"Even if you don't know what you want, you WILL know what you don't like." It seems you believe in your students and you show them. That's a good thing, for it builds trust. You're the kind of teacher a beginner can trust. And there are really-really cold, cruel violin teachers in this world. You spread out some warmth on the net and that seems to make you popular.
Galante Welt agreed! I had one that was amazing at first and then a strict one I couldn’t connect with and then just going. Good to know it varies, like a violin, gotta find teachers that suit you
It's funny I run across this video now, I've just been in the process of buying a new violin, going from relatively expensive (£1500) to really quite expensive (£6k). I tried over 2 dozen violins, antique, new, with the dealer throwing me a couple of curveballs to see if I noticed anything. The £30,000 French violin was nice, but not really any nicer than stuff a sixth of the price. The £100,000 Italian violin was stunning and made me want to cry when I found out how much it was. The best advice I've had is if you have a lot of violins to try, try them in three's and pick your favourite from the three. Move on to the next three and do the same, whittling them down that way. Great video, it's almost impossible to give specific advice on a subject like this, but you nailed the bits you can give! Try them, and then try them again.
It is like every instrument have a "soul", and then the sound "within it the sound so" to speak. I´ve played and practiced violin for 21+ years. And also I´ve had my turns with guitars and banjos that have been looking worse than garbage but sincerely had more "soul and heart" too them then high-end violins and guitars. My tip is too listen and feel the instrument and if you love the instrument you love it and if not, that is not the right "soul and sound" for you. /Gustav.
My violin is a Stentor II, my teacher recommended it, and it behaves great. The strings very rarely get out of tune once you have been playing it for a couple of months, and it is pretty easy to get it to give me the sound I want. I highly recommend it. In case it helps, it was 145 pounds (bought in my academy). I guess you can find it cheaper on the internet, although as you said, I am not very fan of buying through the internet as I like to touch and play the instrument before buying it. Every single violin has its own personality, even of they are the same model and the same brand.
Another thing to mention about scratch is it may not be the violin, but the strings. My violin is not scratchy until I put high tension strings on it. So when testing violins, be aware what strings it has. The higher tensions often scratch. Among them are Evah Pirazzi (regular AND gold) Thomastik Vision Titanium Solo, D'Addario Kaplan (Vivo or Amo), Thomastik Infeld Blue, etc. Be aware of the string type. Also, the violin in question may have be too dark or too bright, again, experiment with strings. My violin is really dark sounding, and I kept trying various strings to try and brighten the sound. Most of them were too high tension, and choked my sound. I found out I needed bright strings with low tension, which is when I found Pirastro Synoxa strings. You can also play around with different tailpieces, when I changed mine to REAL boxwood, a lot of scratch went away. Also tailpiece position, moving further back, or closer to the bridge, also play around with bridge position. Know that a violin has more to it than what its current set up gives.
Ms.Alison,I would like to thank you for your wonderful tutorials,with your help I have learned to play violin and my family says I'am actually pretty good thanks to you.I have just upgraded to a violin by Ming jiang zhu it was pricey but I'am loving it.Thank you
I can highly recommend the Conamore" Violin from Cardiff Violins. its the top end of the beginners violins and if you book an appointment with them you can spend time in private with a selection and find the best on for you. I bought mine from there and the staff were amazing, helped me select the best one for me and played them for me to hear them too. they also set the violins up to a very high standard. That model is £450, but their beginners range starts at £250. I would say please DONT buy a violin without going and trying it in the shop first, i was faced with 3 the same model side by side, the 3 sounded different,played different,felt different so its important you get a feel for something that you are going to spend many hours playing and enjoying.
It's good to also to take a violin home on approval and test it fully before confirming the purchase. I once spent a whole day trying different violins in a large violin dealers shop and brought home one which sounded great in the shop and in a small room at home. But when I took it into a large hall or outdoors, it seemed thin and weedy and under powered, compared to the previous one I had, which would project volume and fill the room . Oddly the old one sounded quiet and mellow in small rooms! Try it out under conditions where you might be playing it!
I brought my violin about a year ago its a Lorenzo Ascoli antique, I got it second hand but I fell in love with it almost instantly. I've set it up with dominants on the D and A string and Obligatos on the G and E string im in the process of saving up for a new bow, once I get that it will be perfect :)
Hi. I was interisted in playing a violin and found your channel. So I bought me a Stentor 2. Its a really good violin for that money. I changed the strings to Thomastik Red, changed the, for me, horrible chin rest to a Wittner, bought a Kun shoulderrest, because my more skinny shoulder hurts a lot without that. At last I changed the weak bow to another wooden bow from Dorfler and for now Im happy with that set. Maybe I will buy a more expensive one later, but what you get for the money and with some personal updates for the Stentor 2 is a lot and will be enough for several years or maybe completely for amateur use. Thank you for your Videos. Its a big help for me.
True. But what do you play to try a violin? I'd say the following: You may play a piece you know. But play scales as well: Go from the G-string to the E-string in first position and then as high up into position as you are capable of. Listen to the sound at high and low and middle pitches. Listen especially to the D-string; it tends to be the weakest sounding of the four, especially in higher positions. Then try piano, mezzoforte, forte, listen to each level how the violin sounds, try how loud you can play and how soft a piano you can achieve. Finally try some different bowings. And if you are confident enough play some double stops and listen to them. The idea is to try the instrument in as many situations as possible to get an overall impression. And don't feel rushed; take your time with every violin you try out. If you don't truly like any of the ones the dealer has go to another dealer and try more. For most of us amateurs this is going to be the violin for life. Take the decision seriously. Good violin makers let you sometimes take an instrument or two or three home for a day or two. Take advantage of that; you can then play the violin for a longer time with no salesperson waiting for you to be done, maybe do some actual practicing on it. Ideally you make the decision between the finalists in this way.
I am the proud owner of an antique German mittenwald violin on the quite expensive side with a wonderfully dark, rich, viola/cello-like sound. I say the same thing that you say about your violin, most world class violinists would say they hate it but I absolutely love it, otherwise I wouldn't have spent loads of money on it!
After your video of the Stentor 2 and watching the Stentor Factory video, I purchased one. I love it. It is much smother and less scratchy. I did upgrade the strings to Dominant. Thank you
I like to think of it as if a singer had the opportunity to purchase which voice they can sing with, in a way. They will still be singing the same songs and notes, but each voice will sound unique and many different ones can still sounds great. :-)
We have a great luthier nearby; I need to see him (and not just hog all the violins for hours in his shop). I've done what I can with my violins and need an upgrade. My childhood factory one took me through all my grades as a child and then I found a turn of the century (circa 1910) German student violin in a charity shop, but it needs restoring, so I'm not getting the best out of it. Many, many years later, I really need a violin that matches my skills! Gosh that sounds pompous and I don't mean it that way. Also, it needs to match my pocket ha.
Hi I play cello and would like to start playing the violin, what violin would you recommend for someone with 4+ years of experience with stringed instruments who hasn't played violin before
Oops, I just bought my D Z Strad 120 violin off Amazon without checking it out. I lucked out though and like how it sounds but when I went to buy a tuner and some music books I brought my violin to check out the tuners and the guy at the shop didn’t even know the brand. 🙃
Never buy a Stentor. I bought one when I began. I took good care of it as I played guitar for 25 years. I properly humidified it and adjusted it. One day I was tuning it and the neck lifted right out of the body. I had to throw it in the trash.
Generally speaking, how expensive must a violin be in order to be considered above a student violin? :) Is it around 300+ dollars, or above 1,000, generally?
I totally understand, today i posted my italian paganini master copy violin for sale and and indian told me it sounds like a 30 dollar violin 🙂 didnt know what to reply to that. I said well, thanks.
You recommend the Stentor 2 here, but also are very positive about the Forenza Prima in your review Forenza PRIMA Violin Review, saying it's as good yet cheaper. In an ideal world which of the two would you go for?
Hi Alison. I'm on South Africa for a work contract. Apart from Internet shopping the music shops hold little range of violins. I am in the UK soon and wonder if you could recommend a good shop where I can try out a good range of violins in London?
