Comments on: 5 Things To Consider When Buying Your First Violin: the Violin Maker, the Wood, the Varnish, the Violin Size, and the Price http://www.violinsonly.info/5-things-to-consider-when-buying-your-first-violin-the-violin-maker-the-wood-the-varnish-the-violin-size-and-the-price This blog is dedicated to violins, violin makers, violin players, and all violin enthusiasts. Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:50:18 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: littleviolin http://www.violinsonly.info/5-things-to-consider-when-buying-your-first-violin-the-violin-maker-the-wood-the-varnish-the-violin-size-and-the-price/comment-page-1#comment-478 littleviolin Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:52:56 +0000 http://www.violinsonly.info/?p=57#comment-478 hi, my violin is a Ezabel one made in belgium. are belgium made violins good? and my E-string is gold. are they any different from the normal ones? thanks hi,

my violin is a Ezabel one made in belgium. are belgium made violins good? and my E-string is gold. are they any different from the normal ones?

thanks

]]> By: littleviolin http://www.violinsonly.info/5-things-to-consider-when-buying-your-first-violin-the-violin-maker-the-wood-the-varnish-the-violin-size-and-the-price/comment-page-1#comment-477 littleviolin Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:50:07 +0000 http://www.violinsonly.info/?p=57#comment-477 hi dove, yes, $100 to $200 violins are worth the money for a beginner violin. it would have to be a really good deal if you found one under $100. hi dove,

yes, $100 to $200 violins are worth the money for a beginner violin. it would have to be a really good deal if you found one under $100.

]]> By: Dove http://www.violinsonly.info/5-things-to-consider-when-buying-your-first-violin-the-violin-maker-the-wood-the-varnish-the-violin-size-and-the-price/comment-page-1#comment-72 Dove Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:28:17 +0000 http://www.violinsonly.info/?p=57#comment-72 Hi--I am considering purchasing a violin for my daughter who will be a beginner student. Several violins show up on craigslist in the 100-200$ price range. Are these generally worth the money for a beginner? Hi–I am considering purchasing a violin for my daughter who will be a beginner student. Several violins show up on craigslist in the 100-200$ price range. Are these generally worth the money for a beginner?

]]> By: camelia13 http://www.violinsonly.info/5-things-to-consider-when-buying-your-first-violin-the-violin-maker-the-wood-the-varnish-the-violin-size-and-the-price/comment-page-1#comment-39 camelia13 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:09:27 +0000 http://www.violinsonly.info/?p=57#comment-39 Scott, the sound of a violin is something that we get to indirectly when buying a violin online. We can't hear a violin's sound on the Internet, but we can separate a certain brand from the others by approaching the subject from the distance. The sound of a violin is the effect of many causes and, as the things go with everything else, by analyzing the causes, we can predict the effect. The maker, the wood, and the varnish are all elements that have a lot to do with the sound of a violin and they will give us guidance in our selection process. A violin maker who's been in this business for a long time and that follows a tradition in violin making can give us more confidence that he knows what he is doing as opposed to a novice who is learning now how to apply the varnish. Also, the fact that a violin maker has been survived these taught economic times, with so much competition out there, gives us an idea about the quality of his violins. The source of the wood is very important. In the kitchen, the better the ingredients, the better the food (given that those ingredients end up on knowledgeable hands, of course). The same with the violins. A piece of wood that does not resonate, will never produce a good violin, no matter who builds that violin. Well, I need to get going and cannot elaborate more on this topic, but I just want to add that sound is a very sensitive subject and unless you have a few violins on hand to compare them side by side, there is no other way to make a decision, but analyze all indirect factors that contribute to a good sound. The maker's reputation is probably a good thing to start with. Clients' testimonials are a gold mine when researching for information about the sound of the violins of a particular violin maker. Scott, the sound of a violin is something that we get to indirectly when buying a violin online. We can’t hear a violin’s sound on the Internet, but we can separate a certain brand from the others by approaching the subject from the distance. The sound of a violin is the effect of many causes and, as the things go with everything else, by analyzing the causes, we can predict the effect. The maker, the wood, and the varnish are all elements that have a lot to do with the sound of a violin and they will give us guidance in our selection process. A violin maker who’s been in this business for a long time and that follows a tradition in violin making can give us more confidence that he knows what he is doing as opposed to a novice who is learning now how to apply the varnish. Also, the fact that a violin maker has been survived these taught economic times, with so much competition out there, gives us an idea about the quality of his violins. The source of the wood is very important. In the kitchen, the better the ingredients, the better the food (given that those ingredients end up on knowledgeable hands, of course). The same with the violins. A piece of wood that does not resonate, will never produce a good violin, no matter who builds that violin. Well, I need to get going and cannot elaborate more on this topic, but I just want to add that sound is a very sensitive subject and unless you have a few violins on hand to compare them side by side, there is no other way to make a decision, but analyze all indirect factors that contribute to a good sound. The maker’s reputation is probably a good thing to start with. Clients’ testimonials are a gold mine when researching for information about the sound of the violins of a particular violin maker.

