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I need help! My teacher assigned me The Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso and I haven't played many difficult pieces up to that level before! You're such an amazing violinist and I was wondering if you had any advice to play the piece.
Can you try it with different strings? I guess by the time you get past intermediate level you would have gone through a few set of strings. Other fault might be at the fine tuner? Would have loved to see how far you can push it by changing a few things.
Just in case you're interested, the pieces Ray plays here are : Beginner : twinkle twinkle little star Beginner intermediate : Boccherini minuet, the happy farmer (Suzuki bk 1 I think?) Intermediate : Bach concerto for 2 violins in D (first movement) Advanced: Bach violin sonata n. 1, Bach rondo (from Partita 3), Bruch violin concerto, Mendelssohn violin concerto, Sibelius violin concerto
@@oliviabytner1614 better save money for a decent instrument. my first violin was 200$ and it was kind of good but only for a beginner level stuff and ater that i got a really good instrument and it escalated my playing like a rocket
@@oliviabytner1614 Do not buy cheap string instruments for a hobby. They require some level of maintenance, you need strings that don't hurt you while playing it, and instrument too. He didn't show it here but it must be have been a hassle to tune the violin, since the cheap mechanism would make it difficult to turn, and it won't give you confidence that it will hold either. Not just that, the bow hair also needs to be at least decent to make consistent sound, with rosin as well. It is much better to get a wind instrument instead, they are more durable while still takes considerable skill to pull off. A piano would work too, especially a decent electronic keyboard, since they do not require any form of maintenance other than cleaning, though I admit it sounds terrible compare to the real thing. A real piano, while also being a huge hassle requiring tuning, will last a while without maintenance other than being plugged in. They can be bought pretty cheaply second hand, even half the price of a new decent electric keyboard. Once you are bored, you can sell the piano again if you keep it nice and clean. If you really want a violin, my best solution is to get a second hand one. You can find decent priced ones from former students moving up. If you want to get a new one, then I have no more advice for below 100 dollars. Starting around 400 and above is usually the lower limit of getting an actual decent instrument that's new, works well and worth keeping.
That thing is disgusting. I think they had another video with a 60 ~ bucks violin on amazon which I even tried myself and was extremely worse than this. This look like something I could suggest a new student to buy
Personally, I think this is an awesome deal.. Honestly, I'd even say it's just amazing for what it is! No one should feel ashamed for having a "cheap" instrument. (Fyi, I played violin for 12 years so I know what a "decent" and probably more than decent sound is). But seriously guys! It plays! It legitimately plays! And this has all the accessories needed(even a shoulder rest) to get started. And it's for the price of one of the greatest numbers of all-time.. $69. If you really haven't decided if you're interested in pursuing this(for school or a hobby or whatever) and are trying to see if you even like it at all.. this is PERFECT. What more could you ask for?? My opinion: Personally, I used to be a flautist and I wanted to see if it was worth trudging back to storage unit to relearn. I purchased an $80 flute; I had forgotten what a "good flute" feels like to play but I taught myself again and honestly learned better technique because of it being "harder" to get a strong sound out of. Mind you, I thought the matter was just me completely forgetting how to play, which isn't totally off-base considering I hadn't touched it in over 7yrs. That said, I played the cheap flute everyday for over a month before making that decision to relearn and dig up my old flute. Look, to those who are saying otherwise, "investing" in "just" a $200 instrument is still a pretty penny. Had I not found my old flute, I would absolutely would have continued on that $80 flute for a while. Maybe you want to try out a few instruments. In my opinion, it is better to buy a "cheap" violin, and a cheap flute, sax, clarinet, or whatever you want. There's a very good chance you'll decide you like one more than another. what you like most. Please PLEASE make sure you want to commit before you spend the money on it. (Don't forget, there is such a thing as returns. But like.. I wouldn't return an instrument that looks like it has been used.. A lot. So keep that in mind.) Sorry it was long.. But, I didn't see anyone else addressing this. I'm so sorry if someone already said this stuff though. But yeah, once again, while I may have stated these thing very firmly, this is just my opinion and I'm not claiming to have all the facts or knowledge. It's just person experience.
Exactly my thoughts. During my studies in music school, I was playing a rental basson (which was provided by school). And, without any lies, it was the worst and cheapest bassoon from the worst bassoon maker company. But I was happy to have that at least. I was playing. And if my professor took it in hands, he always made it sound not worse than normal bassoons (which cost 5k € at least, even for beginners). So... yeah. After finishing music school, I will never ever be able to play bassoon, because I don't have such money. So I decided to buy for myself a ~60$ violin and I'm studying it by myself. No regrets. I find it of a very nice quality (it is better made than one on the video, my is from 'Hertz') and if I will be ever able to buy a good one, then great. If no, I will stay happy with my cheap but decent violin.
I played violin for 12 years too and my playing skill is awful. So I know for sure I don't want to "commit". So that's why I bought a cheap Glarry violin. (old violin I used to have - a $250 violin my parents bought for me in 1970's is long gone, and Glarry is probably better than that violin).
If reviewing this cheap violin is likened to reviewing a food Ray: knows that it taste bad but still managed to find the goodness on it TwoSet: STRAIGHT UP ROAST/BURN IT INTO THE FIYAAAHH Jk, anyway both of you give entertaining insights on cheap violin in your own way and I love both nonetheless~~
lollll but honestly twoset's handmade violin was even broken before they unpacked it/if you watched another video, that violin is still way cheaper than this $69 violin so i think comparison shouldn't be made here welp either way i love both of them ahhahahahaha
Omg, $40 bro! Honestly, I'm super happy with my $40 purchase. I got it because I was unsure if I even wanted to learn the violin or not. Like Ray said, the purpose was just to get used to having my hands on the instrument and learn the basics of producing some kind of sound. For that it worked perfectly! And while I really enjoy pulling it out every once in a while to mess around, I'm not ready to seriously commit to learning the thing right now anyway. When I am, I'm sure I'll "upgrade" to something in the 200-300 range.
@@Exayevie Same here. I love my $40 Glarry violin. I heard Ray play it and I said I must get it even though I played with "real" violin from a professional violin shop. And indeed, it's quite good, it does everything I want and I absolutely love to play it now. Much better than my significantly more expensive "real" violin.