You should also mention that there are different violins for different uses. I have two myself. One for orchestral work and one for solo work. One is worth about 2-$3000 and the other is $25,000 plus. I believe that for children starting out $400 -$600 should be just about right.
I was given a cecilio cvn200 for Christmas from my children and have been taking lessons. I am thinking about moving up in quality and was wondering if you have an opinion on the Stentor messina violin.
i like more of a deeper darker sounding of a violin .... do you know a brand i can try and so i can get a start of what to look for of that sounding of a violin?
+jasmine hill Not unless you are willing to spend upwards of $800 ish. You 'can' get some cheaper students violins that might sound deep and dark, but not really as they are cheap and therefore dont really have any particular sort of tone to them. If they did, then I wouldnt bother to have an expensive one as I would just buy a $100 one that sounded nice. Sadly, it doesnt really work like that.
MakeupLover 3Thousand Get one from somebody's attick. I have been quite lucky there. You get them cheap and they do need some work but you will be done for 500 max including the luthier and there just might be a wonderful sound in the instrument. Just beware of cracks. Do not buy one with cracks.
I was at an estate sale and bought a violin for 80 dollars with the name Taurus on the label. How does one know the value of a violin ? they're all made in factories in china, just factories affix the labels according to the music company their supplying.
Hi! I'm an intermediate violin player and I want to buy a new violin. I'm planning on dedicating my life to it since I love music. Which violin would you recommend? Thanks :)
I would recomemd you go to a violin luthier who repairs, restores and sells all types of violin. Do NOT go to a shop that wants to flog your their branded violin as you will end up with a run of the mill standard violin.
Hello! I really love your videos and I've watched many of them.I want to buy a violin(I've been playing the piano for 3 years but I want to try it),and since I'm a total beginner,I will buy one under 100£...I want to buy the ANTONI Debut OCV-30,mostly because it's affordable and because I've read good reviews.I want to know if I should buy this one or something else.Please keep in mind that I live in Greece so,buying from Amazon is kinda hard...Thanks for your time
Ulti- gamer Alex if you look under any of my violin videos, there are links to all the violins i recommend plus a playlist with links to all the video reviews.
hi ma'am, I desperately want to learn to play violin but I can't start unless I buy one , and ,I want to buy a one which I can play for a very long term...its not for a professional profession but just for a hobby ..itll be great if you help me out on what to look for and which ones to buy .. thank-you
Hi. I was wondering if a cheaper violin sounded better than an expensive violin, which one is a better choice? I am upgrading my violin and i found two that are very similar but one about 500 dollars more expensive.
A cheaper violin will never sound better than a more expensive one - that goes for anything in life. Dont forget that you will have a better set up with the more expensive one.
Hello! I love your videos! I'm thinking of buying a pricier viola. I currently live in Japan, but am going to visit the States for two weeks in a couple of weeks. I can for sure get a viola for much cheaper (I'm talking 800 dollar price difference) in the States than I can in the Japan. It's the same model that I tried in Japan, it's just I'd be buying it in the States from the US dealer. Would you say that this is a bad idea? Also, they have a 1 week trial period. Thanks in advance, and God bless :)
Honestly, I know nothing about violas as I have never played one, so it would be highly unprofessional for me to offer any sort of opinion on something I know nothing about. Sorry.
Please Respond! I'm getting a violin for christmas but I need to choose the one I want. My mom said to give her different options. Can you please recommend some from $400-$1500. Maybe like 2 higher end ones and 2 or three like $500-$800. Please and thank you!
Its hard for me to actually pick just one violin or a few as it totally depends, but this below might help. Its the info thats under all my violin videos. The advanced violins are not necessarily for advanced players - they are for anyone who wants a decent violin to start with without having to upgrade for years: MY TOP 2 VIOLINS FOR COMPLETE BEGINNERS. YOU WON'T GO FAR WRONG WITH EITHER OF THESE: 1. Stentor II (1500): goo.gl/FCa2b Stentor II (1500) violin review: bit.ly/2d8hadr 2. Cecilio CVN 300: goo.gl/viikfN Cecilio CVN 300 video Review: bit.ly/2dp02Oo MENDINI MV RANGE - REALLY GOOD BUT CHEAP STARTER VIOLINS: Mendini MV 200: goo.gl/Uk08SA Mendini MV 200 video Review: bit.ly/2dhTV2j Mendini MV 300: goo.gl/ERfYhF Mendini MV 300 video Review: bit.ly/2drtINu Mendini MV 400: goo.gl/UhSn7f Mendini MV 400 video Review: bit.ly/2cZ3EGL Mendini MV 500: goo.gl/q6ZE3N Mendini MV 500 video Review: bit.ly/2cPHGa9 CECILIO CVN RANGE FOR BEGINNERS: Cecilio CVN 100: goo.gl/ZfH0Xv Cecilio CVN 100 video Review: bit.ly/2csh6kc Cecilio CVN 200: goo.gl/uDc4ZX Cecilio CVN 200 video Review: bit.ly/2cYO9jL Cecilio CVN 300: goo.gl/viikfN Cecilio CVN 300 video Review: bit.ly/2dp02Oo FOR THE INTERMEDIATE PLAYER: Cecilio CVN 400: goo.gl/MzM7Kh (this is discontinued now). Cecilio CVN 500: goo.gl/K0f2tx Cecilio CVN 500 video Review: bit.ly/2dhtZze FOR THE MORE ADVANCED PLAYER: Cecilio CVN 600: goo.gl/gpt71v Cecilio CVN 600 video Review: bit.ly/2dhsUaV Cecilio CVN 700: goo.gl/c9OXpU Cecilio CVN 700 video Review: bit.ly/2cUt78p Cecilio CVN 800 - This one is excellent & top of the line, but I can't find a link. Cecilio CVN 800 video Review: bit.ly/2cZ4qDN
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor How would you say the CVN 700 compares to CVN 800? I know you did a video on it but is the CVN 700 worth it for $500 or should I just jump straight to the CVN 800? Also thank you so much for replying!
hi Ma'am, i am from Pakistan there is no shop to buy violin but i find out the old violin this design by Italy and made Germany in 1965 and size is 3/4 . My age is 20 year tell me if i change the string with Pirastro string then this size is suitable for me as beginner.what's your opinion can i buy this violin.
Wow really fast respond. Thank you! ❤ I've been using my acoustic violin for almost 8 years and now my acoustic violin sounds like a silent violin hahahaha my teacher ask me to upgrade my violin. I am going to look for another review before testing and buying my violin. Thanks! ❤
If one must use peg drops periodically does that mean the violin is really worn over time or was it poorly made so that the fit-up of peg and hole is not what it could be?
Poorly made yes, but thats the nature of cheap student violins which is who//what my channel aims at. If folks dont want to use peg drops, then they need to invest in a violin that costs thousands of dollars, thus defeating the object. My violin doesnt need peg drops or anythin, in fact i have no tuners and only tune my violin using the pegs, but then my violin did cost in the thousands.
I bought a $300 (worth about $3000) which is a copy of a Josef Guarneri on eBay. I love it. I have changed the chin rest, tailpiece, bridge, and the strings. I can't believe I got the violin for the money.
hi Alison, I have recently got an old violin. it produces quite scratchy sound, though I like the tone of it. It came with a set of strings, I wonder if it's something to string or the violin itself. Do you think changing the string will help me get rid of this scratchy sound. Will changing string change the tone as well?..
Scratchy noises usually have nothing to do with the violin or the strings, although there is a small possibility they might. For how long have you been playing the violin?
hey guys? I see violins w 5 - 7 strings. What violin would be considered professional and would play the best music? sorry, the many strings have me stumped. Does this mean there are more chords to play in sheet music? :o just lost a bit.
More than 4 strings just means the violin sort of becomes a viola too. So you will have strings lower than the original 4 and many higher (above the E) if you go up to 7. I personally dont see the point as I play violin music, so nothing is written lower than the lowest note I can get on a 4 string violin and if I need to go higher, I go into a higher position on the E string. Personally, for me, they are totally pointless. Its up to you, but I would say they are definitely for the more advanced player.
