With a Viola

Went to Turner Violins today after my viola lesson, as I couldn't go yesterday I went today and well....

I tried -

European circa 1995 16" and a bit far too big for me - £300 quite liked the sound
Chinese new nearly 16" - £750 liked very much but again far too big
Chinese smaller only 15" and a tiny bit - £800 liked but wanted to be under £750 really ...
German 1890 15" and a bit - £1200 wish I had the money!

Then she went round the back and strung two other violas for me that had just come in -

French about 60 years old 15" and a bit - £800 liked but didn't really find it loud or mellow enough

THEN

German 15" and a bit made 1950's I think she said £500, absolutely loved the instrument, my favourite one, very loud, dark and mellow, not too light varnish I've totally fell in love with it with a bow and case it comes to £590 - I can always upgrade the bow later.

With it you get it fully set up new bridge (from what they say they make them?? Or do something with them anyway), dominant strings, the viola completely checked over, cleaned etc. (they have a full workshop)

As I only went to look I'm not sure what to do now, they have reserved it for me as I really totally fell in love with the sound, the instrument felt right I found it much easier to play than mine the strings where not as thick either!

What would you recommend? Should I go for this instrument or have I not tried enough?

I'm not a viola player, but based on what happened when I took my son to choose a clarinet on two occasions I'd say this is the instrument for you. Can you run it past your teacher before you finally decide to buy?

Well shes gone to Turkey today for two weeks so not really!

The lady in the shop told me she preferred it to the £800 French one and so did I, infact we both seemed quite surprised about this, they have lots and lots of instruments in there, my teacher seems to known them. Being a shop which just deals with stringed instruments they do a free yearly check and clean on all instruments and they guarantee all instruments they sell too.

Generally I'd say that falling in love with it is a good sign (and it's probably fine), however definately get your teacher to look at it first, they notice things that you wouldn't.

If your teacher is away, get it on approval - all good shops do this. You can then keep it for a couple of weeks and get your teacher to try it when she gets back. If they say you cant have it for that long, go back and get it on approval in a couple of weeks. You may change your mind when you've been playing on it -when I was trying viola's I took 2 on approval, the one I liked best in the shop actually ended up being too large and I found the 4th finger stretch uncomfortable which is something I hadn't noticed in my time in the shop.

As far as viola's go I reckon you've probably tried enough if you've found on that you love. I only tried 6 before i found the one, but violins I tried over 30.

Enjoy viola hunting!
x

Thanks Thats a good idea, the shop is really good so I don't see a problem with this, I'll ring them up tomorrow and explain the situation to them.

I got a bit of a shock when I tried the bows, they were all much bigger and heavier than my bow but I found all the instruments easier to play and a lot more responsive, not sure if this was bows or strings or what, also learnt you don't fit the bow to the instrument you fit the bow to you, I thought certain bows would suit certain instruments but that was not the case apparantely!

For actual sound I (just) prefered my £500 viola to the £1200 viola but that one was much prettier, I didn't know the prices until I put them in order so was quite shocked with that and pleased at the same time.

Bow wise I tried the cheapest bow (£30), an £85 bow no one seemed to know much about and a £220 bow, for the moment I am going to go for the £30 bow as I really couldn't tell much difference at all between them, so I will upgrade at a later date and always have a spare I imagine

Oooh lucky you - it sounds like you had a wonderful time viola shopping!

I think you're right and should go with your heart. If you play it for a while and then want to upgrade the chances are the shop will take it as a trade-in in the future. It also sounds like a good price for your range.

I bought my viola 'unseen' because I live hundreds of miles from the nearest violin shop. It has turned out really great and will do me for years once it has been 'professionally' set-up. But it wasn't too expensive so if I ever do need to upgrade and spend considerably more I will travel to the violin shop to try some out. I should think I'll need to upgrade the bow first and will hopefully have a selection sent on approval through the mail.

How exciting for you!

Get it on approval, then if you still like it after playing it in what might be very different acoustics at home, buy it. You are the one that is going to be playing it, not your teacher.

Liz

It was fab, there must have been over 35 violas in the room most were very expensive I think and some where very big, one had got to have been over 18", the majority where around 16-17" but after trying again there was no way I could handle a viola that big!

Yes what the shop offers, is to trade in and if you say originally bought a £500 viola and trade in for a viola worth £1000 or more you get £500 trade in for your viola, not sure what you do if the viola you trade up to is less than £1000!



Thanks I'm going to ring them up about it

Good plan. I reckon that you can't tell the difference because your technique is not at that level yet - i really really don't mean to sound rude or anything, just honest. When I tried violin bows, I couldn't tell the difference between the £500-800 and £1000, just because I wasn't and still am not a good enough player to be able to feel a noticable difference that would drastically improve my playing, so the extra money wasn't worth spending at that point in time. Maybe one day when I have improved my technique it will be different and I will benefit from a better bow.
x

I rang them up and am going to pick my new viola up on saturday as the viola is being checked, cleaned, they are slightly thinning the neck and having a new bridge fitted I have a week to make my mind up, sooooooo exciting

Maya - The lady in the shop said the same thing but to try the different ones anyway, as you may just really like one, I found it odd the bow does pick the viola rather it's the player, I presumed different ones would like different instruments!

Sounds like you've found the right instrument - at least for the moment. It may well not be your final viola, but (as you say) you can always trade it in again when you're more experienced. It sounds like it should certainly last you a while.

I think relationships with instruments are quite a personal and intimate thing, and people do often get a very clear sense of when they've found the right match. My flute is absolutely beautiful and I couldn't (at the minute) imagine ever playing a different one. I got three flutes on trial last summer and once I was a home playing in my usual environment the one flute just stood out head and shoulders above the others (even though they were supposedly 'better' models).

I've just fallen in love with something too. And, no, it's not a viola. There's just a slight issue of whether I can get a credit card in time - could be tricky with it being Easter...

From experience, Turners are very reasonable about taking instruments out on approval. Explain that your teacher is away and ask if it would be possible to extend the approval period just until she comes back.

Realistically you'll know pretty soon when you start playing your viola at home if it really is 'the one'.

Good luck!

Lucky you Falling in love with instruments is totally cool

Although not so much in my case...! I went trying chinrests yesterday and ended up trying violins (well im upgrading in about 2 months and it was just too tempting) and i accidently picked up a violin that was like £1500 out of my price range... i fell so completely and absolutely in love with it, it was perfect in every way and i can't describe how much i want it But i can never afford it. And it wasn't just that i loved it as it was more expensive hence better, as i've played violins costing £10,000 and i still prefered this which was £5000. Nothing is going to compare now ¬_¬

Sorry didn't mean to change the subject, just wanted to tell about my IMMENSE disappointment!