TwoSet are clowns. I have Glarry GV101 and I can say it sound quite good for such cheap violin. It's better than my older significantly expensive "real" violin from a professional violin shop.
I bought an 89 Euro cheapie violin from Thomann to try out if I wanted to actually learn it. The sound was barely passable. Then I bought a 400 Euro violin and my first cheapie violin sits there collecting dust. My recommendation is that if you want to learn the violin to pay a minimum of 350-400 Euros for it, to get a decent one that will not frustrate you, and will sound nice. Of course you may get it cheaper if it on sale or sold used. The violins for less than 100 $/Euros are only to try out.
Yes Ray will make any violin sound pretty good. But even I can make Glarry GV101 (which I have) sound pretty good with my relatively unskilled hands. Now that's real proof that Glarry violins are pretty good.
I supposed it really depends where or from which vendor did they bought the violins, I mean, the one 2sV bought is literally the DIY Build Your Own Violin, not just "cheap"
I'm glad my experience with a similar 70 buck violin as a beginner is lining up: it's functional. That's it, that's all you can say about it, but as someone who isn't dedicated to really becoming good at it, that's perfect
Give yourself a little more time you can probably set it up with some guides, alternatively you could bring it to a luthier and ask them to set it up for you
The bridge also looked to be at least as twice as thick as it should be. Set it up properly (bridge and soundpost), and put better strings on, and it would make a reasonable beginner's vso.
I've been playing a cheap violin like that for years now and I'm happy with it, I just changed pro strings on it. I cannot play very well but maybe some melodies in a band and that's where it comes in handy and is a wonderful choice for that.
@@christopherkevinly257 Did you see on the reddit Someone took a picture of a DIY PIANO. and i saw a reply that said if theres less than four pieces that all fit in your hand, it's fine
Put a decent bridge on, change the strings to reasonable quality and you have a fantastic fiddle for the price. It's actually amazingly good for the budget.
Yea I would be intrested how much a talented Musician can get out of a Cheap Violin with some "upgrades" I for example got a cheap 300€ E-Violin and after a year braught it to my "Geigenbauer" german for the dude who makes string instruments^^. It sounded amazing afterwards. (For an electric violin)
Loved this Ray! My parents paid $100 for my first violin outfit in 1974. Your $69 fiddle far exceeds it. I suppose advances in technology, manufacturing, and luthier science have made such a violin possible and accessible. Now if only we could make good violin instruction more accessible to everyone! Greetings and best wishes from your boomer fan in Tarpon Springs, FL. Thank you Ray!
Mine was $250 from professional violin shop in mid-Manhattan in 1970's as well. And my new super cheap Glarry violin just kills it (after properly trimming bridge and regrooving the nut). LOL
As somebody who's worked in a factory before, I always imagine the people who were behind the work on this instrument (because it's obviously some kind of factory if it's $69). If I were in their shoes, you wouldn't believe how much better it would have made my day to know that one of the instruments I made would be played by Ray Chen - even as an experiment! 😅
I found this after picking up a 60$ violin , and after seeing everyone bash the cheaper ones started looking around, now that I have it in my hands and I've been practicing with it I'm glad this one isnt as bad as people made cheap ones out to be, its easy to play, resonates fairly well and has a good sound ( its a mendini mv300 ) and honestly, I'm pretty happy with it
Do you think it could be played on a more advanced level if one were to replace that faulty G-string? I'm very positively surprised at the result of this, as I half expected the whole instrument to fall apart within the first two minutes 😂
A decent set of strings would make it sound much better and why not? If you buy a better instrument you can always take strings to put in the better one.
I honestly didn't expect it so sound even remotely like a violin, tbh this has definitely exceeded my modest expectations lol. This was really entertaining and informative, thanks for sharing:)
You might consider taking it to a luthier and ask for a sound post adjustment, which they'll do pretty cheaply. I got a super cheap violin off eBay for playing outdoor gigs and $20 in at the luthiers made it instantly better.
5:33 what the heck? Is Ray Chen playing Red Wing? A FIDDLE TUNE?! I love it!!! I’m a fiddler personally and love to hear classical players play fiddle tunes once in a while! :)
This really gives me perspective because I honestly have a “budget” violin too but I’m at least at the intermediate skill level. Seeing this does make me feel like my instrument is holding me back since I’ve had similar experiences as evident here but I also can’t afford an upgrade 😢😭
my workaround was to rent one. Here in germany it’s around 15€/month everything included. (i play the viola lel pls don’t hate hahah) the dude even replaces broken strings and stuff for free. The Viola is around the 700€ mark if u‘d buy it. Check out your services, i can really recommend it.
Seconding the rent option. Restringing or rehairing lower quality instruments can only take you so far as it can't improve from its original quality. But renting a good quality instrument that is much more affordable than outright purchasing it can be a far more rewarding option and push for you to improve much quicker also. There is also no pressure to stick with the same instrument for any longer than you absolutely want. I urge you to look in to instrumental rentals from your local luthier.
alternatively, what can really help is bringing a cheap instument to a good uther and let them fix up the bridge and stuff. it will cos around 200€ again, so that's a lot cheaper than buying a better instument, and it can upgrade an instument significantly. the uther can uually ell you beforehand wether its worth it
Can you do a followup on this video where you replace the strings and the bride and pehaps use a better bow to see if it is the violin or the equipment that is not up to Advanced standards?
I love this guy! His personality, wit, and love for his profession really makes you want to watch him for freaking hours! He reminds me of Pierre Holstein,(Fiddlerman). They both can take a VSO, (violin shaped object ) and pull a decent sound out of it! Great video , by the way!
Thanks Ray, for sharing this video, suggestion if I may, and if you don't mind? You can change the strings and bridge to make it sound much better and the bow as well... Its what we usually do. It somehow compensates some areas of sound and response. :)
I keep coming back to this video. I got a lot of good out of my $67 violin outfit but I did upgrade the chinrest, bridge, strings, and bow, so the total cost was much higher. You can really draw tone out of yours but I needed a better instrument to want to practice daily. Using Tonic I see that I’m on day 72 of my practice streak. I think you are doing a great job of raising the interest of people to start and continue to play an instrument.
