way a Gliga Gems is a little bit out of reach (I KNEW lots of people will suggest it! ) Are there any violins on the shortlist that you would get rid of? And can someoone comment on the Yitamusic violins? As they are sent from China it will be a HUGE risk to by it (and maybe there are import fees!).

The link of the ebay violin is: Violin and there are 3 quite nice reviews!
There is a stentor conservatoire going on ebay for about ?5o so I might get that, and change the strings.
Also, the Stentor Messina, Soundpost Concertante has got upgrade strings on them (probably dominants?) and the Andreas Zeller is in an outfit. I THINK all of them are used, I'd probably go in on Saturday to try then out. By the way I don't need a bow as I have a reasonably OKAYish bow.

Since my teacher has agreed to rate the violins, I face one more problem: How to get them to school. I have only one violin case and I have my clarinet and school bag to carry already! How on earth I'm going to lug the other violins up a hill...! It seems out of the question, and with the safety of the instruments (on approval) being left unattended in school and everything...

Anyways... Sorry for the essay but are there any other violins you can think of that are good? And please vote for one of the above! Thank you very much I wait in anticipation...

A very excited~
V?Q
Awww... where has my poll gone???
Okay... I dont know how to do the poll so...
The options are:
Andreas Zeller
Stentor Conservatoire
Soundpost concertante
Antoni Premier
Stentor Messina
Yitamusic violin
Ebay violin (see link above)
Other
^Please choose one Thank you!

I can't comment on the violins, there's many which I haven't tried out.

As far as the logistics are concerned: when you take them on approval, they may have a case which can hold two or four violins which you can use - it does no harm to ask. Either way, maybe you can justify getting a taxi! Have a word with staff in school, in advance, to explain the situation, because it's surely possibly for you to leave the instruments in an office or somewhere else reasonably secure for this one occassion.

I'm fairly happy with my Zeller and should be taking my Grade 5 with it later this year. I think my main complaint at the moment is that it has a very bright sound (though been told that this could be due to the strings)? Also the sound isn't as rich/resonant/vibrant/etc as I'd like it to be. Still, can't complain too much for the price I paid for mine (?120 second hand with a good setup and Dominants)... I'm planning to upgrade after Grade 5 though!

SkyT13

I've got a quick question for you. Is the Zeller your playing the antiqued looking one, or the usual shiny one?

The only reason why I'm asking, is because I think I'm having the same problem with my Zeller with it being a little on the bright side.

I currently play the antiqued looking Zeller, which is also strung with Dominants and an Obligato gold steel E.

I did mention it to my teacher but he said there's nothing wrong with it, as I was thinking of changing the strings a couple of weeks ago.

Loz xx

Oh yes! Now, why hadn't I thought of that? Thank you!


Oh. I like deep sounding violins, and I like the Gliga gama... It really tugs at my heart. Maybe I'll drop the Andreas zeller and think about getting a Gliga Genial?

If youre buying online i'd stick to a known brand, anything else would be a waste of your money.
I really don't think that below grade 5 or 6 level there's such a thing as a violin being 'too bright' etc. so don't worry about changing strings or whether certain brands sound darker or brighter etc. they're all likely to sound extremely similar, without sounding rude (as you are doing very well) the ear wont be developed enough for it to matter in the early stages
My best suggestion that i know of is that Cardiff violins do a student violin, for i believe ?250. I've played very many of them - they've been worked on to make sure the bridge is the right height, the right curvature on the bridge, quality strings, functional pegs etc. all things that stentors and violins in that price range are very unlikely to have. Therefore they're pleasant and 'easy' to play compared to other violins in the student range, and in my opinion... sound like a much more expensive violin! They'd post it to you if you did decide to go with that and youre far away, there's more info on the website www.cardiffviolins.com
Good luck anyway and let us know what you go for

As for getting them to school, i'd say if you take any on approval either choose your favourite one and take just that in and have your lesson on that, or take your 2 fave and ask a teacher if there's a safe place you could put them for the day. Maybe your violin teacher will look after them for the day for you.

It's glossy so I'll go with the usual shiny one. When I commented on that my teacher suggested that I could try another make of string (I can't remember what make she suggested), but when I looked up those strings they looked rather expensive compared to Dominants and I decided it probably wasn't worth changing strings. One thing that did make a difference though was changing my bow a few months ago, as that made my playing sound much nicer overnight!




I'd probably have bought a Gliga if I'd known about them at the start, but then again given what I paid for my Zeller I really can't complain at all about it!

The Chinese violins you mention are likely to be loud and bright. Regarding your poll - other. I think a suggestion made by you a couple of posts ago was a good one.

Liz

Hi Liz

Do you have any views on Hidersine violins?

W

Thank you for the replies!

My current Short list:
Andreas Zeller
Stentor Conservatoire
Soundpost concertante
Antoni Premier
Stentor Messina
Yitamusic violin
Gliga Genial

Please can someone give opinions on this? e.g the bridge...it is okay from the picture?