Have you tried gliga violins? I'm looking to purchase the maestro which has a very hefty price tag but I've read many positive reviews on it. I wonder if you can out your 2 cents if you've ever tried their violins. Thanks☺️
+MsPolkaDotz I recently purchased a beautiful Gliga Gama violin on ebay from Gliga USA. I love it. I watched videos of Gligas on Whitehorse music from Austrailia, and some others. I love the deep rich sound of these violins. I also ordered a case and had them change the tailpiece to one with four fine tuners. Cost under $800 for all. I'm very happy with it. I'm also thinking about getting a Gliga Gama viola. I'm sure I'll end up getting a Maestro in the future.
+Julie Nielsen hey Julie, yes you're quite right about the rich warm tone of the gliga violins. I purchased a maestro and couldn't be happier. I thought it was such a high risk to purchase a violin from US but it turns out they are beautifully made and well worth every penny. Are you a beginner too?
I've been taking lessons for about a year now. I'm 56. I never thought I'd want to learn to play the violin, but I started to take fiddle lessons. I also play the mandolin which is tuned the same as the violin. It's much easier for me to learn the songs on the mandolin first, then play them on the violin.
+Julie Nielsen that's wonderful. I truly believe that if you're passionate about something age is nothing but a number. I will soon be posting my progress on my channel so I hope you keep in touch. I too am a beginner (about 7 months into learning this beautiful instrument). I hope I can see a video of you playing in the future. I'm not sure if you post videos here. But it would be nice to see your progress too😊
Sorry do you mean you will by a violin less than $400? Depends what you plan to do with the violin. If it’s just for fun then you don’t need to spend a lot, but then again, if you buy rubbish you will never progress and develop a good sound. Under any violin video I have video reviews and recommendations.
Hi ! I am looking to buy my 1st violin with a budget of up to 400-500 pounds. Should I limit myself to a cheaper student violin like Stentor student 2 or is it ok to directly buy an advanced violin ? I would prefer not to upgrade for next few years hence would prefer to directly buy a better quality violin. I am thinking of buying something like Stentor Elysia/1875.
I would spend the most you can afford: buy cheap, buy twice....as they say! You won’t get annoyed with it or hinder your learning because of an inferior instrument and you won’t have to bother upgrading in 6 months time either. A Stentor it good; conservatoire perhaps. I have not heard about the other one.
as far as not buying blind, where i am, i have no choice but then again, i also like building violins so either way, not a huge issue. i just bring it up mainly for those who dont have the option of testing out a violin.
what about the bow? In my research on finding a quality violin to begin lessons with I've noticed that the price for bows vary greatly from $10 to $6000. As a guitarist of 32 yrs I'm used to instrument tone having a direct correlation with price however guitar picks are all pretty much the same so the bow prices have me perplexed. Thanks for any response in advance. :)
the bow is a different matter entirely. If you have a nice expensive violin, then you need a bow to go with it or its pointless. If you have a cheaper violin, then a nice bow will make a difference, but only so much. I use my expensive bow on the cheaper violin reviews as its there already with rosin on and i like it. I cant and i dont really advise on bows as they are SUPER personal its likely that what i like, you will hate etc. The only golden piece of advice i can give is, go and see a man who sells bows, tell him your budget then try out and pick one you like the feel and weight of.
Thank you for the reply. Just to make sure I understand correctly, the bow affects tone slightly but the major difference between bows is the material from which they are made and personal taste. Hopefully I got it right. -joe
joejfromatown yes. More importantly for me its the weight and feel. I know that if i spend a few hundred dollars/pounds the quality will be there already so i can just concentrate on the feel and the weight - that why i cant recommend bows as weight is so important that what i think is the perfect weight, someone else wont. I can recommend violins, as one is going on the sound, but when it comes to bows, the feel and weight are so personal and unique, that its impossible to recommend.
Hi , I'm confused because in one article you say the Stentor11 is the best in the $200 range , and in another you reply to a comment that "it doesn't even come close" to the similarly priced Cecilio CVN500 , and on this thread somebody suggests that you like the Forenza Prima . I have to buy a violin in the $200 range for a young girl who is devastated because she'd spend her last penny on a EBay cheaoi that turned out to be plastic not wood and is now useless , and I dont have a clue , can you tell me what you would buy if you were in my place?
waldipup Ok, so to clear it up, the CVN300 is about the same as the Stentor II as is the Prima. The CVN500 is an intermediate violin and a good upgrade. I dont really see them in terms of price as they are all priced differently since the CVNs are USA and Stentors/Forenzas etc are UK. The prices do change all the time so I will just tell you what I think: The CVN300 or Stentor II are the same and good as a good starter violin for a beginner who wants something decent to start with and not sound like a dying whale lol. The CVN500 is awesome and will keep you going for a really long time before needing to change, unless you want too. The CVN600 will be even better, but I cant remember the price of that off the top of my head.... Hope that helps.
hi alison. im totally agree with you to dont bye any think blind. but in my case as i want a left handed violin in a professional level its impossible to get it ready in a shop and all of the companies in which i have communicated with them they told that they most get the order to make a violin in left handed order and the money wont be refundable as they cant get a left handed costumer so what do you suggest me to do ?
Hi there I'm left handed I play guitar left handed so when it came to learning to play the violin I check everywhere and there was like on company that made a left handed one and it was cheap i mean real cheap £189. So I decided just to learn to play right handed and to be honest it didn't feel weird compared to playing a right handed guitar. The only thing I find hard about playing right hand is loosening up the wrist for bowing. When bowing your wrist needs relaxed and loose the moments in the arm and wrist need to act like a Mexican wave pardon the expression. But as far as getting a left handed violin I'd say play right handed you'll be surprised how natural it feels
Depends on how far above beginner you mean? You can get a good intermediate one online from researching and watching reviews and demos. I would not spend above £1,000 or $1,300 ish just by watching a video.
sorry for the disturb ma,am alison im from the philippine and im a begginner.Should i buy strandivarius violin the matte or strandivarius violin the strauss
My videos are free to watch and you just buy the books - exactly as you would when learning anything. You can buy my books individually, or as bundles which save you money. You can buy my books from my online shop here: www.amsmusicshop.com or if you head to the lesson videos, there are links to the books I’m using under the videos.
What price range is that violin (your personal one you are showing) you have in? And is it a mass produced thing or is it a vintage Italian made with a maker label in it? I have a difficulty trying to understand what you mean by "expensive" as the price ranges you are mentioning is basically a pinch above the flippo-jippo models. Based off the videos title, I thought you were offering advice for $50,000 - $100,000 violin purchases.
My violin is an antique violin from about the 1800s. I have had it valued by Amati here in the UK and we dont know much about its except its a German Mittenwald violin, but dont know the maker. It is worth 5 figures. My channel is aimed at beginners so I wouldnt be talking about anything as expensive as 50-100k! Anyone looking to purchase a violin 50k and upwards would certainly not be turning to a youtube channel for help and guidance. I mean expensive as far as something a self/home learner would consider expensive and within their budget and capability.
I enjoy your channel. Not been here in a while tho. I'm that "anyone" that is looking at 50K violins.....as a noob.....for investment/enjoyment......with 32 years exp. on guitar! I was lost as to your price range because you used the word "expensive".....so I thought "here we go!".....just what I was looking for! All that really matters (to your inner self, the player in you) is that the Mittenwald you got allows room for you to express yourself, create, and hopefully grow into the into the instrument. It's always good to have a little more instrument "on tap" than you need. This way you don't feel limited. Thanks for a little input about your axe.....um, I mean violin!
Somebody please help me... I have been playing a Yahama SV250 for the last year... I want to buy an acoustic violin, but I am a beginner and am not capable of discerning between violins since I generally don't make very good sound. That being said, I have a pretty big budget for a violin (up to $2000). I don't like to buy lower quality items and then upgrade later - would rather just have a great product and keep it forever. Since I don't know anyone that plays violin - how should I go about buying? I suppose I could get store staff to play them for me - has anyone experience with this experience?
That is not what I mean. This is my question when you play high up the figure board especially on the e or a string do you hear a whispering sound or is that on cheaper violins?