Ok, whoa there buddy - I myself can’t even call whatever that monstrosity TwoSetViolin made a Viola - If who ever nailed it to them put a fragile sticker on the package then maybe you could call it a viola but ya no that’s not anywhere near viola ( Out of respect for the violas btw ) just saying bro
This is a really nice violin for beginners. If you are just getting started, it could be good for you. There's usually a violin rental option in violin stores. You can rent it out, see if that's what you're looking for.
@@earlybyrdy Just in case you're interested, the pieces Ray plays here are : Beginner : twinkle twinkle little star Beginner intermediate : Boccherini minuet, the happy farmer (Suzuki bk 1 I think?) Intermediate : Bach concerto for 2 violins in D (first movement) Advanced: Bach violin sonata n. 1, Bach rondo (from Partita 3), Bruch violin concerto n1, Mendelssohn violin concerto, Sibelius violin concerto
For a beginner I'd say the buyer will get great value. As a player advances changing strings may be enough for a year or two. After, when a player has learned enough to appreciate & understand what a better violin can do for his/her playing, that's time enough to take the next step.
i have seriously fallen in love with you, Ray. Your talent and your attitude toward music. An instrument is an instrument. You put it through the paces and gave it a legit shot and said what you found. Honestly, a lot of reviews of "cheap Amazon violin/guitar/etc" really irritate me because no one expects a Strad for $69, but cheap instruments can be the gateway for a lot more people to get involved with music. As a music lover it simply infuriates me when an instrument is ridiculed or compared with something expensive and basically insulted. What I love about this video is your respect for the instrument. Whatever the cost. You are a rare gem like that. Social Media stars don't seem to realize that it is these cheap instruments that make music accessible to people. You haven't ridiculed it, humiliated it, pretended like cheap instruments can sound only terrible (as though new strings sound good on a 300$ violin) and you are literally the first review to mention they need to settle a bit to make good sound - something I as a non-musician music lover know but never see mentioned in such videos and not ridicule the new sound by comparing with a well used violin... Some of the reviews of cheap violins sound so fake and elitist they make no sense. Unfortunately this includes TwoSet. Feel like dropping a link to this video under other reviews for an example of what a real musician who knows what he is doing can do with a 69$ violin. As an excellent Indian musician once told me "music is in the musician, not the instrument - that is just a tool that makes expressing it easier or harder" :p
As a beginner this is the first time I heard songs that I can play on the channels that I follow. Also I got new strings on my borrowed violin for 28 euro's (for all strings) and rosin for like 4
Stuck at home, and binging on TwoSet and Ray, has made me (a non-musician) consider if I should take up the violin (I've always wanted to play an instrument with some proficiency, if just for my own amusement). But Ray's right: being a musician of any sort is not a cheap hobby. I have found this video to be incredibly informative: for the relatively inexpensive price of $70, one can find out if they like the instrument, how fast they can learn it and if it's worth their time. If/when one discovers that they want to pursue their skills into the advanced level, they've already learned their basics and what to expect and (hopefully) what to look for when investing in a better instrument. If not, no harm's been done to the ol' wallet. Well done, Ray, and thanks! Edit: So, I just watched Olaf's review of this violin, and I should have expected that a talented violinist like Ray could make a bad instrument sound good. Still, the learning continues!
I'm a guitarist but even I can tell that's well worth the cost for how good it sounds, though I know feel(fit and finish) is usually where the cheaper stuff suffers
5:08 is the song my son played for his solo (and ensemble) for April 2019! Miss all the activities with my son, this virus needs go away. Anyway back to the video. I'm impressed too Ray!
I’m not a violin player (just a fan of classical music) but thanks to this insightful video, now I know the difference between cheap violins (for the beginners) and Strad violins (for the professionals). 😄
You're obviously classic trained. I bought for Middle eastern styles. But your fingers go where they were taught and I'm so happy I bought this now.. I'll do a video when I get it.
Amazing for $69! Paying close attention while installing the bridge reminds me of something that happened years ago when I was playing in an orchestra. Right in the middle of Scheherazade we heard a loud “whap” sound. Turned out it was one of the violinist’s bridge collapsed!
Dear Eddy Chen, I've seen you at the Queen Elisabeth Competition. I was so happy you won! Loved your performances! An idea for you: instead of slap the like button, you can use pizzi(cato) the like button. 😀🌻 I loved this video. I have a cheap violin. You've definitely proved that it is the violinist, not the instrument. Very nice!
Great demonstration and your POVs are fully supported by the excellent sound recording. Where do I start searching for UA-cam performances of antique Stravidarius?
How does Ray make a really cheap violin sound like his original violin its sounds good?! Wow, any violin you have your playing sounds so good, I wish I could play like this......
As TwoSet said, you really are a £10,000 000 violinist! And you’ve managed to get an unusually good example of a cheap internet violin. I’ve had several pupils turn up with these, and their specimens are basically expensive firewood! The bridges constantly move, fingerboard is wonky, no bridge or nut grooves, some sort of MDF wood construction, ill fitting pegs that constantly slip, strings that instantly become false, uncomfortable chin rest, shoulder rest constantly falling off, bow hair courtesy of ‘my little pony’, tighten the bow hair and something breaks, usually the point of the stick, the rosin is not effective on ‘my little pony’ hair, the case is very tatty after a few months and isn’t actually long enough to accommodate the bow, and on top of this, the sound of a composite wood violin is either unbearably screechy or dead as a dodo. Funnily though, if these violins come with a Tuner, it’s often unbelievably good for the price! Unfortunately I can’t like this video as it implies that £69 violins are ok for the price, and from my experience in this country, they are a terrible waste of money. Air violin is free and sounds better!! I occasionally have a pupil that finds a reasonable violin in this price range, but I would always advocate going for something properly made, where even a duff one is guaranteed to be ok.
I have Glarry violin GV103 which cost me around $50 (special sale?). Couldn't be more pleased. Looks just like Glarry GV302, and sounds wonderful - better than my 50 year old "real" violin which was bought at a professional violin shop in 1970's for $250 ($2000 2023 dollars?). It just needs some work for sure, such as bridge fitting and nut grooves, but result is fantastic. Chin rest and pegs seem to be made from jujube wood which is fine, I like lighter color than solid black. I am very happy with this amazing entry level violin.
I hope you know that a group of adult beginners has taken this a a recommendation for a decent beginner. you could make a wooden box sound good, I think yo need to be a little more circumspect in your recommendations.
