Now i've been informed someone has a new but for me it would be a 2nd hand Dvorak 4/4 size. What do you know about these, how do they compare to Gliga / T 19? Please suggest. i like a dark sound and the gligas are famous for that. Don't know what to do!

Also, about the Yitamusic, are their violins superior to the usual chinese and the Gligas? In an other thread i'm in, someone said that T19's are better than the Gliga Genial 1. Can someone explain?

Yes - the Yita are excellent quality instruments. Their top ones (T20 and 21) are used by a large number of professional players as second instruments - they are in a league above anything European you can get for the same price - the luthiers do excellent work, to European standards. One of their T19 fiddles was recently evaluated by my luthier as being worth 1000 euro when properly set up - my friend paid 175 for it.

The T19 is hugely better than most other commercially available Chinese fiddles (obviously there are going to be individual Chinese luthiers doing excellent work). In the Chinese fiddle arena, they are perhaps only bettered by the Jay Haide series - nothing else comes close. The European ones, gliga included, don't come close either.

That said, you should be aware that you pay more for a Gliga because the workers are paid a higher rate for what they do - the whole debate of ethics also comes into it (although Yita are a large and respected company).

If you want the best fiddle you can get for your money, the Yita will beat the Gliga every time. If you want to avoid Chinese made goods, buy from Gliga.

Thanks for all the info but i really cannot decide. So i'm not buying anything right now and postponed lessons. Since i'm not convinced 100% i will not persist. It would have been a nice adventure but. I'll leave some time to pass, if i'm still interested, then i'll see what to do. Maybe you'll hear from me sooner or later.

Thanks to all!!! Your help has been much appreciated throught both my threads. Good night

That seems fair enough - if you're not ready, you're not ready!

Remember though, the main thing is not the fiddle that you buy, but the fun you have with it - that's the most important. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy!

Allan

Hi, it's me again. I was just thinking, would it be wise if i purchase a very cheap one to start with and see whether i'm really interested or not? I like the idea of doing something but i just cannot get myself to do it. So maybe this could help me decide once and for all. Then if i m really intrigued i'll buy a gliga. Any opinions? Also, i had seen a cheap one, a chinese, the brand is Stagg. I tried to browse through internet and they seem to get praise for the electric one. Any one has ever seen this and whether it would be a good one for an undecided person like me?

Thanks

I started off with a very cheap Skylark violin and then upgraded. If you're not sure whether you will continue with the violin then just start with a cheap one and if it's not for you, you can always sell it. But, if you do decide to continue (the violin is very addictive, once started you don't want to put it down) be aware that when you upgrade to something half decent, there will be a huge difference that can take some getting used to (as I found out).

thanks blackbird. Did i understand well? you had to give time to adapt yourself to your new violin? well, i played piano and when i played on a piano which i hadn't tried before, it was also difficult. Maybe not so much as the violin. but however, good luck for your studies. i always admire people who can do multiple things together without fear. unfortunately i am very negative and think too much so i block myself within limits and it's not always nice. A lot of people encouraged me to take violin, i've always been curious whether i could be able to learn but i cannot convince myself!!!! though when i decide to omit the idea, it still lingers on. I need encouragement!!!!!! mind you, i might start lessons and get hooked too, but it s really hard for me to take decisions!

My first violin cost me £40 and was basically what it was, cheap and nasty, but at the time I wasn't sure whether I was going to stay with it and it was fine for an absolute beginner and would have taken me to Grade 2 if it hadn't decided to break. I then upgraded to an old French violin and had to adjust to the difference in weight, size and mainly sound quality together with that it had to be treated with a lot more respect than my Skylark which I just used to throw in the back of the car.

If you were considering taking up the violin with a view to continuing, then I would suggest getting a better quality instrument like the Gliga or the others that have been recommended. Otherwise, if you just want to test the waters, then a cheap one should fulfil that, although personally I don't like Stentors but if it turns out the violin is not for you, you can always sell the violin on. You could try private ads, alot of people try the violin, give up and then sell them on and it is possible to pick up a bargain or ebay (but remember, it's buyer beware).

Could you contact the teacher you had contacted before, explain the situation and just ask initially for a one off lesson? Possibly, the teacher might have a student violin that you could try out to see if you would like the violin (although you usually are expected to bring your own). I'd contact a teacher, explain the situation and see what they say - you never know! Good luck.

If you were considering taking up the violin with a view to continuing, then I would suggest getting a better quality instrument like the Gliga or the others that have been recommended. Otherwise, if you just want to test the waters, then a cheap one should fulfil that, although personally I don't like Stentors but if it turns out the violin is not for you, you can always sell the violin on. You could try private ads, alot of people try the violin, give up and then sell them on and it is possible to pick up a bargain or ebay (but remember, it's buyer beware).


