September 2013

September 12, 2013 04:43

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Should a middle aged beginner buy used cheap or just go for the best one can afford.

I'm newly interested in learning to play music after years of having my first guitar sit in a closet for many years. I have begun practicing farly regularly and I also picked up a another guitar and a mandolin which I love playing both equally as we'll. My second guitar a nice Martin and don't regret what I spent on it. I love the way it sounds. So now I want a violin and I either want to go cheap and use and up grade later if im loving it, or just go ahead and buy the best that i can afford which is looking like a 2,500 for the violin and bow.

I learned that the violin and the madolin have the same string setup. Therefore, if I can learn the notes on a madolin I should be able to do the same on a violin or a least have some transfer of knowledge from one to the other where notes and cords are concerned, or that's my thought anyway!

I've always loved the sound of the violin and I simply want too have a violin in my hands now, period!

Here is the question. Should I buy a $150-$300 for a used beginner violin and just see if I take to it? Or just go ahead and spend $1,500+- for a violin that I think I will like and possible not out grow and spend $500-700 for a nice bow.

Either way, I will be at the mercy of a violin shop's advice and description of the quality of the product, due to not having any knowledge but violins. One violin shop asked my price range before setting up the appointment. Then I read on this site not to give your price range, unless the violins are already have price tags to prevent any hiking of prices that might otherwise be different if the seller didn't know what one was willing to spend. I don't know if his violin are tagged or not , but it the closet violin shop within a 3/12 drive?

So do I go Craig's list and spent very little for a poor quality set up, and check it out for a while? Or take a leap of faith that the pleasure I think I will get from a violin won't be short lived and therefore making the more expensive purchase and spending my hard earned saving for better quality be best?
Thanks for any advice

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