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I need help! My teacher assigned me The Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso and I haven't played many difficult pieces up to that level before! You're such an amazing violinist and I was wondering if you had any advice to play the piece.
TwoSet broke down laughing and crying instead of playing it.
Hey!
IDK why I am laughing so hard when Ray is playing advance and I could hear his inhaling and exhaling
Can you try it with different strings? I guess by the time you get past intermediate level you would have gone through a few set of strings. Other fault might be at the fine tuner? Would have loved to see how far you can push it by changing a few things.
I can make a Strad sound like a $69 violin...
Albert Yang 👏😆👏
Same here😂
Go practice dude😂
Old joke not funny anymore
@@najmihakimkhairi1210 looks like 235 people and Ray himself disagree on that.
This poor violin during the advanced portion is like “WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME BRO?!? I WASNT MADE FOR THIS!! YOURE HURTING ME!!!
Totally his fault not the instrument, poor instrument right haha
Didn't realize Phil watches violin stuff lmao
It's okay,the violin is 18 yrs old so she might like that *special treatment*
Omg Phil!!!! 💛
What is Phil doing here😂😂 love Wongfu❤️❤️❤️
“Phobia of the string popping and going into my eye”.. every string musician ever 😂
As a guitarist, I've had this phobia, but a violinist has a much bigger risk of this as it's sitting under their face!
true
And I thought it was only me who felt that way when I was a kid 😅
When you tighten the peg and it made a crack sound
Now that's a matter of when it's gonna high five your face
This is why I still cannot restring my guitar, I pay to avoid the risk lol
This should be titled "World Class Violinist makes $69 violin sound good"
No. Cheap Glarry violin (I have GV101) sounds really good... even in my relatively unskilled hands. I tremendously enjoy playing my Glarry violin.
Sounds like if he gets good strings, bridge and a bow it'll be fine lol
Just in case you're interested, the pieces Ray plays here are :
Beginner : twinkle twinkle little star
Beginner intermediate : Boccherini minuet, the happy farmer (Suzuki bk 1 I think?)
Intermediate : Bach concerto for 2 violins in D (first movement)
Advanced: Bach violin sonata n. 1, Bach rondo (from Partita 3), Bruch violin concerto, Mendelssohn violin concerto, Sibelius violin concerto
Nicely done
I was wondering what that beginner song was! JK :p
Niceeee
me: proceeds to shutdown shazam
Boccherini minuet and the happy farmer are from Suzuki book 2
Ray: "It's not bad"
Me: *Gets excited and orders the exact same model...then remembers that it sounded good only cause Ray played it*
Do you regret it? I want cheap violin!
@@oliviabytner1614 better save money for a decent instrument. my first violin was 200$ and it was kind of good but only for a beginner level stuff and ater that i got a really good instrument and it escalated my playing like a rocket
OMG bro, just tag me next time, will ya? 😂😂😂😂
@@oliviabytner1614 Do not buy cheap string instruments for a hobby. They require some level of maintenance, you need strings that don't hurt you while playing it, and instrument too. He didn't show it here but it must be have been a hassle to tune the violin, since the cheap mechanism would make it difficult to turn, and it won't give you confidence that it will hold either. Not just that, the bow hair also needs to be at least decent to make consistent sound, with rosin as well. It is much better to get a wind instrument instead, they are more durable while still takes considerable skill to pull off. A piano would work too, especially a decent electronic keyboard, since they do not require any form of maintenance other than cleaning, though I admit it sounds terrible compare to the real thing. A real piano, while also being a huge hassle requiring tuning, will last a while without maintenance other than being plugged in. They can be bought pretty cheaply second hand, even half the price of a new decent electric keyboard. Once you are bored, you can sell the piano again if you keep it nice and clean.
If you really want a violin, my best solution is to get a second hand one. You can find decent priced ones from former students moving up. If you want to get a new one, then I have no more advice for below 100 dollars. Starting around 400 and above is usually the lower limit of getting an actual decent instrument that's new, works well and worth keeping.
Kimaya Wanjari.
Yeah, it won't play itself. What a rip-off.
Ray: "that g string sound like a duck singing"
Me on my $$ violin and years of training: quack
Lmao 😂
Lol
9:24 I am deceased ☠️🦆
i died with those ducks
Same 💀 🦆
lol youshould've played TwoSet's DIY Violin
Only Ling Ling can play that thing. It needs an exorcism.
That thing is disgusting. I think they had another video with a 60 ~ bucks violin on amazon which I even tried myself and was extremely worse than this. This look like something I could suggest a new student to buy
yess haha
Lol he surely would make it sound like a Strad
Yeet yes
My teacher: it's not the violin, it's the violinist
Me: yeah right
Ray:
3:42 mhhmmnaaahh
"Oohh yep it says A, you saw that, alright cool it works"
-Ray indirectly flexing his perfect pitch
For me, A is the easiest note to remember or hear.
'A' literally sounds like an A for some reason. maybe it's just me
@@aperson.503 that means you have perfect pitch
Ray Chen is like the nicest politest violin reviewer. I love how he's not trying to be snarky and insulting just to up the ante.
His definition of beginner-intermediate depresses me.........
THIS
How so? It takes like 1 yr max to get to the level to play those pieces
Violin teacher here. I'd say that's right on.
Same...
I was kind of glad: it means that I am almost intermediate now.
Personally, I think this is an awesome deal.. Honestly, I'd even say it's just amazing for what it is! No one should feel ashamed for having a "cheap" instrument. (Fyi, I played violin for 12 years so I know what a "decent" and probably more than decent sound is). But seriously guys! It plays! It legitimately plays! And this has all the accessories needed(even a shoulder rest) to get started. And it's for the price of one of the greatest numbers of all-time.. $69.
If you really haven't decided if you're interested in pursuing this(for school or a hobby or whatever) and are trying to see if you even like it at all.. this is PERFECT. What more could you ask for??
My opinion:
Personally, I used to be a flautist and I wanted to see if it was worth trudging back to storage unit to relearn. I purchased an $80 flute; I had forgotten what a "good flute" feels like to play but I taught myself again and honestly learned better technique because of it being "harder" to get a strong sound out of. Mind you, I thought the matter was just me completely forgetting how to play, which isn't totally off-base considering I hadn't touched it in over 7yrs.
