Hey,

Im looking to buy a new violin. I have been doing lots of research online and am trying to get as many opinions as possible. The Gliga Gama is currently in first place after reading so many rave reviews about how good value for money it is and how high the quality is. I have emailed a few violin shops and for my budget (£400 for the instrument) they have suggested the Stentor Elysia. I was wondering if anyone could give any idea of how these two violins compare. Despite not being able to try the instrument when buying online, im currently being drawn to the Gama from all i have read at elidatrading.co.uk and am starting to see from replies to emails that it is not as easy to get a violin of such quality for my budget from a regular violin shops. Any input/ opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Alice

I sold my 9 year old son's Stentor Conservatoire which was too bright with little tone and got a Gliga Gem 2 from Elida trading with very mellow tone instead. I thought the Stentor would warm after a few months of playing but it didnt. The Gem was a blessing my son loved it so much as it was much easier to play for him and tone was very pleasing. Never regretted since.

I think Liz has a guarantee where if you buy and your teacher thinks it is unsuitable you can return it. I think she also has a challenge for teachers to buy better than her Gligas . Check out her website. www.elidatrading.co.uk for more details.

Quite right on both counts. We've not yet had anyone prefer the Elysia to the Gama, though to be fair we don't sell Stentors so we don't get to make the comparison very often. I must not say too much more lest I fall foul of forum rules

Liz

Hi Alice!

If you go to "search" and use the key word "Gliga" you'll find about 2 pages of links which give an idea what people think about Gligas on this forum. As interesting as all the positive posts is the lack of any negative ones. I think Gligas Gems and Maestros are fantastic, although I've never got my hands on a Gama. AmandaL is a professional player/teacher on here who has a Gama viola which she thinks is great - and I think she's had a go on a Stradivarius! I am however awaiting with interest the view of Violinia, the teacher from Del Monte, who has advised her first Gliga purchase to a student of hers.

Have already searched as many forums as possible (i have googling down to a fine art!) and have heard nothing but good things about Gligas. I think i'll probably go for the gliga as it sounds more interesting than a stentor! I am very eager to start playing the violin again...its my 21st birthday coming up soon and ive had a break of 5 years...i was always a stubborn teenager who refused to practice much to the annoyance of my teacher who thought i was rather talented! Now i think im old enough to appreciate the violin properly i really cant wait. Thanks for all the feedback. As soon as I find out my address and get settled in my summer job i'll be placing my order (moving to london tomorrow for a summer school job).

Alice

If you go to maestronet you WILL find some negative ones, though in some cases when you really get down to the nitty gritty it's a matter of the shops not being able to compete with Cristian Gliga in terms of price. It could also be that Cristian goes for the basic workshop set-up whereas we now get them pretty much as we want them - and if they aren't as we want them, we don't sell them. But another factor is that the US market seems to go for a MUCH brighter tone than we do - and also a lot of them seem to think of up to $5000 being still a student instrument(!)

Liz

I have found a small number of negative comments about setup and/or service in relation to violinslover instruments, sometimes on websites with other vested interests. Quite remarkably I have yet to find a single negative comment about an instrument from elidatrading.

Come to think of it Liz, I hope you've not been taking this Eastern European thing too far, and bumping off the dissenters

I have a Gliga Gama viola and it is lovely - beautiful tone, gets better every day I swear (or maybe that's me improving...) - a very very nice instrument, and looks good too.

Hi Sarah! Have you found an orchestra yet?

anyone got any tips with regards to the best set-up for these instruments? strings, bows etc? Im completely inexperienced when it comes to buying a violin but from the research ive been doing its clear that a good setup can really bring out the best in an instrument. Is it worth getting a professional set-up for example?

There's certainly good grounds for saying that a professional set-up can improve any violin. However we had an interesting case very recently where the luthier who was to do the set up on a Gama 1 we sold, decided to put a wittner tailpiece on it. And the tone suffered horribly. Now I suspect a lot of that was due to the wittner tailpiece - I find they really do bad things to the tone - but can't be sure until the buyer gets back to me to say what the effect changing to a Pusch has been. If not the Wittner then the only other conclusion is that the increase in volume and resonance, which was wanted, has caused loss of the mellow tone, which was also wanted. This of course would not be unexpected.

