Choosing a Violin
All violins are different. Price, make, origin, and age of an instrument are not reliable indicators of its quality for a player.
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As players, all that matters to us is the sound, playability, and condition of the violin. What usually sets the great luthiers apart from other violinmakers are the consistency in quality and workmanship.
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We highly recommending trying as many violins as you can in blind tests. Trying out violins above and below your budget from different shops and players will tell you what qualities you would want in you ideal violin.
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Things to look out for
Response: How quickly and easy the violin reacts to different bow strokes, sounding points, vibrato, etc.
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Power: Deepness and brilliance in sound.
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Projection: How far the sound can travel from the violin for example in a concert hall.
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Clarity: Are notes muddy or crystal clear?
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Condition: Rating based on presence of scratches, cracks, etc.
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Tone: How pleasing a violin is to the ear, its timber, and variety of colors that can be produces.
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Balance: Balance in volume across the four strings.
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Versatility: The suitability for playing music if different genres or from different periods.
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These attributes serve as a guideline, and are not definitive. Ultimately, your own judgement trumps everything.
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Understanding the limits of violins
No violin is perfect, not even those made by Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati, etc., who are regarded by many as the best violin makers that ever lived. Strads, for example, have a sweet tone in the A and E strings, but a common complaint about them is the lack of bass.
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No violin is perfect!
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Trade-offs
Depending on your use, you may prefer some qualities over another, or can trade off some qualities in one area for another quality. Sometimes traditionally 'good' qualities can be undesirable even.
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A soloist, for example, may not care as much about being able to produce a sound that can blend in, as they need to stick out from the orchestra they're playing with. A quartet player or orchestral musician need to blend in with their colleagues to produce a beautiful collective sound. They will have different definitions of the best violin.
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Soloists can also trade 'ease of playing' for more power, better tone, etc. as they play for a very short duration during a performance compared to orchestral musicians who often play throughout the entire concert.
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People who perform and/or record in small chambers may prefer violins that don't project too far, as the acoustics of such rooms affect how a violin sounds. They will focus mainly on tone, and almost completely disregard projection as they search for a violin.
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Other Considerations
Type of sound:
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How do you want to sound. Do you prefer a nasal sound, which is a common characteristic of French violins for example.
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What is the sound you want to produce? For example, if you prefer a nasal sound, you may want to look at French violins, which tends to produce this type of sound.
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Ergonomics, Ease of Playing, and Playing Style
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Many consider this to be the single most important thing in choosing a violin. A violin that fits your body will allow you to play and learn comfortably​, which is the first step towards developing good technique and tone.
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Everyone plays differently, regardless of their of skill level. You might prefer to use more bow speed verses bow weight, for example. The balance between bow speed and weight makes a substantial difference in sound quality you produce.
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A violin that sounds good in someone else's hands, but not yours, is not a good violin.
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Aesthetics
Some people have certain preferences towards the color of their violin, with many players regarding orange and red as 'better' colors. The workmanship of the violin also demonstrates how well the maker is with his tools and in many instances the quality of the violin, but it is mainly related to the resale value.
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Resale Value
Some violins appreciate, some depreciate, some never change in value. Usually the more valuable the violin, the more likely it appreciates, or at least retains value. The value of a violin is determined by its origin, looks, and age, more than how it sounds, however.
Violins that come with official certificates and/or appraisal from reputable soures usually command higher prices and are usually easier to sell.
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Clout
Violin students have been raised and taught by the notion that a violin made in Cremona is superior to other violins. Many top violin makers, past and present, have their workshops in Cremona, but the origin of a violin does not guarantee of its quality.
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One thing's for sure, you get bragging rights if you play on a Cremonese violin :D