I wish I have enough money to buy one so that I will be much better in learning the violin from it than my present violin which is very cheap. By the way, thanks for this video. Very helpful and informative :)
@@TheOnlineViolinTutor In this video you said we should not buy a 500+ dollar violin before we try it. I made a mistake of not including the value floor in my original remark.
should I get a violin that is $1,800? its a violin with an amazing tone over 100 years old and everyone, including professionals, say its a very good violin! I NEED your help! its very pricy should I get it?!!
adrian fernandez Its totally up to you. If i could personally play the violin, I would be able to give you an opinion, but since I cant, I cant advise. I would advise never buying blind (without trying it out for yourself) so I would never advise blind. Sorry, im the wrong person to ask in this case.
Around what price range is a student quality violin? My current Violin is around 80 Dollars (3k-4k Php) And I was thinking about upgrading to a 400-500 Dollar Violin (18k-25k Php) so I was thinking if this upgrade is a waste. Edit: There's a big chance I would to upgrade from my student quality violin and with it, I am also wanting to buy some accessories like the BonMusica SR, Pirastro Tonica Strings, and Artino Practice Mute. Please give me recommendations if you think it's a good deal or just a waste. (Sorry for the bad english, I'm from the Philippines) and I won't also be buying blind
4-500 dollars is a good upgrade. Not the best, but a 100 times better than your 80dollar one! You wont go far wrong with Pirastro Tonicas and a goof French rosin. Any practise mute really...
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor I actually found it weird because here in the Philippines, everything is so cheap. Not the quality, but the cost. The 500 Dollar (25k Php) Violin was said to be appraised in michigan for 2000 Dollars. I immediately thought "What if it is actually true""But it can't be" (we don't use dollars as currency)
this is true. . not many people know some violins thats being sold many thousands of dollars in US are made in the philippines. . and just being sold around 20k php locally.
Yes I have heard of that violin. It's a great violin honestly saying and it has a good tone quality , especially the e and the g strings . But, have to say it's indeed an expensive violi! Anyway, for info, one of the youtubers ( I'm not sure you've heard of him) , Daniel jang uses this violin.
Yes. I think if you replaced the factory ones with Pirastro Tonicas, you will get a brighter, cleaner and clearer sound and the obw will not have to work as hard on the strings.
+Lynn Little You need to be going to a violin dealer/luthier and try out a whole bunch. There isnt anything i can 'recommend' as such because at this level, you need to be trying out as many as you can to find the right one (sound/tone) for you. I would say - assuming you are in the UK, you need to be looking at around the £1,000. Anything less wont really do it for those higher grades. Think of grade 7/8 as your semi professional level before you go on to study further with diplomas etc. So less then £1,000 probably wont be good enough to get that clarity of tone and professional sound.
+Lynn Little Whatever you like. Some people spend 3/4 times more on their bow as they do on their violin. The only think i will say is that there is no point whatsoever having a kick-ass violin and a rubbish bow!
+Lynn Little I recently went through the process of purchasing a new violin and bow and I was recommended by several people to spend about 1/3 to 1/2 of the cost of the violin on the bow. The bow really does make a huge difference in the overall quality of your sound.
Hi Allison, I have a Stentor II violin and I was just wondering when I want to get a more professional one, where do I get it from, because I know it's really hard to find antique violins (I live in Scotland btw if that helps in any way), so I would like to know (if you can answer) where did you get yours from? I know this is a bit of a stupid question, but if you could tell me (if u can) then maybe the shop you got it from has a branch in Scotland somewhere. If you could that would be really appreciated! Or even where I can get professional violins from that would be really helpful. However I do realize you could have gotten the violin from family members, or friends, etc but if you could answer this I would appreciate it. Thank you so much in advance :)
I went to a famous luthier here in New York City and I spent 4,000 dollars on my violin because it was the one I like it’s very true what she said you might not know what you like but you know what you don’t like 👍
Do antique violins generally sound better than newer ones? I am upgrading my violin soon. Another question, do you have a video or tips on learning to play fast on the violin?
wupeide Not really. It will get you a nice student violin, possibly intermediate, but at the low end of intermediate. You will need/want to upgrade later.
Hi allison,i am an adult beginner and i am looking for a violin that suits me.i love an antique violin.wht do u think the antique violin for me an adult beginner? Thx
Hi I found two violins, one that is scratched up and is really old which is a hoffler while the newer one which is cheaper is a heftler. Thee luthier says the heffler will warm up and sound as good as the hoffler. The hoffler currently has a better resonance right now. Should I pick the one that everyone says has more potential or the one where sounds better currently? Thank you
Honestly I dont know as I dont know what they feel like to play or sound like - having said that, i would choose the one that I liked the sound, tone and feel of.
"Even if you don't know what you want, you WILL know what you don't like."
It seems you believe in your students and you show them. That's a good thing, for it builds trust. You're the kind of teacher a beginner can trust. And there are really-really cold, cruel violin teachers in this world. You spread out some warmth on the net and that seems to make you popular.
Galante Welt agreed! I had one that was amazing at first and then a strict one I couldn’t connect with and then just going. Good to know it varies, like a violin, gotta find teachers that suit you
It's funny I run across this video now, I've just been in the process of buying a new violin, going from relatively expensive (£1500) to really quite expensive (£6k). I tried over 2 dozen violins, antique, new, with the dealer throwing me a couple of curveballs to see if I noticed anything. The £30,000 French violin was nice, but not really any nicer than stuff a sixth of the price. The £100,000 Italian violin was stunning and made me want to cry when I found out how much it was. The best advice I've had is if you have a lot of violins to try, try them in three's and pick your favourite from the three. Move on to the next three and do the same, whittling them down that way.
Great video, it's almost impossible to give specific advice on a subject like this, but you nailed the bits you can give! Try them, and then try them again.
Absolutely. One cannot give advise on why exactly to buy as everyone has different tastes.
It is like every instrument have a "soul", and then the sound "within it the sound so" to speak. I´ve played and practiced violin for 21+ years. And also I´ve had my turns with guitars and banjos that have been looking worse than garbage but sincerely had more "soul and heart" too them then high-end violins and guitars. My tip is too listen and feel the instrument and if you love the instrument you love it and if not, that is not the right "soul and sound" for you. /Gustav.
My violin is a Stentor II, my teacher recommended it, and it behaves great. The strings very rarely get out of tune once you have been playing it for a couple of months, and it is pretty easy to get it to give me the sound I want. I highly recommend it. In case it helps, it was 145 pounds (bought in my academy). I guess you can find it cheaper on the internet, although as you said, I am not very fan of buying through the internet as I like to touch and play the instrument before buying it. Every single violin has its own personality, even of they are the same model and the same brand.
Another thing to mention about scratch is it may not be the violin, but the strings. My violin is not scratchy until I put high tension strings on it. So when testing violins, be aware what strings it has. The higher tensions often scratch. Among them are Evah Pirazzi (regular AND gold) Thomastik Vision Titanium Solo, D'Addario Kaplan (Vivo or Amo), Thomastik Infeld Blue, etc. Be aware of the string type. Also, the violin in question may have be too dark or too bright, again, experiment with strings. My violin is really dark sounding, and I kept trying various strings to try and brighten the sound. Most of them were too high tension, and choked my sound. I found out I needed bright strings with low tension, which is when I found Pirastro Synoxa strings. You can also play around with different tailpieces, when I changed mine to REAL boxwood, a lot of scratch went away. Also tailpiece position, moving further back, or closer to the bridge, also play around with bridge position. Know that a violin has more to it than what its current set up gives.
Tip: I recommend trying to buy from a local store or any music store you can find near to far, before going to amazon.
Ms.Alison,I would like to thank you for your wonderful tutorials,with your help I have learned to play violin and my family says I'am actually pretty good thanks to you.I have just upgraded to a violin by Ming jiang zhu it was pricey but I'am loving it.Thank you
DZ strad: my violins are amazing!
stentor: my violins are delightful
medini:
cecilio:
Stravarius: my violins are gorgeously rich
I can highly recommend the Conamore" Violin from Cardiff Violins. its the top end of the beginners violins and if you book an appointment with them you can spend time in private with a selection and find the best on for you.