Strings our customers have tried and liked on the Gama include Evah Pirazzi (bright!), Zyex, Pirastro Tonica and Pirastro Obligato. I usually suggest sticking with dominants unless you are sure you want to change, simply because experimenting with strings can cost an arm and a leg!

Bows are terribly personal things. Me, I adore Glassers, but not everyone does. You need to find some kind and helpful shop that will send you a tube of five on approval - can't say any more without breaking rules

Liz

What else is better than Gligas (for a very serious or an advanced student) and how much does it cost? I think it's OK for you to give the info since you are not "marketing." I'm thinking of getting one for Christmas.

I'm probably not the best person to ask that to since we really don't go into four figures very often (for violins!). Of what we have tried: the Otto Klier 72 - 74 - schonbach - 80 etc have been preferred by some advanced players. We've got the 74 and 80B left but probably we won't be ordering from Klier again. There are two reasons for this: the order takes literally months to arrive, they are slow selling, and last time we did have some problems with the batch and the issues were not really resolved to our satisfaction. Footes Music sell them.

One very advanced player- teacher preferred the Strunal 3350 to any of the Gligas and also to the Kliers, but again we are not stocking those any more because they were impossible to sell even at way below wholesale and also the set up was bad. We have cheap ones left, which will be of no interest to you, and a 3320, which is in distressed finish and will not appeal to everyone, and also one repairer (admittedly a posh shop with, maybe, an axe to grind) said the bridge height could only be lowered if the neck was re-set. A.C. Hamilton in Bolton sell Strunals.

Personally i am very taken with the better Tian Yins (ty2a upwards) but we only have the ty4 left. The 2a and 5 were chosen by customers but the 4 has been next to impossible to sell even though we have sent them out on approval many times. The bridges need lowering and most people can't see past that (one player would have had the one we sent but for that), and also they are VERY resonant and this frightens a lot of players. If finances ever allow, I would like to try some even higher models from that company, but the fact that it is next to impossible to get one without some minor cosmetic damage is offputting. I also like the Jinyins but again there has been little interest from buyers and we're not keen on getting better ones in just to have them sit in the storeroom for years and finally be sold off at a loss.

We are without easy access to a repairer at the moment, and have been for a long time, and look likely to remain so, and that is causing us a lot of problems

In the US they all swear by Scott Cao, but attempts to get those into the UK have met with total disinterest from the maker. If you're prepared to buy one from the US and take the risk of not liking it, or if you can persuade some US dealer to let you have one on approval or with a returns policy, that might be the way to go.

If you're prepared to go above about £2000 then I'd suggest taking a tour of the better known violin shops. Below £2000 (in posh shop terms) I honestly think the Gliga is going to be hard to beat.

Liz

Very interesting. Just had a look at elida's website. We are definitely posh so one of them will do. Thanks, all.

Not yet! I'm hoping to do some quartets with friends over the summer though.

I did find the Telemann concerto that I evidently had a go at while I was at school - I can't play it too well but it has been fun trying!

Alice,
I would recommend trying a Gliga Gama. I have a Gems violin (bought from Liz Ward - Elida Trading) just over a year ago. It is a really lovely instrument. brilliant quality and lovely sound. It sounded good from new, but a year later, with a fair bit of playing, it is starting to sound REALLY good! We were so impressed with the Gligas, that we have just bought my son a Gama cello, and we are really pleased with it. It is such a beautiful instrument, and the sound, from this brand-new cello, is stunning. Son's teacher was very impressed with it, both quality and sound! I'm very tempted to change to a Gama violin! Hope this helps, enjoy choosing!
Helen

WHAT BOW DID YOU BUY, SARAH?

I took my Gliga violin to a luthier recommended by a violinist in the Liverpool Phil, and he basically told me it was well set up already. He told me he could redistribute the power between the strings if I wanted him to, but I was happy with the distribution as it was and he agreed it was best left as it was.

