I just got my first violin today. I'm not sure what make it is as it's my uncles old violin. The bridge needs to be put on streight and it needs new strings and the bow needs restringing. But it's in really good condition considering it's over 50 years old. I'm going to start looking for a luither soon and I am so excited about learning to play. Just wanted to see if anyone could recomend a luither in the local area?

Hello Terra,
congratulations on your new violin
I can reccomend a luthier in the south east, they are in greater London area? any good to you? I will PM you the details if it's reasonable distance for you
Jo

London is a bit far. Aparently Hickies music store does repairs there so I am going to take it for a qoute on tuesday. I'm not sure if I should restring the bow or get a new one. The one I have is over 50 years but It might actually be better so I want to talk to them about that. I forsee myself spending at least £50 on getting it sorted out but it'll be worth it when I can play! I hope that they don't do anything strange to my violin.. but they did my clarinet repairs in the past and were fine.
The person I was trying to contact about lessons got back to me and said he might not see the lady who works at the music center until June 6th and he will ask her then about her vacency. I really hope she still has it but will pick up a list of local teachers on tuesday just in case she is fully booked.
Thank you! I really love my violin. I can't wait until I can try it out when it's fixed up.

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new violin!! You will have lots of fun once you get going.


Sorry I don't know any violin shops near you because I'm in Scotland but good luck with your repairs and set-up. A good luthier will be able to tell if your bow is better re-haired or if you need a new one. And fitting the bridge and new strings is not a huge job so you will hopefully be playing really soon!

Have fun

hope you enjoy your violin.

Thanks ^^ I am hoping I can try it out on tuesday. I don't think what I need doing is a big job so it can probably be done while I look for a begginers book and some other bits.

Is this the Hickies in Reading, per chance? If you can get to Guildford, there is a luthiers called "SoundPost" - http://www.soundpost.co.uk/

Yes it is. I don't drive so getting out of town would be difficult.

Philip Brown in Newbury is very good; he has premises on the main street, and you can easily get to Newbury by train from Reading. See what Hickies say first though.

I know Hickies will do repairs. But from reading up about bows I get the feeling restringing it might be better. I have a wooden bow, most of the ones that are sold now are plastic or synthetic. I'm not sure anyway because the violin I have isn't anything special it's a begginers one. It's just 50 years old because it was the one my uncle learned on. I am intending on doing a rent to buy for a better one when I get a grade or two behind me. Mainly because I want to see if violin is what I feel it is and I don't want to put out £100's if I prefer woodwind. But yeah if Hickies are no good I will go to Newberry probably. But Hickies were genrally fine for repairs and advice in the past. I'm just not sure what they are like recently. The last time I went to them for a repair was 10 years ago.

Hi Terra, most bows are actually still made of wood - good ones anyway. It's only beginner bows that are made in plastic. Some bows are made of carbon fibre, which is becoming very popular given the fact that there are problems with pernambucco (the wood used to make good violin bows) - but the majority of good bows are still made from wood.

However, it doesn't follow that your bow will be good just because it's made from wood - you can get some truly terrible wooden violin bows and this would have been even more so the case before the advent of synthetic materials for beginners bows - it may be a nice bow and it may be a rubbish bow, but before deciding to have it rehaired, which will probably cost around 30 UK, have someone look at the bow - if it's not very good, a basic wooden starter bow will only set you back the same price and will likely be better (try stringmail.co.uk for this kind of thing) - if it's a nice bow, then having it rehaired will be the best option.