I bought mine from there and the staff were amazing, helped me select the best one for me and played them for me to hear them too. they also set the violins up to a very high standard.
That model is £450, but their beginners range starts at £250.
I would say please DONT buy a violin without going and trying it in the shop first, i was faced with 3 the same model side by side, the 3 sounded different,played different,felt different so its important you get a feel for something that you are going to spend many hours playing and enjoying.
It's good to also to take a violin home on approval and test it fully before confirming the purchase. I once spent a whole day trying different violins in a large violin dealers shop and brought home one which sounded great in the shop and in a small room at home. But when I took it into a large hall or outdoors, it seemed thin and weedy and under powered, compared to the previous one I had, which would project volume and fill the room . Oddly the old one sounded quiet and mellow in small rooms! Try it out under conditions where you might be playing it!
I brought my violin about a year ago its a Lorenzo Ascoli antique, I got it second hand but I fell in love with it almost instantly. I've set it up with dominants on the D and A string and Obligatos on the G and E string im in the process of saving up for a new bow, once I get that it will be perfect :)
After your videos I feel so lucky there's a violin luthier who also sells violins literally 30 seconds walk from my house 😂
Micky Daly epic, there goes your wallet :P
Hi. I was interisted in playing a violin and found your channel. So I bought me a Stentor 2. Its a really good violin for that money. I changed the strings to Thomastik Red, changed the, for me, horrible chin rest to a Wittner, bought a Kun shoulderrest, because my more skinny shoulder hurts a lot without that. At last I changed the weak bow to another wooden bow from Dorfler and for now Im happy with that set. Maybe I will buy a more expensive one later, but what you get for the money and with some personal updates for the Stentor 2 is a lot and will be enough for several years or maybe completely for amateur use. Thank you for your Videos. Its a big help for me.
True. But what do you play to try a violin? I'd say the following: You may play a piece you know. But play scales as well: Go from the G-string to the E-string in first position and then as high up into position as you are capable of. Listen to the sound at high and low and middle pitches. Listen especially to the D-string; it tends to be the weakest sounding of the four, especially in higher positions. Then try piano, mezzoforte, forte, listen to each level how the violin sounds, try how loud you can play and how soft a piano you can achieve. Finally try some different bowings. And if you are confident enough play some double stops and listen to them. The idea is to try the instrument in as many situations as possible to get an overall impression. And don't feel rushed; take your time with every violin you try out. If you don't truly like any of the ones the dealer has go to another dealer and try more. For most of us amateurs this is going to be the violin for life. Take the decision seriously.
Good violin makers let you sometimes take an instrument or two or three home for a day or two. Take advantage of that; you can then play the violin for a longer time with no salesperson waiting for you to be done, maybe do some actual practicing on it. Ideally you make the decision between the finalists in this way.
I am the proud owner of an antique German mittenwald violin on the quite expensive side with a wonderfully dark, rich, viola/cello-like sound. I say the same thing that you say about your violin, most world class violinists would say they hate it but I absolutely love it, otherwise I wouldn't have spent loads of money on it!
Thank you Maam Alison. Finally I found a video that helped me a lot. I'm looking for a violin right now and this video gave me an idea. Thank you:)
I have looked for balance. That is good on the high end and good on the low end. Some are great one way but not the other.
After your video of the Stentor 2 and watching the Stentor Factory video, I purchased one. I love it. It is much smother and less scratchy. I did upgrade the strings to Dominant. Thank you
You're welcome :)
I like to think of it as if a singer had the opportunity to purchase which voice they can sing with, in a way.
They will still be singing the same songs and notes, but each voice will sound unique and many different ones can still sounds great.
:-)
Grr always out of focus. But really good advice. Thanks!
You're not wrong about the Stentor 2. The old ones are particularly good .
We have a great luthier nearby; I need to see him (and not just hog all the violins for hours in his shop). I've done what I can with my violins and need an upgrade. My childhood factory one took me through all my grades as a child and then I found a turn of the century (circa 1910) German student violin in a charity shop, but it needs restoring, so I'm not getting the best out of it. Many, many years later, I really need a violin that matches my skills! Gosh that sounds pompous and I don't mean it that way. Also, it needs to match my pocket ha.
This may be the case in other Countries also, but in the US Shar and maybe others will send instruments out for a trial period.
Would a Ming Jiang Zhu that costs 3000 dollars worth at least 4000 dollars in 100 years?
Hi I play cello and would like to start playing the violin, what violin would you recommend for someone with 4+ years of experience with stringed instruments who hasn't played violin before
Oops, I just bought my D Z Strad 120 violin off Amazon without checking it out. I lucked out though and like how it sounds but when I went to buy a tuner and some music books I brought my violin to check out the tuners and the guy at the shop didn’t even know the brand. 🙃
Never buy a Stentor. I bought one when I began. I took good care of it as I played guitar for 25 years. I properly humidified it and adjusted it. One day I was tuning it and the neck lifted right out of the body. I had to throw it in the trash.
How about Ming Jiang Zhu violin. Ming Jiang Zhu is a gold medalist in vsa that's the violin society of America. Have you had the chance to play one?
Thanks Alison; whats the difference between a quid and a pound?
Nothing - they are the same like a dollar and a buck
Thank you my lovely!! Have a great weekend!!
1cleandude a
Hello! thank you for making videos like this! :-D btw May I ask, have you heard of suzuki nagoya violin no.1 1969? how do you you rate it?
Antreidez Kneves Sorry, never heard of it. There are literally hundreds of violin brands out there.
Generally speaking, how expensive must a violin be in order to be considered above a student violin? :) Is it around 300+ dollars, or above 1,000, generally?
I totally understand, today i posted my italian paganini master copy violin for sale and and indian told me it sounds like a 30 dollar violin 🙂 didnt know what to reply to that. I said well, thanks.
Apparently my Doetsch is worth a nice chunk of change. 😏 Too bad I would never sell it. Should tune it up & start playing it again. 🤗
You recommend the Stentor 2 here, but also are very positive about the Forenza Prima in your review Forenza PRIMA Violin Review, saying it's as good yet cheaper. In an ideal world which of the two would you go for?
Hi Alison. I'm on South Africa for a work contract. Apart from Internet shopping the music shops hold little range of violins. I am in the UK soon and wonder if you could recommend a good shop where I can try out a good range of violins in London?
There is a violin that I like and its old, used, with scratches and chipped pieces but has an amazing reasonance. Should I pick a newer one?
Its not about looks but about sound, tone and how it plays.
Where is the Stentor 2 made
In a factory
What kind is your violin?
I believe (based on what she said in other videos), she plays an unknown maker antique German mittenwald violin. Funny enough, I do too.
Thx for this helpful vid!
If you don't mind me asking, how much did you spend on your violin?
I think she spent 15k on her personal violin
So happy. Getting a NEW VIOLIN NEXT WEEK!!!!! Starting violin level 7.
I mean doing level 7
Dude that's awesome congrats
You should also mention that there are different violins for different uses. I have two myself. One for orchestral work and one for solo work. One is worth about 2-$3000 and the other is $25,000 plus. I believe that for children starting out $400 -$600 should be just about right.
My violin has a crack along the “border” of the top of the violin. It is in the black lines that border the body. Should I fix that?
I was given a cecilio cvn200 for Christmas from my children and have been taking lessons. I am thinking about moving up in quality and was wondering if you have an opinion on the Stentor messina violin.
i like more of a deeper darker sounding of a violin .... do you know a brand i can try and so i can get a start of what to look for of that sounding of a violin?
+jasmine hill Not unless you are willing to spend upwards of $800 ish. You 'can' get some cheaper students violins that might sound deep and dark, but not really as they are cheap and therefore dont really have any particular sort of tone to them. If they did, then I wouldnt bother to have an expensive one as I would just buy a $100 one that sounded nice. Sadly, it doesnt really work like that.
MakeupLover 3Thousand Get one from somebody's attick. I have been quite lucky there. You get them cheap and they do need some work but you will be done for 500 max including the luthier and there just might be a wonderful sound in the instrument. Just beware of cracks. Do not buy one with cracks.
