My old violin was a she, my present violin is a He.

May 11, 2008 at 3:13 PM

So its the end of another semester. I am excited for a summer full of beach vacations, voluntary practice time(no pressure!), and relaxation. However, i am going to miss the symphony orchestra and the wonderful friends i made in the music department. oh well ill see them in a three months.

Anyhow heres to another blog of complaining. I swear i do enjoy playing this violin. But why is it that once you resolve one conflict another one arises? Im sure thats not such a bad thing. I will always have something to work toward.

One thing that i realize as i play my instrument. I am not comfortable with it. Never was for the top. I owned a mass produced violin (no more that $500) before i purchased this one. The violin in own now is a Master Tone violin that is something along 1800. I purchased it from potters violin in Maryland. Its a wonderful shop and they are very helpful. My problem lies in the amount of time i spent testing this violin. I did not take it home for a 10 day trial and i played with it and 5 others for about two hours. I Was Very confused and did not have guidance. i knew nothing about violins and how they should sound and feel. so it was hard for me because i go to school a few hours away.

In addition all this complaining,.I just thought it sounded good and i heard something about loud violins so i got one. the tone of the instrument is mellow but also has a loud quality. It feels quite heavy and i the bridge was very high, until i got it adjusted. I really cant describe it other than My old violin was a she, my present violin is a He.

I actually enjoy playing my $500 cheapy violin more. Im not sure if this one should feel so unnatural, even after 6 months of owning it. so im left here wondering what i should do? should i trade this one in to potters and go through the whole process again? (and sort of feel like a wierdo)

So thats the dilemma. Other wise everything is going well, i finally got rid of the "gurggling" thanks to all the great advice i received form my fellow violinists.

cheers

From Terez Mertes
Posted on May 11, 2008 at 8:36 PM

Yes - trade it in! You should love your violin and an upgrade should feel wonderful. Don't stick with something you're less than in love with.

Good luck to you!

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on May 12, 2008 at 1:05 AM

If your new violin doesn't feel right after 6 months of playing it, there is something wrong. It may be the setup -- shoulder rest, chinrest, bridge, soundpost -- and these things are relatively cheap to repair or replace. Any good violin shop should be able to do it for you, but not a general purpose music store. If the changes in setup don't make the violin feel like part of your own body and soul, then it's not the right one for you, no matter how much it costs. You would need to go back to Potter's for a trade in. This time, do some extra things to get good results. I have been there to buy a bow, and I have been given a room to play in and a bunch of bows to play with, by myself. You need some help from someone more experienced. Have someone play the violin for you, so you can tell how it sounds in the hands of a pro. One of the staff at Potter's can help you in between helping all their other customers, but it would be much better to have your teacher go with you. Be prepared to stay in the practice room for a long time, with both you and your teacher playing and discussing the violins. Make an appointment with Potter's in advance so they can fit you into their schedule. Consider this a lesson, and pay your teacher accordingly. Something very, very important is to take two (more, if Potter's staff will let you) violins home with you and try them out for a few days. If you've found the right one for you, you'll know it. It's like falling in love. Good luck, and let us know what happens.

From Christina C.
Posted on May 12, 2008 at 2:57 PM

"should i trade this one in to potters and go through the whole process again?"
What stands out to me is that you didn't go through the process properly in the first place.
You yourself point out that you didn't take the trial period & didn't have guidance, not to mention someone else to play the violins for you so that you could hear what they sound like out from under your own ear. To me, all of the above are crucial steps in choosing an instrument.

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My old violin was a she, my present violin is a He.

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