As to bows, they can be expensive. The glasser bow provided by Elida is relatively inexpensive, and plays fine. Why not get that to start with, and you can reserve the option to go hunting in violin shops for the bow of your dreams as and when it suits you.

I have my own preference for strings (Zyex GDA, Pirastro Olive Gold E), but I wouldn't particularly push it on anyone else. An alternative which quite a few people seem to prefer to dominant is Pirastro Obligato. Then again most people seem quite happy with dominant, which seems to have most of the market share, and not by virtue of being particularly cheap.

Have made my mind up and will definitely be ordering a gama as soon as i can (as soon as i find out the postal address of the summer school im working for). Havent played in 5 years...hope it can make my terrible playing sound good and bring back the enthusiam I had for violin playing all those years ago! Thanks for all the advice..i really like this forum..will definitely be coming back here for tips when i start lessons in october.

Alice

I will look forward to hearing how you're getting along in October Alice!

I have had 7 bows on approval in all (thanks Liz! I will email you soon - one is shortly on its way back!) and as they are extremely reasonable when bought with the instrument, I shall be keeping two (I inherited a little money so hey, might as well use it for something good!) as I liked both the Chinese Sambuco bow and the ... I think it's advanced composite - £60 and £50 respectively. I didn't actually like the most expensive one I tried as much! The wood bow - it's wooden, which is what I am most used to, it's quite light, and seems to make a very nice tone easily. The Glasser one is heavier but also a little easier to be LOUD with, and also is easy to manipulate to a nice tone.

I have got 2 Gamas, one Gama 2 (made in 1994), one Gama 1 (made in March of this year). Both are excellent. They sound and look great. I bought the first one from Turner violins and it sounded easily as nice as the £900 French instruments they were peddling. The second came direct from Liz with a nice Glasser bow. It was a bit metallic initially but this was the new dominant strings. This settled in a couple of days and it sounds rich and resonant now (when a good player gets hold of it anyway!)

My daughter plays them both in her orchestras (she is taking grade 7 this year) and her teacher thought the Gama 2 was a 800-1000 instrument.

Cannot be beaten for the price and sound (~and looks)

Good luck with your purchases

regards
Jon

[quote=JonSadler,Jul 6 2005, 03:14 PM]
[quote=Tess,Jul 5 2005, 08:56 AM]Very interesting. Just had a look at elida's website. We are definitely posh so one of them will do. Thanks, all.

[/quote]

I have got 2 Gamas, one Gama 2 (made in 1994), one Gama 1 (made in March of this year). Both are excellent. They sound and look great. I bought the first one from Turner violins and it sounded easily as nice as the £900 French instruments they were peddling. The second came direct from Liz with a nice Glasser bow. It was a bit metallic initially but this was the new dominant strings. This settled in a couple of days and it sounds rich and resonant now (when a good player gets hold of it anyway!)

CHECKED THE WEBSITE BUT STILL, CAN'T SEE THE REAL DIFFERENCE BTW THE GAMA 1 AND THE GAMA 2!!!

Neither can we half the time

Seriously, if it's one piece back or has an ebony horseshoe it's a Gama 1. Two piece back without the ebony horseshoe is a Gama 2. Tonally there is often no difference.

Liz

Hi Liz,
Greetings from the US.
As a new player I purchased a Gama from violinslover about 1 1/2 years ago.
Like many on this forum having researched the options I have been pleased
with the instrument. The tone was good to my untrained ear initially but
as I progressed I realised the set-up needed improvement. My luthier installed
a better bridge and adjusted the soundpost and Voila!, the balance and dynamics
and playability improved greatly.
I'm curious as to how you get your instruments from Chris in set-up to play condition.
As for strings I've tried the stock Dominants (died young), Zyex (long life but
limited tone color) with various E strings, Evahs (Great set but short lifespan).
Since the tonal adjustment I wanted to try brightening the violin up with a long
lasting set; so as an experiment I'm now using Vision Ti G & D, Spirocore steel A,
Golbrokat E (starck) and am very delighted thus far with this combo - rich, focused,
silvery, strong with clear sweet piannissimos. balance is good though the Goldbrokat
might be a bit hard at times; Might switch to a Jargar forte.