I was at an estate sale and bought a violin for 80 dollars with the name Taurus on the label. How does one know the value of a violin ? they're all made in factories in china, just factories affix the labels according to the music company their supplying.
You need to go to a professional who knows about violins.
Hi! I'm an intermediate violin player and I want to buy a new violin. I'm planning on dedicating my life to it since I love music. Which violin would you recommend? Thanks :)
I would recomemd you go to a violin luthier who repairs, restores and sells all types of violin. Do NOT go to a shop that wants to flog your their branded violin as you will end up with a run of the mill standard violin.
Hello! I really love your videos and I've watched many of them.I want to buy a violin(I've been playing the piano for 3 years but I want to try it),and since I'm a total beginner,I will buy one under 100£...I want to buy the ANTONI Debut OCV-30,mostly because it's affordable and because I've read good reviews.I want to know if I should buy this one or something else.Please keep in mind that I live in Greece so,buying from Amazon is kinda hard...Thanks for your time
Ulti- gamer Alex Im afraid i have never heard of the Antoni Debut violin. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of violin brands out there Sorry.
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor Np,but could you suggest me a medium one? I can give 200 the most
Ulti- gamer Alex if you look under any of my violin videos, there are links to all the violins i recommend plus a playlist with links to all the video reviews.
Hello Alison, I would like your opinion about Giovan Paolo Maggini violin copy 1910’s made in Germany.
Thank you
I have absolutely no idea. I would have to play it to see what it sounds like.
hi ma'am,
I desperately want to learn to play violin but I can't start unless I buy one , and ,I want to buy a one which I can play for a very long term...its not for a professional profession but just for a hobby ..itll be great if you help me out on what to look for and which ones to buy .. thank-you
You cant go wrong with either the Cecilio CVN300 or Stentor II as a starter violin
Hi. I was wondering if a cheaper violin sounded better than an expensive violin, which one is a better choice? I am upgrading my violin and i found two that are very similar but one about 500 dollars more expensive.
A cheaper violin will never sound better than a more expensive one - that goes for anything in life.
Dont forget that you will have a better set up with the more expensive one.
Hello! I love your videos! I'm thinking of buying a pricier viola. I currently live in Japan, but am going to visit the States for two weeks in a couple of weeks. I can for sure get a viola for much cheaper (I'm talking 800 dollar price difference) in the States than I can in the Japan. It's the same model that I tried in Japan, it's just I'd be buying it in the States from the US dealer. Would you say that this is a bad idea? Also, they have a 1 week trial period. Thanks in advance, and God bless :)
Honestly, I know nothing about violas as I have never played one, so it would be highly unprofessional for me to offer any sort of opinion on something I know nothing about. Sorry.
Please Respond! I'm getting a violin for christmas but I need to choose the one I want. My mom said to give her different options. Can you please recommend some from $400-$1500. Maybe like 2 higher end ones and 2 or three like $500-$800. Please and thank you!
Its hard for me to actually pick just one violin or a few as it totally depends, but this below might help. Its the info thats under all my violin videos.
The advanced violins are not necessarily for advanced players - they are for anyone who wants a decent violin to start with without having to upgrade for years:
MY TOP 2 VIOLINS FOR COMPLETE BEGINNERS. YOU WON'T GO FAR WRONG WITH EITHER OF THESE:
1. Stentor II (1500): goo.gl/FCa2b
Stentor II (1500) violin review: bit.ly/2d8hadr
2. Cecilio CVN 300: goo.gl/viikfN
Cecilio CVN 300 video Review: bit.ly/2dp02Oo
MENDINI MV RANGE - REALLY GOOD BUT CHEAP STARTER VIOLINS:
Mendini MV 200: goo.gl/Uk08SA
Mendini MV 200 video Review: bit.ly/2dhTV2j
Mendini MV 300: goo.gl/ERfYhF
Mendini MV 300 video Review: bit.ly/2drtINu
Mendini MV 400: goo.gl/UhSn7f
Mendini MV 400 video Review: bit.ly/2cZ3EGL
Mendini MV 500: goo.gl/q6ZE3N
Mendini MV 500 video Review: bit.ly/2cPHGa9
CECILIO CVN RANGE FOR BEGINNERS:
Cecilio CVN 100: goo.gl/ZfH0Xv
Cecilio CVN 100 video Review: bit.ly/2csh6kc
Cecilio CVN 200: goo.gl/uDc4ZX
Cecilio CVN 200 video Review: bit.ly/2cYO9jL
Cecilio CVN 300: goo.gl/viikfN
Cecilio CVN 300 video Review: bit.ly/2dp02Oo
FOR THE INTERMEDIATE PLAYER:
Cecilio CVN 400: goo.gl/MzM7Kh (this is discontinued now).
Cecilio CVN 500: goo.gl/K0f2tx
Cecilio CVN 500 video Review: bit.ly/2dhtZze
FOR THE MORE ADVANCED PLAYER:
Cecilio CVN 600: goo.gl/gpt71v
Cecilio CVN 600 video Review: bit.ly/2dhsUaV
Cecilio CVN 700: goo.gl/c9OXpU
Cecilio CVN 700 video Review: bit.ly/2cUt78p
Cecilio CVN 800 - This one is excellent & top of the line, but I can't find a link.
Cecilio CVN 800 video Review: bit.ly/2cZ4qDN
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor How would you say the CVN 700 compares to CVN 800? I know you did a video on it but is the CVN 700 worth it for $500 or should I just jump straight to the CVN 800? Also thank you so much for replying!
I would be lying if I said I could remember as I reviewed them years ago now. The 800 IS better though.
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor Okay thank you so much!
hi Ma'am, i am from Pakistan there is no shop to buy violin but i find out the old violin this design by Italy and made Germany in 1965 and size is 3/4 . My age is 20 year tell me if i change the string with Pirastro string then this size is suitable for me as beginner.what's your opinion can i buy this violin.
As an adult, a 3/4 violin will be too small for you as you will need a 4/4 size violin.
Have you tried the Ricard Bunnel G2? Is that a good quality violin? If not, can others give me a description for it?
Hey, I am about to upgrade my violin to Scott Cao STV500. Do you think it is good to go? Can you give some review? Thank you
I have not tried a Scott Cao violin so I couldn’t comment. Sorry
Wow really fast respond. Thank you! ❤ I've been using my acoustic violin for almost 8 years and now my acoustic violin sounds like a silent violin hahahaha my teacher ask me to upgrade my violin. I am going to look for another review before testing and buying my violin. Thanks! ❤
I don't have a specific model, but would you recommend a Karl Knilling violin made in Germany over a Stentor II?
I have never played a Karl Knilling, so I cant help. Sorry.
If one must use peg drops periodically does that mean the violin is really worn over time or was it poorly made so that the fit-up of peg and hole is not what it could be?
Poorly made yes, but thats the nature of cheap student violins which is who//what my channel aims at. If folks dont want to use peg drops, then they need to invest in a violin that costs thousands of dollars, thus defeating the object. My violin doesnt need peg drops or anythin, in fact i have no tuners and only tune my violin using the pegs, but then my violin did cost in the thousands.
I bought a $300 (worth about $3000) which is a copy of a Josef Guarneri on eBay. I love it. I have changed the chin rest, tailpiece, bridge, and the strings. I can't believe I got the violin for the money.
Was it a Yitamusic violin?
hi Alison, I have recently got an old violin. it produces quite scratchy sound, though I like the tone of it. It came with a set of strings, I wonder if it's something to string or the violin itself. Do you think changing the string will help me get rid of this scratchy sound. Will changing string change the tone as well?..
Scratchy noises usually have nothing to do with the violin or the strings, although there is a small possibility they might. For how long have you been playing the violin?
hey guys? I see violins w 5 - 7 strings. What violin would be considered professional and would play the best music? sorry, the many strings have me stumped. Does this mean there are more chords to play in sheet music? :o just lost a bit.
More than 4 strings just means the violin sort of becomes a viola too. So you will have strings lower than the original 4 and many higher (above the E) if you go up to 7.