]]> By: Scott http://www.violinsonly.info/5-things-to-consider-when-buying-your-first-violin-the-violin-maker-the-wood-the-varnish-the-violin-size-and-the-price/comment-page-1#comment-38 Scott Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:50:19 +0000 http://www.violinsonly.info/?p=57#comment-38 Hello, I have read your article and found it very useful. Thank you for putting so much time into writing something that is actually worth reading. But there is something that you did not stress enough: the sound. Isn't the sound at all important when deciding which violin to buy? In my opinion the sound is all that matters, isn't it? Regards, Scott Hello,

I have read your article and found it very useful. Thank you for putting so much time into writing something that is actually worth reading. But there is something that you did not stress enough: the sound. Isn’t the sound at all important when deciding which violin to buy? In my opinion the sound is all that matters, isn’t it?

Regards,
Scott

]]> By: camelia13 http://www.violinsonly.info/5-things-to-consider-when-buying-your-first-violin-the-violin-maker-the-wood-the-varnish-the-violin-size-and-the-price/comment-page-1#comment-37 camelia13 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:36:00 +0000 http://www.violinsonly.info/?p=57#comment-37 hello patricia, thank you for writing on our blog. yes, 7/8 is a valid violin size, but unlike all other fractional sizes, this one if not an intermediary size. This means that 7/8 is not an intermediary size between the 3/4 and the 4/4 size. a 7/8 size violin is the full size violin of the violinists with small arms and hands, who find it uncomfortable handling a 4/4 size violin. These musicians will always play a 7/8 violin. as I said, the 7/8 violin will be their full size instrument. i have not included it in my chart on purpose, to not confuse people. 7/8 is not a standard size per say; it is actually a custom size, made to accommodate musicians with small arm and hands. actually, there are not too many violin makers who build violins in this size. Also, finding a matching 7/8 size case and bow can be an adventure. Most places that sell 7/8 violins will sell you a 4/4 violin bow. I don't know of any maker who builds 7/8 violin bows, but I will do some research and, if I find one, I will make it public here. hello patricia,

thank you for writing on our blog. yes, 7/8 is a valid violin size, but unlike all other fractional sizes, this one if not an intermediary size. This means that 7/8 is not an intermediary size between the 3/4 and the 4/4 size. a 7/8 size violin is the full size violin of the violinists with small arms and hands, who find it uncomfortable handling a 4/4 size violin. These musicians will always play a 7/8 violin. as I said, the 7/8 violin will be their full size instrument. i have not included it in my chart on purpose, to not confuse people. 7/8 is not a standard size per say; it is actually a custom size, made to accommodate musicians with small arm and hands. actually, there are not too many violin makers who build violins in this size. Also, finding a matching 7/8 size case and bow can be an adventure. Most places that sell 7/8 violins will sell you a 4/4 violin bow. I don’t know of any maker who builds 7/8 violin bows, but I will do some research and, if I find one, I will make it public here.

]]> By: patricia http://www.violinsonly.info/5-things-to-consider-when-buying-your-first-violin-the-violin-maker-the-wood-the-varnish-the-violin-size-and-the-price/comment-page-1#comment-34 patricia Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:25:22 +0000 http://www.violinsonly.info/?p=57#comment-34 Thank you for posting such an informative article. I agree with you; the price is not always a reflection of quality. Most of the time, we pay a higher price for attributes that have nothing to do with quality. But anyway, I have a question about sizing: is 7/8 a violin size as well? I have found this size on many websites, but I have never really met someone who actually uses a 7/8 size violin. I don't see it in your chart either. Thank you for posting such an informative article. I agree with you; the price is not always a reflection of quality. Most of the time, we pay a higher price for attributes that have nothing to do with quality. But anyway, I have a question about sizing: is 7/8 a violin size as well? I have found this size on many websites, but I have never really met someone who actually uses a 7/8 size violin. I don’t see it in your chart either.

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