That said, I played the cheap flute everyday for over a month before making that decision to relearn and dig up my old flute. Look, to those who are saying otherwise, "investing" in "just" a $200 instrument is still a pretty penny. Had I not found my old flute, I would absolutely would have continued on that $80 flute for a while. Maybe you want to try out a few instruments. In my opinion, it is better to buy a "cheap" violin, and a cheap flute, sax, clarinet, or whatever you want. There's a very good chance you'll decide you like one more than another. what you like most.
Please PLEASE make sure you want to commit before you spend the money on it. (Don't forget, there is such a thing as returns. But like.. I wouldn't return an instrument that looks like it has been used.. A lot. So keep that in mind.)
Sorry it was long.. But, I didn't see anyone else addressing this. I'm so sorry if someone already said this stuff though. But yeah, once again, while I may have stated these thing very firmly, this is just my opinion and I'm not claiming to have all the facts or knowledge. It's just person experience.
Exactly my thoughts. During my studies in music school, I was playing a rental basson (which was provided by school). And, without any lies, it was the worst and cheapest bassoon from the worst bassoon maker company. But I was happy to have that at least. I was playing. And if my professor took it in hands, he always made it sound not worse than normal bassoons (which cost 5k € at least, even for beginners). So... yeah. After finishing music school, I will never ever be able to play bassoon, because I don't have such money.
So I decided to buy for myself a ~60$ violin and I'm studying it by myself. No regrets. I find it of a very nice quality (it is better made than one on the video, my is from 'Hertz') and if I will be ever able to buy a good one, then great. If no, I will stay happy with my cheap but decent violin.
I played violin for 12 years too and my playing skill is awful. So I know for sure I don't want to "commit". So that's why I bought a cheap Glarry violin. (old violin I used to have - a $250 violin my parents bought for me in 1970's is long gone, and Glarry is probably better than that violin).
If reviewing this cheap violin is likened to reviewing a food
Ray: knows that it taste bad but still managed to find the goodness on it
TwoSet: STRAIGHT UP ROAST/BURN IT INTO THE FIYAAAHH
Jk, anyway both of you give entertaining insights on cheap violin in your own way and I love both nonetheless~~
Twoset is basically the Gordon Ramsay of violins lol.
He can find goodness in it because he's so good he makes cheap violins sound decent
I'll take Rays' approach over the infantile every....single....time!
hahahaha true
lollll but honestly twoset's handmade violin was even broken before they unpacked it/if you watched another video, that violin is still way cheaper than this $69 violin so i think comparison shouldn't be made here
welp either way i love both of them ahhahahahaha
Ray: *tries to be polite about how bad the $69 Giarry violin sounds*
Me: *nervously holding my $40 Amazon violin*
Same AHAHHAHAHAHAH
Me: planning to buy one under $100 just nodding and smiling like a maniac on bath salts and crack. 😉
What's wrong with $69 Glarry violin? It sounds great. No need for Stradivarius unless you can play like Ray.
Omg, $40 bro!
Honestly, I'm super happy with my $40 purchase. I got it because I was unsure if I even wanted to learn the violin or not. Like Ray said, the purpose was just to get used to having my hands on the instrument and learn the basics of producing some kind of sound. For that it worked perfectly! And while I really enjoy pulling it out every once in a while to mess around, I'm not ready to seriously commit to learning the thing right now anyway. When I am, I'm sure I'll "upgrade" to something in the 200-300 range.
@@Exayevie Same here. I love my $40 Glarry violin. I heard Ray play it and I said I must get it even though I played with "real" violin from a professional violin shop. And indeed, it's quite good, it does everything I want and I absolutely love to play it now. Much better than my significantly more expensive "real" violin.
I am loving Ray's editor-san.
l e m ö n j a d é if I’m correct he edits his own videos
At some point in the video it said "editor-chan", I don't remember the timestamp though
5:41
I KINDA GET THE EDITOR -SAN VIBE THO :"D
Michelle Cindy same >:O
The Level demonstration is giving me some hard suzuki flashbacks.
Ray does love himself some happy farmers, huh?
Let's get a $420 violin now, for the boys
Nahhh bro, we need a $69,420 violin
Octave 11th Pianist
No, a $420,069 one.
Lily Potter Nah, a $420,696,420,696,420.69 one
Octave 11th Pianist
...
$694,206,942,069,420,694,206,942,069,420,694,20.69
Octave 11th Pianist *$420,069,420,069,420.69
8:22 - *Ray:* I can say that it's holding up pretty weil...
*TwoSet:* (has left the chat).
TwoSet are clowns. I have Glarry GV101 and I can say it sound quite good for such cheap violin. It's better than my older significantly expensive "real" violin from a professional violin shop.
Now that you basically have a throwaway violin you should use your artistc skills and paint it or put some sacrilegious fake diamonds on it
Or sign it and sell for beneficience ;-)
Or give it to me, my violin is like 20 dollars and 5 yo so i wouldn’t mind a little upgrade
@@sabinamauri7423 So apparently that word means "charity", for anyone who was wondering.
Ray chen with a begginer Violin sounding better than the 99% of players with high end violins, Insane how good some humans are.
I bought an 89 Euro cheapie violin from Thomann to try out if I wanted to actually learn it. The sound was barely passable. Then I bought a 400 Euro violin and my first cheapie violin sits there collecting dust. My recommendation is that if you want to learn the violin to pay a minimum of 350-400 Euros for it, to get a decent one that will not frustrate you, and will sound nice. Of course you may get it cheaper if it on sale or sold used. The violins for less than 100 $/Euros are only to try out.
i’m sure Ray will manage to make that cheap violin sound good anyway.
Guess what
I knew I was gonna be right 😂 @chill bill
Yes Ray will make any violin sound pretty good. But even I can make Glarry GV101 (which I have) sound pretty good with my relatively unskilled hands. Now that's real proof that Glarry violins are pretty good.
Love how he checks the tuner with himself! ❤
This is still a lot better then the one that twoset reviewed
He's way nicer in phrasing his words too. 😂 twoset straight up roast
@@haruchan620 I mean, the one twoset reviewed the parts don't even fit to each other X'D
At least this one was playable unlike the DIY project with tons of duct tape by TwoSet
Sapphire Blue Man, I loved every minute of that video and Brett’s enthusiasm for tape was just adorable!