I personally dont see the point as I play violin music, so nothing is written lower than the lowest note I can get on a 4 string violin and if I need to go higher, I go into a higher position on the E string.
Personally, for me, they are totally pointless.
Its up to you, but I would say they are definitely for the more advanced player.
Have you tried gliga violins? I'm looking to purchase the maestro which has a very hefty price tag but I've read many positive reviews on it. I wonder if you can out your 2 cents if you've ever tried their violins. Thanks☺️
MsPolkaDotz No, i havnt im afraid. Sorry.
+MsPolkaDotz I recently purchased a beautiful Gliga Gama violin on ebay from Gliga USA. I love it. I watched videos of Gligas on Whitehorse music from Austrailia, and some others. I love the deep rich sound of these violins. I also ordered a case and had them change the tailpiece to one with four fine tuners. Cost under $800 for all. I'm very happy with it. I'm also thinking about getting a Gliga Gama viola. I'm sure I'll end up getting a Maestro in the future.
+Julie Nielsen hey Julie, yes you're quite right about the rich warm tone of the gliga violins. I purchased a maestro and couldn't be happier. I thought it was such a high risk to purchase a violin from US but it turns out they are beautifully made and well worth every penny. Are you a beginner too?
I've been taking lessons for about a year now. I'm 56. I never thought I'd want to learn to play the violin, but I started to take fiddle lessons. I also play the mandolin which is tuned the same as the violin. It's much easier for me to learn the songs on the mandolin first, then play them on the violin.
+Julie Nielsen that's wonderful. I truly believe that if you're passionate about something age is nothing but a number. I will soon be posting my progress on my channel so I hope you keep in touch. I too am a beginner (about 7 months into learning this beautiful instrument). I hope I can see a video of you playing in the future. I'm not sure if you post videos here. But it would be nice to see your progress too😊
what do you think about Primavera violins?
+Paradisaea apoda My students have had them in the past but Stentors or Forenzas are a better choice.
Help! i broke my old violin (3/4) im 16 now. should i buy worth less $400 violin. and my mom said it will be the last violin she'll going to buy.
Sorry do you mean you will by a violin less than $400? Depends what you plan to do with the violin. If it’s just for fun then you don’t need to spend a lot, but then again, if you buy rubbish you will never progress and develop a good sound. Under any violin video I have video reviews and recommendations.
Hi ! I am looking to buy my 1st violin with a budget of up to 400-500 pounds. Should I limit myself to a cheaper student violin like Stentor student 2 or is it ok to directly buy an advanced violin ?
I would prefer not to upgrade for next few years hence would prefer to directly buy a better quality violin. I am thinking of buying something like Stentor Elysia/1875.
I would spend the most you can afford: buy cheap, buy twice....as they say!
You won’t get annoyed with it or hinder your learning because of an inferior instrument and you won’t have to bother upgrading in 6 months time either. A Stentor it good; conservatoire perhaps. I have not heard about the other one.
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor ok, thank you.
What's the name of your violin and what year was it made?
It was made in the 18th Century.
as far as not buying blind, where i am, i have no choice but then again, i also like building violins so either way, not a huge issue. i just bring it up mainly for those who dont have the option of testing out a violin.
Will you be making vids for Yamaha violins?
If Yamaha send me some to review.
lol
what about the bow? In my research on finding a quality violin to begin lessons with I've noticed that the price for bows vary greatly from $10 to $6000. As a guitarist of 32 yrs I'm used to instrument tone having a direct correlation with price however guitar picks are all pretty much the same so the bow prices have me perplexed. Thanks for any response in advance. :)
the bow is a different matter entirely. If you have a nice expensive violin, then you need a bow to go with it or its pointless. If you have a cheaper violin, then a nice bow will make a difference, but only so much. I use my expensive bow on the cheaper violin reviews as its there already with rosin on and i like it.
I cant and i dont really advise on bows as they are SUPER personal its likely that what i like, you will hate etc. The only golden piece of advice i can give is, go and see a man who sells bows, tell him your budget then try out and pick one you like the feel and weight of.
Thank you for the reply. Just to make sure I understand correctly, the bow affects tone slightly but the major difference between bows is the material from which they are made and personal taste. Hopefully I got it right. -joe
joejfromatown yes. More importantly for me its the weight and feel. I know that if i spend a few hundred dollars/pounds the quality will be there already so i can just concentrate on the feel and the weight - that why i cant recommend bows as weight is so important that what i think is the perfect weight, someone else wont. I can recommend violins, as one is going on the sound, but when it comes to bows, the feel and weight are so personal and unique, that its impossible to recommend.
what is the name of your violin?
Hi , I'm confused because in one article you say the Stentor11 is the best in the $200 range , and in another you reply to a comment that "it doesn't even come close" to the similarly priced Cecilio CVN500 , and on this thread somebody suggests that you like the Forenza Prima .
I have to buy a violin in the $200 range for a young girl who is devastated because she'd spend her last penny on a EBay cheaoi that turned out to be plastic not wood and is now useless , and I dont have a clue , can you tell me what you would buy if you were in my place?
waldipup Ok, so to clear it up, the CVN300 is about the same as the Stentor II as is the Prima. The CVN500 is an intermediate violin and a good upgrade.
I dont really see them in terms of price as they are all priced differently since the CVNs are USA and Stentors/Forenzas etc are UK.
The prices do change all the time so I will just tell you what I think:
The CVN300 or Stentor II are the same and good as a good starter violin for a beginner who wants something decent to start with and not sound like a dying whale lol. The CVN500 is awesome and will keep you going for a really long time before needing to change, unless you want too. The CVN600 will be even better, but I cant remember the price of that off the top of my head....
Hope that helps.
hi alison. im totally agree with you to dont bye any think blind. but in my case as i want a left handed violin in a professional level its impossible to get it ready in a shop and all of the companies in which i have communicated with them they told that they most get the order to make a violin in left handed order and the money wont be refundable as they cant get a left handed costumer so what do you suggest me to do ?
Yasin Akbari I honestly dont know. I have never looked into buying a left handed violin. Sorry.
Hi there I'm left handed I play guitar left handed so when it came to learning to play the violin I check everywhere and there was like on company that made a left handed one and it was cheap i mean real cheap £189. So I decided just to learn to play right handed and to be honest it didn't feel weird compared to playing a right handed guitar. The only thing I find hard about playing right hand is loosening up the wrist for bowing. When bowing your wrist needs relaxed and loose the moments in the arm and wrist need to act like a Mexican wave pardon the expression. But as far as getting a left handed violin I'd say play right handed you'll be surprised how natural it feels
Hi Ma'am, whats your opinion on Yamaha violin V5 made in China? Thoughts?
I have not played it - sorry.
So you don't recommend buying a violin online above beginner quality?
Depends on how far above beginner you mean? You can get a good intermediate one online from researching and watching reviews and demos.
I would not spend above £1,000 or $1,300 ish just by watching a video.
Thanks for the advice.
sorry for the disturb ma,am alison im from the philippine and im a begginner.Should i buy strandivarius violin the matte or strandivarius violin the strauss
I have never heard of those im afraid.
How expensive your violin was?
Allison how much are your online lessons I'd like to try them out
My videos are free to watch and you just buy the books - exactly as you would when learning anything.
You can buy my books individually, or as bundles which save you money.
You can buy my books from my online shop here: www.amsmusicshop.com or if you head to the lesson videos, there are links to the books I’m using under the videos.
How much is your number 1 violin Alison ? just to get an idea of the price of a high end product.
15k and upwards - at LEAST.
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor dammmmmmmn, that's slightly out of my price range ;-) I'm surprised you let your students near it!
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor OMG!! That's the price of a small car.
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor Holy smoke! Pounds or U.S. dollars?
What price range is that violin (your personal one you are showing) you have in? And is it a mass produced thing or is it a vintage Italian made with a maker label in it?
I have a difficulty trying to understand what you mean by "expensive" as the price ranges you are mentioning is basically a pinch above the flippo-jippo models. Based off the videos title, I thought you were offering advice for $50,000 - $100,000 violin purchases.
My violin is an antique violin from about the 1800s. I have had it valued by Amati here in the UK and we dont know much about its except its a German Mittenwald violin, but dont know the maker. It is worth 5 figures.
