Appologies to those who I must be boring to death but one last question
I went to the different shop today to try more vioins, told him I did have one I had shortlisted from somewhere else and he said I should have brought it along to compare. Well it was in my car so he had a quick look, said it was what it said it was and that it was a nice violin in great condition but he said it had the original set up and would benefit from a new set up.
I like the sound of this violin......... so
Would a new set up change this??? For the better would be lovely but I wouldnt like it to change it completely.
My teacher said we should try Evahs on it, its got Dominants at the moment, I definately need a new chinrest but the luthier mentioned something about the finger board and the soundpost. I like the pegs that are in it, they seem fine, stay in tune, turn easily, look to me like they fit.
Thanks for any replies.

Hi Louby,

That's great news! Let me tell you that set up can make huge differences to a fiddle. Explain that you want the basic sound characteristics to remain the same, tell him if you want more projection, easier playability etc and let the man do his job - let him choose the strings too (changing the strings without changing anything else makes VERY little difference - perhaps under the ear, but from far away it really doesn't make a difference that the average listener would notice - set up on the other hand does).

He probably needs to scoop or shoot the fingerboard, do some bridge and soundpost work etc.

If you like this fiddle and he'll do you a good set up, I'd say go for it! You've found what you were looking for!

Keep us up to date (I'm beside myself with curiosity over a purchase that isn't even mine - this is progress. I think... )

Allan

Thanks Alan,
My teacher said that the bridge was the original one and in her opinion reckoned that it would be better than a modern one??? What do you mean by scooping or shooting the fingerboard? I told the Luthier/dealer my teacher had advised Evahs as they should give the vioiln a slightly mellower sound as it is loud and he said it wouldnt make a lot of difference and that it really needed a new set up just like you said. This man was fantastic, he let me play his violins and then played them for me, what a difference, they all sounded so different from a distance. He even let me play a very expensive one to compare, that was lovely .
He didnt play the one I like most though but then how could I expect him too, it wasnt one of his.
Thanks for all your advice.

Hi Louby
a) Most (nearly all) of what determines how well a bridge works lies in quality of the fit and cutting. Some people do this immeasurably better than others. So you can't judge a bridge on the basis of whether it's "original" or "modern".

b) "shooting" a fingerboard just means planing out the lumps, bumps and dents and restoring the proper curvature. If you do this properly it leaves a slight lengthwise hollow, which is called the "scoop".

c) Evah Pirazzi are not regarded as mellow strings, actually the opposite. For mellowness, you could maybe try Obligatos.

Thanks Discopants,
Im sure if I go ahead, he will do a great job, I'll just worry then that the sound/tone may change. Its a bright/loud sort of alive violin, maybe a little edgy which Im getting more used to the more I play it, I do have another on approval that is quieter, sweeter and more forgiving but much more expensive

Now, that's where experience and skill come into violin playing and the very reason a professional level player can make even a cheap nasty sounding thing just about bearable.

Learning how to coax a good sound from any violin is something that takes time and patience. Musical instruments, like people, have their own personality - you have to work out how to get the best from them, but it doesn't happen overnight.

Thanks AmandaL, So in your opinion as a violinist, which violin seems the best buy for someone who hopes not to have to buy another , the bright/loud one which seems very responsive or the sweet forgiving 'easier to sound good' one. They are both expensive, just one of them is 3 times the price of the other!

I used to have sweet, warm and forgiving (gliga), but eventually - although it made me sound much better whilst I was getting to grips with basics - I came to feel it didn't have the tonal possibilities I needed - I couldn't get any agression from it, it didn't ever sound brilliant - always predictable and sweet. After a year or so I had to change it for a better instrument.

My current one squawks if you don't play it right, the tone is strong and even and you can't hide any mistakes. I think it's made (making) me into a better fiddler because I'm having to choose and direct my sound more.

I don't know if that will apply to you in this case, but if you're hoping to never have to change again - I'm not sure sweet and forgiving is the way to go.

Good luck!

Hooray
Thank you so so much Rosfrog, I actually smiled and did a huge sigh of relief when I read your reply. Just what I needed to hear, it makes so much sense.
Thats it then, decision made, Im buying the loud alive violin and will now have enough money to buy a lovely new bow. Eeeeek, another trauma I expect

Brilliant! And I get to get my fix from your bow buying threads! Keep it going - you're saving me a fortune!

Enjoy your fab new fiddle.

Allan

You may regret it

Happy violin, louby! I didn't want to say it earlier, not knowing the instruments, but I think the louder violin may be the right choice, and with a good set-up, you'll be off to a good start, anyway.

After hearing two looooong rounds of violin trials, I've decided that muffled is bad unless there's an awfully obvious reason, while soft and sweet is often not satisfactory at all pitches and all volumes. And so I've come to agree with that old saw that while not all loud violins are good, all good violins are loud (or can be loud)!

P.S. You left a violin you had on appro untended in your car??? I don't think violins like being left in cars, where temperature changes can be quite sudden, quite apart from other risks.

Thanks Allears, I took the sweat sounding violin back today and it was hard giving it back, it was very nice but its done now and I will go and pay for my new loud violin tomorrow.
Im glad you mention muffled as thats the only way I could describe it as loads I tried sounded muffled. Anyone in the know, looked at me a bit odd when I said they sounded muffled or muted.

Just looked back on what Id said earlier about the violin in the car , I took it with me to the shop (its from a different dealer) hoping he would say, you should have brought it with you or something like that (which he did) as Ive been honest with him from the start, he knew I had a violin I quite liked. I was parked in front of the shop and it wasnt in there long so hopefully no long term damage done