April 4, 2005 at 2:47 PM

I think I'm in love.

This weekend I went to a violin shop to look at some smallish violins (a friend calls them "lady's size" -- not quite full size, but not 7/8ths, either). The shop had two that might qualify -- they're full-size bodies, for the most part, but the necks were still set in the original way, almost straight out and shorter, with a wedge to slant the fingerboard to the right angle.

Now, I've played on one of those before, and found the neck to be awkward for shifting -- too thick, because of that wedge. I also thought that the full size body would have too much wood on it.

Not so! The first one I picked up was comfortable, and what a sound! In a close space, it sounds like chocolate; in the large, gym-like hall that the symphony plays in, other folks at rehearsal told me it has an incredible clarity. One woman said, "It sounds like it's talking!"

As you can tell, I have it now on trial. I'm at work now, but all I want to do is go home and play it.

I'm making an appointment with my luthier to have him vet it out for me; and I need to show it to my friends at quartet practice on Wednesday, since the 1st violinist is the one who convinced me that I should be shopping in the first place! And if she doesn't approve... I hope she approves!

I'm a little concerned that I'm falling for the first thing I've seriously looked at. However, I've played other "good" violins before, and none of them have affected me like this one.

Heck, it even sounds good when my husband plays it, and he doesn't even play the violin!

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on April 4, 2005 at 6:34 PM

I think you've met your match. Enjoy!

From sara a. m.
Posted on April 4, 2005 at 11:29 PM

I've never heard of little violins. But they sound great. Are they found in many music stores? I'm going to get a new violin in a year or so, and I'm thinking about buying one of those.

From Patty Rutins
Posted on April 5, 2005 at 3:16 PM

You mostly find the odd sizes in older instruments. You can buy both new and old 7/8ths size violins, and those might be right.

It's hard to find violins with the older necks, but they're around, and they're not very popular (which means they're worth less). I found these by spreading the word among friends, and one of them knew the shop owner. So if you're interested, start asking around.

If you do a lot of position work, be careful that the neck isn't too awkward for you.

With this one, though, the fact that the spacing is different makes it easier for me to do the high positions -- less stretching! I may yet be able to get those fingered octaves right in the Mendelssohn!

And, assuming that my regular luthier gives the A-OK on this violin, I may have a not-quite full size student-quality violin to spare... :)

This entry has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

April 4, 2005 at 2:47 PM

Subscribe

Laurie's Books