There is a good used stentor concervatoire and I want to buy it!
Any comments on The soundpost violins?
Also are hidersine and westbury and primeveras good violins?
Does anyone use a Yitamusic violin and what is the quality of it?
Thanks for your help

I'd stay away... 'Moondog' violins?! Never heard of it. Though it does say that you can get your money back if youre not happy. I don't for 1 minute believe it's suitable for beyond grade 8 though, and that kind of lying makes me hesitant as to what else they're lying about!


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STENTOR-CONSERVA...=item1c238fde5a ?

[quote name='ViolinClarinetQueen' date='Feb 9 2012, 05:19 PM' post='1128070']


Please can someone give opinions on this? e.g the bridge...it is okay from the picture?


It is impossible really to comment on that, on the ebay page they say they have 10 available and there is no guarantee that the bridge photo is even one of those. A lot of ebay sellers use stock pictures, rather than pictures of the individual instruments. It is easy to talk something up on ebay, but at least if you do buy one they have a return policy so you can send it back.

I don't know anything about Moondog acoustic violins but I have one of their electric violins - it's ok for what I paid for it (cheap as chips) but it's very heavy and cumbersome which is why it's largely neglected now.

I've seen and tried several Yita violins - the ones I've seen are ok and are quite bright in tone but from what I have heard they can be hit and miss and if it's not what you want you have the return postage costs to consider.

Just a thought - have you asked your teacher if they know anyone selling a violin that would be suitable for you? Also, is there a possibility that your teacher would be able to come with you to try out some violins.

No sorry, never tried one. Did try the Hofner Stingl from the same wholesaler which I thought was good for the price but that has now been discontinued.

Liz




I'd be inclined to bid on the used Conservatoire if I were you. Primavera - student violin, better than some but still very basic. Westbury, well made, horribly bright for my taste but I guess strings could change that.

Liz

He doesn't come on here very often, and I don't honestly know if he still plays, but aessir22 has/had a Hildersine violin. Might be worth asking him.

True, but I could TRY it, I didnt believe it either, and I'm a beginner! I liked it's back though!


I think I might TRY it...


No, He can't come 'violin shopping'... I've asked, he doesnt know anyone that sells violins but tells me to think about 'German makes' Maybe the Yita's aren't that suitable...
I might by that COnservatoire, ffliwt

Good idea
Probably what he meant was that, you might be able to find an old german violin, rather than buying a brand new student violin

http://www.caswells-strings.co.uk/shop/vio...ian-violin.html
http://www.caswells-strings.co.uk/shop/66-...s-overture.html

I'm more inclined to something that has been set up in a workshop like the overture above or the cardiff violins one i suggested, as you know everything will be as it should be - working pegs right bridge height and the suchlikes!

New German violins just don't compete very well, at least not at that end of the market. It's all a matter of labour costs, cheap in China and in Eastern Europe, expensive in Germany. Just one thing to be aware of if you are ebay shopping: just because a name sounds German it doesn't mean the violin is German.

Liz

I'd avoid the Yita's - definitely hit and miss. I have a Yita viola which is lovely and a Yita violin which, not matter what has been done to it, still sounds brash - only suitable for primary school teaching, in fact!

Actually, I restrung mine as a viola, for when I had to swop between the two in the primaries, so that I was on the same size instrument, so it's not completely useless.

Andreas Zeller
Stentor Conservatoire
Soundpost concertante
Antoni Premier
Stentor Messina
Yitamusic violin
Gliga Genial

Has anyone got a soundpost violin and can you comment on it please?
-Thanks
Also, would you recommend to get a stentor conservatoire now, upgrade to gliga gama later, or get the soundpost/Messina and hope for the best?
PS: If you havent noticed... I LOVE the sound of the Gligas... makes me think of WARMTH!

Messinas are a step up from conservertoires. My daughter has had a 1/4 and a 1/2 size messina, both of which we have been more than happy with - one was second hand and one new and they both sounded nice and rich for instruments of their size.A 3/4 we have tried hasn't been so good - very brash sounding even with a change of strings and a fiddle about with the soundpost and bridge (not by us I hasten to add!) As with all instruments, nothing beats playing a few as they all seem so different. It's hard work though, especially when changing size - my poor daughter has to keep switching between 1/2 and 3/4 size as we try an instrument, take it back, try another etc!

Does that mean they might be able to go to grade 8 with a good set up? Because I have heard that the conservatoire goes up to grade 5/6 ish with a good set up and bow change...

Stentor ConservatoireDefinitely is a good idea. Any last minute comments on them?

x-Thanks-x

I think that's a good choice I wouldn't use it above grade 4/5 though, it's essentially just a beginner factory made instrument, it's only about ?50 more than the stentor 2 but i do think it is good for the money

Factory made - yes, but they are also hand made. As long as you change the strings they are a good "cheap" violin which will go further than grade 5, i find.



Yes. But must be set up properly. Excellent choice!

Did you get it then?

Liz

No... needed a 'PayPal' account, apparently to buy it... I'll watch out for another one though!