I supposed it really depends where or from which vendor did they bought the violins,
I mean, the one 2sV bought is literally the DIY Build Your Own Violin, not just "cheap"
That is some serious advanced level eyebrow when he played advanced level pieces 👏🏻
Two set gets a cheap violin:
Cheap violin: *Falls aPaRt*
I'm glad my experience with a similar 70 buck violin as a beginner is lining up: it's functional. That's it, that's all you can say about it, but as someone who isn't dedicated to really becoming good at it, that's perfect
Whoever gave this a thumbs down is just sad because they play a $69 violin. Eat a snickers, you're not you when you're hungry!
hahahahahahaha
LMAO
I play in a less than 69 dollars violin and I loved this video
You make it sound beautiful. Cheers from London
Me: Buys this 3 minutes into the video
Also me: Can't put it together and also just realized he said there's no grooves on the bridge.
Give yourself a little more time you can probably set it up with some guides, alternatively you could bring it to a luthier and ask them to set it up for you
You can just buy a new bridge online or at a luthier. They’re pretty inexpensive
The bridge also looked to be at least as twice as thick as it should be. Set it up properly (bridge and soundpost), and put better strings on, and it would make a reasonable beginner's vso.
@@wuzz *laughs in broke*
Get a $15 Teller bridge, and $35 strings, and a $30 cheap carbon fibre bow...
Ray Chen, professional violinist: "you just have to eyeball it"
And that's exactly what a luthier would do.
I'm impressed that the violin handled that intense 3rd movement of sibelius well even tho it sounded like a squeaking duck
I've been playing a cheap violin like that for years now and I'm happy with it, I just changed pro strings on it. I cannot play very well but maybe some melodies in a band and that's where it comes in handy and is a wonderful choice for that.
As long as the violin doesn't need sticky tape to be held together it can't be that bad xD
okay jk I'll go practice
No, that was the one 2 Set Violin bought. Brett used about 1/2 a roll of sticky tape on it.
Shoutout to @twosetviolin 's DIY violin video😂
Ray bought this from a music shop web, while 2set bought theirs from a random seller on Amazon. Of course it will be diffrent
@@christopherkevinly257 Did you see on the reddit
Someone took a picture of a DIY PIANO.
and i saw a reply that said if theres less than four pieces that all fit in your hand, it's fine
Emily Li what kind piano is diy lol 🤣🤣🤣
Put a decent bridge on, change the strings to reasonable quality and you have a fantastic fiddle for the price. It's actually amazingly good for the budget.
Yea I would be intrested how much a talented Musician can get out of a Cheap Violin with some "upgrades"
I for example got a cheap 300€ E-Violin and after a year braught it to my "Geigenbauer" german for the dude who makes string instruments^^.
It sounded amazing afterwards. (For an electric violin)
Loved this Ray! My parents paid $100 for my first violin outfit in 1974. Your $69 fiddle far exceeds it. I suppose advances in technology, manufacturing, and luthier science have made such a violin possible and accessible. Now if only we could make good violin instruction more accessible to everyone! Greetings and best wishes from your boomer fan in Tarpon Springs, FL. Thank you Ray!
I started in 1970. Had my grandpa's fiddle with a wolf tone on the A string.
ALL violins have wolf tones
what's wolf tone? also, $100 in 1974 is equal to $575 today
Mine was $250 from professional violin shop in mid-Manhattan in 1970's as well. And my new super cheap Glarry violin just kills it (after properly trimming bridge and regrooving the nut). LOL
As somebody who's worked in a factory before, I always imagine the people who were behind the work on this instrument (because it's obviously some kind of factory if it's $69). If I were in their shoes, you wouldn't believe how much better it would have made my day to know that one of the instruments I made would be played by Ray Chen - even as an experiment! 😅
Alternative title: Ray flexing his skills by making a $69 dollar violin sound like a strad.
I found this after picking up a 60$ violin , and after seeing everyone bash the cheaper ones started looking around, now that I have it in my hands and I've been practicing with it I'm glad this one isnt as bad as people made cheap ones out to be, its easy to play, resonates fairly well and has a good sound ( its a mendini mv300 ) and honestly, I'm pretty happy with it
Yes Mendini mv300 is basically same violin as Glarry violin reviewed by Ray here.
"G-String" giving trouble.? Try another brand. Maybe "Victoria's Secret" would be better.😂
Lmao😵🤣
Appropriately, 69 likes.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
$69
I couldn’t find any strings from that brand
3:26
Expecting the strings to snap over the bridge, then a cut straight to the sound of plastic crinkling tied a knot in my stomach.
Fun video
Do you think it could be played on a more advanced level if one were to replace that faulty G-string? I'm very positively surprised at the result of this, as I half expected the whole instrument to fall apart within the first two minutes 😂
Did you see what happened when TwoSet tried to make a violin?
They do the DIY violin but it turns out really bad.😂
A new set of strings would make it sound much better. Then again, most good string sets are more than $69
If you have it set up and put on better strings this should do for quite a while.
A decent set of strings would make it sound much better and why not? If you buy a better instrument you can always take strings to put in the better one.
I honestly didn't expect it so sound even remotely like a violin, tbh this has definitely exceeded my modest expectations lol. This was really entertaining and informative, thanks for sharing:)
Comparing this to Twoset's online purchases, this is so different xD
Need to find a proper retailer I guess 🤣
Twoset must’ve picked the lowest rating violins just to roast them. Well idk
Loved the flying duck images in sibelius there
I think I have the same one, but it never sounds like that
You might consider taking it to a luthier and ask for a sound post adjustment, which they'll do pretty cheaply. I got a super cheap violin off eBay for playing outdoor gigs and $20 in at the luthiers made it instantly better.
@@paulinearriaga6948 Nah, they just suck
I think that those ultra cheap violins are sometimes pretty okay, and sometimes not... :(
@@MmMerrifield Like with guitars.
@@arco7372 Use them as a vacuum cleaner.
