Hi all

I have been teaching myself the violin for a few months now.. and I have had a couple of lessons in the beginning stages. However, I hope to try and take grade 3 violin this year and I have a basic antoni violin. I cannot really afford to buy a better violin as yet but do people advise that the instrument should be changed when you get past grade 3? Obviously I know that you don't get a fantastic sound from a baisc instrument, when compared to a better model of instrument, but as I am playing it for fun and doing the grades to challenge myself, am I ok to stick with my antoni?

I know I am not a fantastic player but I do practice reguarly and I think that the sound I am producing is becoming richer but not quite to the sound of a better violin, therefore it's frustrating!

Therefore, I suppose I am saying can you produce a good enough quality of tone on a basic instrument?

joy

Not really a help to your topic (sorry about that...) but a thought I just had when reading it. All the good violinists in the world play on really good, expensive, violins. It would be very fascinating to hear a recordings of professional soloists on different brands of low quality violins just to see how much of the tone is really down to the player and how much is down to the violin.

Hi

Yes my thoughts exactly.

Hope someone can give some opinions on this topic

joy

I used to own a rather poor China violin when I was pre-grade 1. It is very tempting to blame my lousy tone on the violin. But when my conductor, who is also my teacher then, took it up and play one day, it was so much different. After that, I believe that wonderful technique is more important than wonderful instrument. Of course, he will sound much better on a better violin, but at least he can make a miserable violin sound its best.

I had an Antoni which i did my Grade 1 exam with. I changed to a second hand violin (just before i did my Grade 2) - which unfortunately has no label - but has a really gorgeous tone. When i had the Antoni my teacher used to say i managed to draw a good sound out of it even though it wasn't a good violin. The violin i have got now she said she was looking at it for one of her other pupils but she said that even if they had my violin she doubt they would make as good a sound as i do. Sorry, i'm waffling on a bit but to summarise a decent violin would make a nicer sound but ultimately it is down to the player.

If you're happy with your violin, then keep it and upgrade when you can afford to.

If you are already somewhat frustrated with your instrument I would advise you to start saving up for when you become really frustrated! No-one here is going to tell you (seriously) to give up the violin because you can't afford a genuine Strad, but you will only become more concious of the limitations of what you have.

My all purpose instrument buying guide is that you want to consider moving up when you try other peoples' instruments and become green with envy/near tears that you can't afford it, rather than just being awestruck and happily returning to your faithful friend.

Hi joyjoy.

I use a chinese violin a 'Blessing'. I thought as you do about the tone and after I took my grade 2 I spent £97 on a new bow, this improved my tone and my playing. perhaps a new bow could improve your tone and playing

I did Grade 8 on a Poller, admittedly with better strings and a better bow and a professional set up.

Grade 3 and beyond on an Antoni is by no means impossible. If you want to improve the tone without spending too much then do consider better strings (what have you got on there now?) and save your money up for a good bow.

Liz

QUOTE (elidatrading @ Jan 19 2005, 08:36 PM)

I did Grade 8 on a Poller, admittedly with better strings and a better bow and a professional set up. Grade 3 and beyond on an Antoni is by no means impossible. If you want to improve the tone without spending too much then do consider better strings (what have you got on there now?) and save your money up for a good bow. Liz

Thanks for all your advice and especially amati and the bow idea.. I think I will give it a shot.. I recently ordered a viola, (a Christmas present form my boyfriend) an antoni again, just to have a go, so I guess I will have to look into getting a decent bow for that eventually too.

I didn't realise strings made that much of a difference.. sorry to sound stupid! I have not changed the strings since when I first got the violin, so could anyone recommend any strings that I should buy to produce a better tone?

The more I think about it the more I think I am limiting myself by having a cheaper violin but it's all money. I'll have to save up...

Joy

PS does anyone know of good bows to look out for?

what strings do you have at the moment?

not too expensive but quite good - Dominant.

It's been a long time since I bought strings... Pirastro (spelling??!) were the usual favourites among them as could afford them when I was at school.

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ Jan 19 2005, 09:28 PM)

what strings do you have at the moment? not too expensive but quite good - Dominant. It's been a long time since I bought strings... Pirastro (spelling??!) were the usual favourites among them as could afford them when I was at school.

I haven't got a clue which strings I have on there now.. are they called antoni strings ? I mean the violin has the same strings as when I first bought it. I've never changed them as I wouldn't know how

Or is it quite straight forward?

joy

Dominant strings are not a good choice with most cheap Chinese violins, though the Antoni is relatively warm and they just might work. I'd feel inclined to try Corelli Crystals or Daddario Pro-Artes, but I haven't actually tried these on an Antoni.

Changing strings is very straightforward, no worries there.

As for bows, by far you best bet is to try a selection, bows are very personal things. Most specialist shops and good specialist internet retailers such as ourselves (said modestly!) will let you have a selection on approval to choose from. You'd need to be looking at £50 to £75 from us, much more from bricks and mortar shops, to get a bow upgrade that is really worth having.

Liz

QUOTE (elidatrading @ Jan 20 2005, 08:51 AM)

Changing strings is very straightforward, no worries there.

*nod* it isn't hard, but if you do know someone who can show you how then it'd be worth it, just for your confidence's sake knowing you were doing it right! but essentially taking the string off will tell you all you need to know about how it goes back on.

Ok thanks guys..I had a look online briefly last night but will be picking up my viola sometime soon so will have a look then for bows although it is quite a small shop so whether they have any will be another story.


Thanks for all the advice on strings too... I saw some Dominant ones online last night around £25 to £30 if my memory serves me right. Is that a good price?

Thanks again

Joy

Inspired by progress on my new harp and by this thread, while reconsidering spending some money on a cheap Antoni, I remembered that in the shed I had an old violin that was a present from my dearly departed father. I decided, out of respect for him, to dig it out and do it up the best I could. I might even try to play it! I dont know what make it is, but its old and got "Dresden" written on the bridge. I need to buy a G string and news pegs for it which I am going to do this afternoon.
One other problem is that while I had a go on it this morning, the cat came running into the room and almost attacked me. She jumped up onto the covered keyboard and started prodding at the bow with her paws (claws retracted luckily!!) From the noise I was making, she must have thought she was coming to the rescue of a friend in distress no doubt!! I'll have to play it when she's not around in future methinks!

Gae

Hi JoyJoy,

I think the tone produced on a violin is all up to the violin, the player, the strings and bow!

1)the violin-i did my grade 6 on a Skylark violin! i can't afford to buy a better one that time...but still manage to get a distinction! So, a cheap violin won't let u do badly in an exam

2)the player-i did make a better tone from my friends who just started learning violin 2 or 3 years. as time goes by...your tone will improve...but try practising slow bowings at times...don't just rush off and finish up your exam pieces...

3)the strings-i did change my strings from the original set to Prelude D'Addario...which make a different sound i think

4)the bow-my bow doesn't go straight b4 i change my bow...because my bow has gone 'crooked' a bit!

P/S:Cheap violin is not a hinderance to sitting exams(but if you can afford good violins, the more better! Go Ahead)

Any one had any opinion on my last statement?

Likeviolin

QUOTE (joyjoy @ Jan 20 2005, 12:14 PM)

Ok thanks guys..I had a look online briefly last night but will be picking up my viola sometime soon so will have a look then for bows although it is quite a small shop so whether they have any will be another story. Thanks for all the advice on strings too... I saw some Dominant ones online last night around £25 to £30 if my memory serves me right. Is that a good price? Thanks again Joy

If it's a non-specialist shop, forget it, you won't get any "upgrade" bows worth having.

Dominant violin strings can be had for about £23, shop around online.

Liz