Hai guys so I just passed grade 3 and since i had my birthday not long ago i have some money to spend presumably on a which is good. i did not know whether i needed an upgrade or not..? because it does seem a little early.
My current violin, Princess Emily Charlotte Daphna of Cambridge (i'm nuts, i know) is an... Antoni debut i know, i love her but i'd like a better violin in terms of sound. should i, maybe, get a new pack of strings, and if so which ones? I was hoping to spend the money either on a good intermediate violin under 4oo GBP or perhaps some strings less than 40 GPB.

And ideas?

Congratulations on your grade 3 and belated happy birthday. I don't know what strings you currently have on your violin, but if you haven't already, you could try a set of Dominants or Tonicas.

Upgrade wise, 400 pounds doesn't get you much these days and learners usually upgrade once they reach grade 5 standard. I don't know much about your current violin but have a word with your teacher and if they think it can take you to grade 5, I'd be inclined to save up a bit more money and upgrade violin and bow then.

If you would like an upgrade (and looking at the Antoni Debut I can understand why) what about one of the gliga instruments from elidatrading? Would be about the right price and are very good value for money -and would take you past grade 5. I would wait a little until you can afford a Gama (?50 over your budget).

You might find a Gliga violin from http://www.elidatrading.com would get you up to the higher grades. (eg a Gliga Gems 1 at ?350). Forumite Liz is very knowledgeable and talks sense, no Bull**** from her.
I am thinking of buying a Gliga cello at the moment.
But could try a set of dominant strings (?30) first on your current instrument to see if it makes any difference.

Congratulations on managing to prepare for, enter, take and obtain results for your grade 3 violin over the summer holidays (since your 14th July post). That is quite an achievement and you must have an exceptionally committed teacher.

Given that you must have come to some sort of very special (and expensive!) arrangement with the ABRSM to take the exam privately during the holiday period, and that given your very rapid progress you are likely to be at least grade 8 standard by next year, I would suggest that you carry on with your current violin for now and then buy a professional violin after your grade 8. You clearly are exceptionally talented and therefore wouldn't have any problems meeting the requirements of grade 8 on your current instrument (the rest of us mere mortals need a little bit of help from our instrument to do well in the intermediate exams, but this wouldn't be needed by a player like yourself). Once you have your grade 8 then I'm sure you're teacher will help you choose a professional standard violin. There is no point in buying an intermediate violin when you would be needing to replace it in a matter of months.

Yes, I was wondering about that too! Thought it was just me in a time warp

Do you need an upgrade? None of us could tell that without listening to you, and the best opinion will come from your teacher.

All we can do on this board is share our experience and knowledge, to help you judge what's what. Here's mine....


I, too, started on an Antoni violin. The sort that costs around 35 quid from Tesco's, although the one I used was an e-bay bargain my sister picked up for less than that.

It sounded pretty dire, but then to be fair, so did I.

We both sounded a lot better after I put a set of Dominants on it instead of the rotten cheesewires it had when it arrived. A Hill E string improved it even further.

However, it was only meant to be a temporary measure, for the grade 1 challenge we did on the Forums, and I always planned to give it back.

This meant when I decided I'd like to keep on with the violining lark, I had to drop some pretty subtle hints to my husband, who duly bought me a Gliga Gems outfit from Elida Trading as a Christmas present.

The Gems took me through the actual grade 1 exam, and all the way up to grade 5, when I changed again to my current Miles Doubleday instrument.

I'm not planning on changing again.

No, the thing is, i had decided to just take the grade 4 exam at easter so i did not enter a PROPER exam. my mum had decided that the money should go towards a violin instead of the exam fee. she got my private to 'examine', which means that she will do a thorough examination but only i do not get the certificate should have explained more, i guess.

(she is qualified as an EXAMINER).
just a private tudor, thats all sorry for the details that i left out didnt think they were important.

So does everyone recommend the strings then?

yes, if you tend to progress fast go for strings for now definitely

I know it's absolutely silly and pointless noticing spelling errors but the idea of a "private tudor" made me laugh

If you live in Cambridge, apart from buying off Liz, who will sell you a very decent instrument, I also suggest you try Music Gallery in Kings Hedges Road.

They are a general music shop, but know their stuff when it comes to stringed instruments and will sell you an instrument that is well set up. They sell everything from beginner instruments to ones made by some of the local makers. They will also be able to advise over the different string types.

It is where my son's teacher advised me to go, and where my stepfather shops for various string bits.

Cambridge strings is also a great place. Keith, the guy that works there, has helped me out in many violin/viola related emergencies.