5:33 what the heck? Is Ray Chen playing Red Wing? A FIDDLE TUNE?! I love it!!! I’m a fiddler personally and love to hear classical players play fiddle tunes once in a while! :)
red wing is a little different. that was the happy farmer from the suzuki method
This really gives me perspective because I honestly have a “budget” violin too but I’m at least at the intermediate skill level. Seeing this does make me feel like my instrument is holding me back since I’ve had similar experiences as evident here but I also can’t afford an upgrade 😢😭
You should upgrade your strings if not the instrument it should make a big difference.
Upgrading the bow helps too, you can upgrade part-by-part...
my workaround was to rent one. Here in germany it’s around 15€/month everything included. (i play the viola lel pls don’t hate hahah) the dude even replaces broken strings and stuff for free. The Viola is around the 700€ mark if u‘d buy it. Check out your services, i can really recommend it.
Seconding the rent option. Restringing or rehairing lower quality instruments can only take you so far as it can't improve from its original quality. But renting a good quality instrument that is much more affordable than outright purchasing it can be a far more rewarding option and push for you to improve much quicker also. There is also no pressure to stick with the same instrument for any longer than you absolutely want. I urge you to look in to instrumental rentals from your local luthier.
alternatively, what can really help is bringing a cheap instument to a good uther and let them fix up the bridge and stuff. it will cos around 200€ again, so that's a lot cheaper than buying a better instument, and it can upgrade an instument significantly. the uther can uually ell you beforehand wether its worth it
Ray: *very politely says that is is questionable at best*
Twoset: This is a glorified piece of firewood
Can you do a followup on this video where you replace the strings and the bride and pehaps use a better bow to see if it is the violin or the equipment that is not up to Advanced standards?
Exactly!
That's what I was thinking too!
yes plsss I'm curious about how it's gonna be
The strings are getting a divorce and getting remarried.
All of it is not up to advanced standards... its simply not possible. Nobody not at Rays level could make it sound as good as he does.
I love this guy! His personality, wit, and love for his profession really makes you want to watch him for freaking hours! He reminds me of Pierre Holstein,(Fiddlerman). They both can take a VSO, (violin shaped object ) and pull a decent sound out of it! Great video , by the way!
I'm excited to watch this 🥺 good luck baby! Luv you 🥺
Thanks Ray, for sharing this video, suggestion if I may, and if you don't mind? You can change the strings and bridge to make it sound much better and the bow as well... Its what we usually do. It somehow compensates some areas of sound and response. :)
AA SO EXCITED!!! Good luck baby Ray 🥺💞
Wtf
@@saihanmarshall5287 ??
I keep coming back to this video. I got a lot of good out of my $67 violin outfit but I did upgrade the chinrest, bridge, strings, and bow, so the total cost was much higher. You can really draw tone out of yours but I needed a better instrument to want to practice daily. Using Tonic I see that I’m on day 72 of my practice streak. I think you are doing a great job of raising the interest of people to start and continue to play an instrument.
Atleast it's better than the 67 dollar violin (viola) from Twoset violin
It's funny how 2$ can make such a difference
Ok, whoa there buddy - I myself can’t even call whatever that monstrosity TwoSetViolin made a Viola - If who ever nailed it to them put a fragile sticker on the package then maybe you could call it a viola but ya no that’s not anywhere near viola ( Out of respect for the violas btw ) just saying bro
The_only_ Tr1v1a i think they’re referencing another twoset video, the one where they bought a 67$ violin that looks like a viola
naillij j I understand, but still - sometimes things need clarification depending on the joke, you know? But I was just saying -
@@the_only_tr1v1a2 I was talking about the amazon one not the DIY violin
This is a really nice violin for beginners. If you are just getting started, it could be good for you. There's usually a violin rental option in violin stores. You can rent it out, see if that's what you're looking for.
protip: have your editor include the names of the pieces you play so beautifully, those who arent world class violinists are surely interested lol
I'll post the list in the comments
@@lindseysimmonds678 where is your comment already?
@@earlybyrdy Just in case you're interested, the pieces Ray plays here are :
Beginner : twinkle twinkle little star
Beginner intermediate : Boccherini minuet, the happy farmer (Suzuki bk 1 I think?)
Intermediate : Bach concerto for 2 violins in D (first movement)
Advanced: Bach violin sonata n. 1, Bach rondo (from Partita 3), Bruch violin concerto n1, Mendelssohn violin concerto, Sibelius violin concerto
For a beginner I'd say the buyer will get great value. As a player advances changing strings may be enough for a year or two. After, when a player has learned enough to appreciate & understand what a better violin can do for his/her playing, that's time enough to take the next step.
World class violinist can make a 1000000000 sound with 69 dolar violin
I've never been scared for an object's life before....when Ray started playing the advanced level music, I felt scared on the violin's behalf
"Its not about the instrument
Its about the player"
That explains why my Stradivarius sounds like a viola
i have seriously fallen in love with you, Ray. Your talent and your attitude toward music. An instrument is an instrument. You put it through the paces and gave it a legit shot and said what you found. Honestly, a lot of reviews of "cheap Amazon violin/guitar/etc" really irritate me because no one expects a Strad for $69, but cheap instruments can be the gateway for a lot more people to get involved with music. As a music lover it simply infuriates me when an instrument is ridiculed or compared with something expensive and basically insulted.
What I love about this video is your respect for the instrument. Whatever the cost. You are a rare gem like that. Social Media stars don't seem to realize that it is these cheap instruments that make music accessible to people. You haven't ridiculed it, humiliated it, pretended like cheap instruments can sound only terrible (as though new strings sound good on a 300$ violin) and you are literally the first review to mention they need to settle a bit to make good sound - something I as a non-musician music lover know but never see mentioned in such videos and not ridicule the new sound by comparing with a well used violin... Some of the reviews of cheap violins sound so fake and elitist they make no sense. Unfortunately this includes TwoSet. Feel like dropping a link to this video under other reviews for an example of what a real musician who knows what he is doing can do with a 69$ violin. As an excellent Indian musician once told me "music is in the musician, not the instrument - that is just a tool that makes expressing it easier or harder" :p
Ray has a savage editor. Oh god, thats great! Also please be more direct, Ray! Because the Sibelius sounded really, really bad. LOL
Thank you Ray. Very nice to have an expert and unbiased opinion. You should offer your services to Consumers Report :). (seriously)
As a beginner this is the first time I heard songs that I can play on the channels that I follow. Also I got new strings on my borrowed violin for 28 euro's (for all strings) and rosin for like 4
Stuck at home, and binging on TwoSet and Ray, has made me (a non-musician) consider if I should take up the violin (I've always wanted to play an instrument with some proficiency, if just for my own amusement). But Ray's right: being a musician of any sort is not a cheap hobby. I have found this video to be incredibly informative: for the relatively inexpensive price of $70, one can find out if they like the instrument, how fast they can learn it and if it's worth their time. If/when one discovers that they want to pursue their skills into the advanced level, they've already learned their basics and what to expect and (hopefully) what to look for when investing in a better instrument. If not, no harm's been done to the ol' wallet. Well done, Ray, and thanks!