[/quote]

Thanks Blackbird, a few good suggestions. I don't think that a lesson would help me see if i like it or not as the first few lessons would for sure be skreechy!! As with regards e-bay i think i found a good bargain on a Gliga (new) and the seller has 100% reputation. it costs £101 which is not that bad considering that cheap chinese violin outfits here cost from around £60 till £110! Therefore i'd get it for just a little more than a chinese one and it's for sure better. Now i'll have to see if a relative of mine who's coming here for a visit will take the risk and bring it down for me. Maybe i would really get a bargain and if i don't continue i wouldn't have spent a lot of money (well it's not cheap but not very dear either - quite reasonable i'd say). My aim is to try and see if i like it, i like the way it's played cause it's kind of original + i never had a string instrument. I'm not aiming at exams or high grades level but just a good background to be able to play it, maybe at mass in church, accompanying a lady who plays the guitar and sings. Who knows? Maybe i'll like it too and get hooked cause i'm quite musical and have a good ear for music. I just have to stop worrying and being so pessimistic about myself and my abilities!! I want something to boost my self-esteem and make me feel better + relax a little cause i stress myself too easily. What's your opinion?

Don't be too hard on yourself. You're already at an advantage than most beginner violinists in that you're a high grade piano player, you have a good ear for music and you obviously love music. I sounded very scratchy when I started but you can make rapid progress early on and play some nice tunes with open strings but I think you would progress very fast.

There is a strings forum on here and they are great - you very quickly realise that you are not alone and you get great advice. For me, the violin is my favourite instrument, I find it helps me to unwind and relax after a rubbish day at work. It sounds like you really would like to give it go, you've got absolutely nothing to lose in giving it a go, and everything to gain.

Thanks, those are the kind of words i need to hear, over and over again!! I'm very grateful for the encouragement.

Sounds to me like you've found just the fiddle you need to get you going - I say go for it. You'll not regret taking the plunge.

Good luck.

Thanks Allan! I'll keep

Well, i had tough luck again. my relative cannot get it since he's already full-up..... I'll be just quiet and stop worrying about anything now. better like that.

Just a curiosity, does anyone know how big is a violin in case + package?

Do you have a local music shop? Most shops offer a 2 week trial, maybe you can get a violin and find a teacher to try it out and if he/she doesn't like it, you can take it back to the shop. Or you can rent a violin for a few months to see what its like?

If your not sure or want to find out more - it's best to find a local violin teacher. Even if you don't have a violin, speak to a teacher and I'm sure they are willing to help and give you advice about buying. That's what I did. I hadn't a clue what to buy and what's the normal price range, my teacher was really helpful and I got the chance to see/hear a real life violin before committing to learning it. There's no point worrying too much cos you end up going round in circles. For a beginners violin, it doesn't really matter if it's a brilliant violin or not, as long as it is playable and you can learn. At the end of the day, it's the player and not the violin that determines how good you sound (that's unless you get a really cheap violin that is hopeless). One of my teacher's student has a cheap Stentor student 1 violin, it sounds a bit dull but it sounds so amazing when my teacher plays it. Gliga violins are nice and are good starter violin.

Good luck.

[quote name='violin111' date='Jun 3 2008, 01:39 AM' post='704958']
Do you have a local music shop? Most shops offer a 2 week trial, maybe you can get a violin and find a teacher to try it out and if he/she doesn't like it, you can take it back to the shop. Or you can rent a violin for a few months to see what its like?[/quote]

Here music shops don't offer trials or rent. You just go and buy. What's the most annoying is that instruments are overpriced. So even because of that i'm put off buying from here.

[/quote] If your not sure or want to find out more - it's best to find a local violin teacher. Even if you don't have a violin, speak to a teacher and I'm sure they are willing to help and give you advice about buying. That's what I did. I hadn't a clue what to buy and what's the normal price range, my teacher was really helpful and I got the chance to see/hear a real life violin before committing to learning it. There's no point worrying too much cos you end up going round in circles. For a beginners violin, it doesn't really matter if it's a brilliant violin or not, as long as it is playable and you can learn. At the end of the day, it's the player and not the violin that determines how good you sound (that's unless you get a really cheap violin that is hopeless). One of my teacher's student has a cheap Stentor student 1 violin, it sounds a bit dull but it sounds so amazing when my teacher plays it. Gliga violins are nice and are good starter violin.

Good luck.
[/quote]

I spoke to a teacher and he was very helpful and nice but he left it up to me what to buy. It's reasonable enough because no one can tell you what you afford and right now i don't want to spend much cause i'm still unsure. And yes, i did end up going in circles so i'm leaving the idea for now, i'm a bit disappointed but that's all. I can't force myself too much. I'll just leave some time, later on this month i'm going to start rehearsals with a choir i'm in, it holds up to 10 concerts in October every other year and the proceeds are all for charity. It's a nice joyful experience. If anybody is interested to see what it is about, just look at www.voices.org.mt. You can hear snippets of the songs that have been done over the years. However, thanks for the advices!!!

Hi, no need to answer my last question cause i got the measurements, but it's still too big to transport for my relative. i was a little too late...! However, i've been thinking, since a friend of mine offered to lend me a violin, i think i'll have a try this way then if i'm really interested and want to keep going, i'll buy one for myself. At least like this i could try without worrying about having spent the money for nothing. I just need to know how to take care of it (since it's an antique - according to what she told me). Also, my friend mentioned it could need some new strings, what kind of strings should i be looking at? i don't want to spend much. Any brands for good quality strings pls? Thanks!

I like the Dominant strings, they give a nice mellow sound...