Hi rubin_i,
Is it economically viable for you to buy a reasonably-priced Gama (as opp to an expensive violin) and then pay for set-up? Or, maybe set-up is cheap in the States???

Tess

There's a simple explanation for that, Rubin. We don't get them from Chris.

Liz

Tess, I'm going to light the blue touch paper and retire now ...

After three years or so participating on maestronet, I am absolutely convinced that the tone generally preferred in the US - at least the tone preferred by dealers and luthiers and therefore "sold" to teachers and pupils - is substantially brighter and louder than the tone generally preferred here. And I think that's why the preference in the US seems to be for chinese instruments whereas here the preference is rather more for East European ones.

Lzi

Greetings Tess,

Actually both violin and set-up were reasonable, the total producing
an instrument rivaling those that cost three times as much here.
There are some very refined Chinese violins to be had but I do love my
Gama's Gypsy blood. I do feel now that brighter strings add to the
instrument an extra dimension without detracting from the natural
darkness which is the Gliga's charm. The shop set-up was a worthy investment
for a worthy instrument. With Dominants or Zyex it still is dark sounding.

I bought a Gliga Gems II a few months back from Liz and though I'm no violin expert, I love it. It has a gorgeous tone and makes me sound better than I actually am!!

Gae

Hmmm, that makes sense...

Reminds me of what Bruno Walter said at his first rehearsal with an American orchestra, on seeing the players reaching for their instruments:

"Already too loud!"

You mean on HEARING the players reaching for their instruments!

Hi all

Two of my pupils have now bought Gligas and I and they think they're wonderful. And this is from somebody who normally can't help wincing at the sound of most cheaper violins.

One of them has a Gama and the other has a Gem. For a start, they both look lovely - sort of antiqued and a lovely rich wartm brown colour; ie they don't look new and shiny. And - most importantly, they sound good and improve with age. The first student has had hers for about 6 months now and the tone has warmed and deepened considerably. They are both utterly delighted with their violins and both report that they feel like practising much more because the instruments are such a pleasure to play!

They come with bow and case, and Dominant strings already fitted. Dominant are a good, high quality string, used by many professionals.

When you order, you can ask for 2 or 3 to be sent so you can compare and then pick the one you like best.

I throroughly recommend them, and I can assure you I have no connection whatsoever with Elida Trading. I just heard about them here, looked at their website, downloaded the sound samples, liked what I heard, and decided to take the plunge and recommend them to my students.

Interestingly, the first student to buy one also brought a few similarly priced violins back from our local shop so she could compare them with the Gligas when they arrived and frankly there was no comparison.

Go for it!

Violinia

Thanks, Violinia.

Very reassuring. Having said that, I was on the verge of getting VN a 3/4 Gliga when her teacher advised my hubby (quite by chance) that he has a 5/8! A 5/8? Which he suggested he could lend her next term? I was very surprised! I know she has small hands and very thin fingers but she IS in fact the second tallest girl in her class so she's tall for her age, and we have never heard of a size btw 1/2 and 3/4! She must have VERY small hands compared with other children! Her shorter classmate already has a 3/4 size for some time.

Looks like she'll have to wait a while for her NEW Gliga. Thus far she has only ever had cheap secondhands!

Don't worry. As long as she's got an instrument that she's comfortable playing on and can play without undue strain.

I know lots of violinists (including myself) who have incredibly tiny hands, but it's all about developing flexibility in the fingers while at the same time finding an instrument that doesn't feel ungainly.

When VN finally reaches the stage where she can play a full-sized violin (for me that wasn't until I was 12) and you want to buy something that will last, do shop around, because there are lots of good old English instruments c.1800 out there that admirably suit players with small hands.

In another post Liz has written about players getting taller. It would be true to say that a lot of modern violins and cellos are robust in their build, but this has more to do with an increasing demand for volume of sound than 21st century players growing physically bigger.