Edit: So, I just watched Olaf's review of this violin, and I should have expected that a talented violinist like Ray could make a bad instrument sound good. Still, the learning continues!
Would love to see it with good strings & bow.
And a better bridge too
'I have this conscious phobia that the string is going to break and go into my eye', Well that aged well :)
ha. ha. ha. * laughs in I play in a less than 50 dollars violin *
Feel you bro I used to play on a 45 bucks is guitar
Please tell me where to get it !!
I own a $30 violin. I played it for 4 years. I am happy.
I got $40 Glarry GV101 and it's great. I am also very happy. No need to get more expensive violin - ever. LOL
You're so amazing Ray!
No I will end your career I have the throne now
battle of the ages
I'm a guitarist but even I can tell that's well worth the cost for how good it sounds, though I know feel(fit and finish) is usually where the cheaper stuff suffers
$10,000,000 talent on a $70 instrument... still, I might have to pick one of these up. I hope you’re an affiliate.
5:08 is the song my son played for his solo (and ensemble) for April 2019! Miss all the activities with my son, this virus needs go away. Anyway back to the video. I'm impressed too Ray!
Seems good to me (as someone interested in learning the violin)
I’m not a violin player (just a fan of classical music) but thanks to this insightful video, now I know the difference between cheap violins (for the beginners) and Strad violins (for the professionals). 😄
"All the... sOunDs are- coming out." I can see u trying to be polite lol.
When ray's camera actually focuses and twoset's just...cant
It does focus...
Have you seen how detailed twoset's mic is? There's just these two moving objects at the back tho, a bit distracting
XD
@@neyoncrayon ngl that mic is really detailed
9:22 - how many duck pics (lol) you want to add ?
Editor:
-Yes
Idk i laugh so hard at 5:41 when he started "chacha"😂😂😂
Omg I don't know why was I unsubscribed from you're channel!
Great video Ray 👏 your worth millions so.. that's not a fair comparison lol
I guess I’m still a beginner then if that’s beginner /intermediate level😢
Lol I've been playing violin for 10 years and I guess I'm still at beginner/intermediate. Practice is so much more important than time, my dude
Same. I've been playing for three years and I'm still at beginner-intermediate level. Meanwhile all of my classmates are playing at advanced level 🙃
You're obviously classic trained. I bought for Middle eastern styles.
But your fingers go where they were taught and I'm so happy I bought this now..
I'll do a video when I get it.
It may suck, but that $69 violin is perfect for people who are interested in learning violin but don’t know yet if they wanna commit.
For a beginner who is just trying to play their first notes, I'm not even sure you would hear much difference... it'd sound horrible either way.
Amazing for $69! Paying close attention while installing the bridge reminds me of something that happened years ago when I was playing in an orchestra. Right in the middle of Scheherazade we heard a loud “whap” sound. Turned out it was one of the violinist’s bridge collapsed!
when ray tells me to comment i listen
Dear Eddy Chen, I've seen you at the Queen Elisabeth Competition. I was so happy you won! Loved your performances!
An idea for you: instead of slap the like button, you can use pizzi(cato) the like button. 😀🌻
I loved this video. I have a cheap violin. You've definitely proved that it is the violinist, not the instrument. Very nice!
Alternate title: When Ling Ling plays a $69 violin. 👏👏👏
Great demonstration and your POVs are fully supported by the excellent sound recording. Where do I start searching for UA-cam performances of antique Stravidarius?
$69
nice
Lmao
[insert lenny face]
69 likes
Nvm someone has sinned
People here are surprisingly mature, but I knew I would find this comment somewhere
At 0:57 that's Noah Bendix-Balgley, principal concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic! He used to play with us at the Pittsburgh Symphony!
I think the cheap violin seems to really show the weakness when in comes lower strings
How does Ray make a really cheap violin sound like his original violin its sounds good?! Wow, any violin you have your playing sounds so good, I wish I could play like this......
As TwoSet said, you really are a £10,000 000 violinist! And you’ve managed to get an unusually good example of a cheap internet violin. I’ve had several pupils turn up with these, and their specimens are basically expensive firewood! The bridges constantly move, fingerboard is wonky, no bridge or nut grooves, some sort of MDF wood construction, ill fitting pegs that constantly slip, strings that instantly become false, uncomfortable chin rest, shoulder rest constantly falling off, bow hair courtesy of ‘my little pony’, tighten the bow hair and something breaks, usually the point of the stick, the rosin is not effective on ‘my little pony’ hair, the case is very tatty after a few months and isn’t actually long enough to accommodate the bow, and on top of this, the sound of a composite wood violin is either unbearably screechy or dead as a dodo. Funnily though, if these violins come with a Tuner, it’s often unbelievably good for the price! Unfortunately I can’t like this video as it implies that £69 violins are ok for the price, and from my experience in this country, they are a terrible waste of money. Air violin is free and sounds better!! I occasionally have a pupil that finds a reasonable violin in this price range, but I would always advocate going for something properly made, where even a duff one is guaranteed to be ok.
I have Glarry violin GV103 which cost me around $50 (special sale?). Couldn't be more pleased. Looks just like Glarry GV302, and sounds wonderful - better than my 50 year old "real" violin which was bought at a professional violin shop in 1970's for $250 ($2000 2023 dollars?). It just needs some work for sure, such as bridge fitting and nut grooves, but result is fantastic. Chin rest and pegs seem to be made from jujube wood which is fine, I like lighter color than solid black. I am very happy with this amazing entry level violin.
I hope you know that a group of adult beginners has taken this a a recommendation for a decent beginner. you could make a wooden box sound good, I think yo need to be a little more circumspect in your recommendations.