My channel is aimed at beginners so I wouldnt be talking about anything as expensive as 50-100k!
Anyone looking to purchase a violin 50k and upwards would certainly not be turning to a youtube channel for help and guidance.
I mean expensive as far as something a self/home learner would consider expensive and within their budget and capability.
I enjoy your channel. Not been here in a while tho. I'm that "anyone" that is looking at 50K violins.....as a noob.....for investment/enjoyment......with 32 years exp. on guitar! I was lost as to your price range because you used the word "expensive".....so I thought "here we go!".....just what I was looking for!
All that really matters (to your inner self, the player in you) is that the Mittenwald you got allows room for you to express yourself, create, and hopefully grow into the into the instrument. It's always good to have a little more instrument "on tap" than you need. This way you don't feel limited.
Thanks for a little input about your axe.....um, I mean violin!
Somebody please help me...
I have been playing a Yahama SV250 for the last year... I want to buy an acoustic violin, but I am a beginner and am not capable of discerning between violins since I generally don't make very good sound. That being said, I have a pretty big budget for a violin (up to $2000). I don't like to buy lower quality items and then upgrade later - would rather just have a great product and keep it forever. Since I don't know anyone that plays violin - how should I go about buying? I suppose I could get store staff to play them for me - has anyone experience with this experience?
ua-cam.com/video/rMXALA9tmzw/v-deo.html
What's some great vintage model of a violin? What brand ?
Im not sure what you mean by 'vintage'? Do you mean antique? You have to go to a violin dealer/luthier/auction house for those.
JFNQUEEN
what does scratch mean. Is it the hissing sound when you play the high registers?
***** you might get scratch when you hit other strings or press too hard on the strings etc
That is not what I mean. This is my question when you play high up the figure board especially on the e or a string do you hear a whispering sound or is that on cheaper violins?
I wish I have enough money to buy one so that I will be much better in learning the violin from it than my present violin which is very cheap. By the way, thanks for this video. Very helpful and informative :)
So we should not buy from Fiddlerman?
Who said that??
@@TheOnlineViolinTutor In this video you said we should not buy a 500+ dollar violin before we try it. I made a mistake of not including the value floor in my original remark.
should I get a violin that is $1,800? its a violin with an amazing tone over 100 years old and everyone, including professionals, say its a very good violin! I NEED your help! its very pricy should I get it?!!
adrian fernandez Its totally up to you. If i could personally play the violin, I would be able to give you an opinion, but since I cant, I cant advise. I would advise never buying blind (without trying it out for yourself) so I would never advise blind. Sorry, im the wrong person to ask in this case.
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor ok thank you so much. i think i wont buy it because its way to pricy for me
Around what price range is a student quality violin? My current Violin is around 80 Dollars (3k-4k Php) And I was thinking about upgrading to a 400-500 Dollar Violin (18k-25k Php) so I was thinking if this upgrade is a waste.
Edit: There's a big chance I would to upgrade from my student quality violin and with it, I am also wanting to buy some accessories like the BonMusica SR, Pirastro Tonica Strings, and Artino Practice Mute. Please give me recommendations if you think it's a good deal or just a waste. (Sorry for the bad english, I'm from the Philippines) and I won't also be buying blind
4-500 dollars is a good upgrade. Not the best, but a 100 times better than your 80dollar one!
You wont go far wrong with Pirastro Tonicas and a goof French rosin. Any practise mute really...
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor I actually found it weird because here in the Philippines, everything is so cheap. Not the quality, but the cost. The 500 Dollar (25k Php) Violin was said to be appraised in michigan for 2000 Dollars. I immediately thought "What if it is actually true""But it can't be" (we don't use dollars as currency)
this is true. . not many people know some violins thats being sold many thousands of dollars in US are made in the philippines. . and just being sold around 20k php locally.
What do you think of the Yamaha v3?
I have never played it, so I cant comment on it - sorry
Hi Alison. Have you tried Hoefner H11E? How do you find it? Greetings from Poland
Michał Jędrzejski Never heard of it im afraid. there are literally hundreds and hundreds of brands out there.
Yes I have heard of that violin. It's a great violin honestly saying and it has a good tone quality , especially the e and the g strings . But, have to say it's indeed an expensive violi! Anyway, for info, one of the youtubers ( I'm not sure you've heard of him) , Daniel jang uses this violin.
Does the kind of strings makes a difference on a sentor 2 violin?
Yes. I think if you replaced the factory ones with Pirastro Tonicas, you will get a brighter, cleaner and clearer sound and the obw will not have to work as hard on the strings.
Hello. Do you know a decent violin or a price range that could take me through grade 7 and 8 exams
+Lynn Little You need to be going to a violin dealer/luthier and try out a whole bunch. There isnt anything i can 'recommend' as such because at this level, you need to be trying out as many as you can to find the right one (sound/tone) for you. I would say - assuming you are in the UK, you need to be looking at around the £1,000. Anything less wont really do it for those higher grades. Think of grade 7/8 as your semi professional level before you go on to study further with diplomas etc. So less then £1,000 probably wont be good enough to get that clarity of tone and professional sound.
+The Online Piano and Violin Tutor Okay. just one more question. Is there a good violin to bow ratio ??
+Lynn Little Whatever you like. Some people spend 3/4 times more on their bow as they do on their violin. The only think i will say is that there is no point whatsoever having a kick-ass violin and a rubbish bow!
+Lynn Little I recently went through the process of purchasing a new violin and bow and I was recommended by several people to spend about 1/3 to 1/2 of the cost of the violin on the bow. The bow really does make a huge difference in the overall quality of your sound.
Hi Allison, I have a Stentor II violin and I was just wondering when I want to get a more professional one, where do I get it from, because I know it's really hard to find antique violins (I live in Scotland btw if that helps in any way), so I would like to know (if you can answer) where did you get yours from? I know this is a bit of a stupid question, but if you could tell me (if u can) then maybe the shop you got it from has a branch in Scotland somewhere. If you could that would be really appreciated! Or even where I can get professional violins from that would be really helpful. However I do realize you could have gotten the violin from family members, or friends, etc but if you could answer this I would appreciate it. Thank you so much in advance :)
+Camila Fernandes (The pianist xx) Where in Scotland do you live?
+Camila Fernandes (The pianist xx) I can recommend stringers of Edinburgh.
+Camila Fernandes (The pianist xx) I've also heard the Violin Shop in Glasgow is very good too.
Ok thank you :)
Alison what violin do you have
Its a circ 1850 Mittenwald antique violin.
Would a Mindini 4/4 MV violín be good?
Pkmumbreon which one?
Oh Never mind I just decided to get a Stentor II
I went to a famous luthier here in New York City and I spent 4,000 dollars on my violin because it was the one I like it’s very true what she said you might not know what you like but you know what you don’t like 👍
Do antique violins generally sound better than newer ones? I am upgrading my violin soon. Another question, do you have a video or tips on learning to play fast on the violin?
generally because of the wood of the day used. Yes i have one or two on my channel.
Is 500$ expensive?
wupeide Not really. It will get you a nice student violin, possibly intermediate, but at the low end of intermediate. You will need/want to upgrade later.
Thanks - that's what I thought. I was wondering. Chinese violins have completely altered the market, but I didn't think they'd be that cheap.
Hi allison,i am an adult beginner and i am looking for a violin that suits me.i love an antique violin.wht do u think the antique violin for me an adult beginner? Thx
I think it’s fine if you have the budget for it.
Why violins are so expensive 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Maybe you should play on their cheap violin to test for scratch, instead of them playing yours?
I do, but i also know my students - very well as i taught them which is why they test mine. Plus i know what violin they already have.
Hi I found two violins, one that is scratched up and is really old which is a hoffler while the newer one which is cheaper is a heftler. Thee luthier says the heffler will warm up and sound as good as the hoffler. The hoffler currently has a better resonance right now. Should I pick the one that everyone says has more potential or the one where sounds better currently? Thank you
Honestly I dont know as I dont know what they feel like to play or sound like - having said that, i would choose the one that I liked the sound, tone and feel of.