Don't you love a new violin?
I'm an ignorant beginner, so take my effusive praise for what it's worth...
I just received my new violin yesterday. Don't you just love new stuff?! :^)
This is the third violin I have purchased from Old Violin House, and it really is super (in my opinion). The first was an Opera "Pro+" that had a very nice, even tone. The second one was one of their "Master" Amati violins by their Vecchio workshop, which has been my primary violin up to this time.
I had contacted OVH's customer support and asked what else they had available that was not listed on EBay. The support person is terrific and very helpful. She sent me a bunch of pics of some items that were available, of particular interest to me was their "Russian Master" violin. I liked the look and the description, and so I decided to give one a go...
I purchased a Yitamusic a few months ago to try out, and it was just OK. It looked pretty nice, but the tone was sort of tinny and thin. I sold it soon after receiving it (to a fiddle player).
I had also tried out an Eastman Strings 803 Paesold model for a few days. I was not very impressed with either the finish (lots of scratches) nor the tone (my Vecchio Amati was as good) so I sent it back for a refund.
This new Russian Master violin tops them all! It definitely has a full bodied sound, very rich. I put on a set of Tonicas for now, and I'll probably try some others to see what may suit this violin best.
Did you happen to see the name of the workshop?
Replies (23)
Your images require login to be seen. I - and many others - don't have such a login.
If you want them to be seen you'll most likely have to host them on a free image site like imageshack.us (and many others - just google "free image hosting")
How do you post a reply without being logged in?
silly - he is replying on V.com - its the image hosting site that he can't log into
OVH has some decent violins but also crappish ones. It is great that you have been lucky. Congratulations.
Btw, customer care at OVH is really great!
OK, I tried hosting the pics on Imageshack.
I hope they work for everyone now.
(Note: I took these pics in direct sunlight, the varnish is actually darker towards a brownish hue)
I had a wreck of a violin as a child, horrible craftsmanship, worse sound, but it was all I could get my hands on, so it had to do. From the first moment I heard a good violin, a soloist in a local concert, I lusted after a fine instrument—one that was bright and responsive overall but with depth and warmth in the lower notes, as well.
The day that I can afford the "perfect violin" hasn't come yet (budget is still a reality), but I am finding ways to indulge my obsession and trying out different instruments and really enjoying the process.
I've always sensed that every violin was different. I have some knowledge of wood and I could hear they all had a different character to the sound and balance across the strings, but wow, now that I'm trying different instruments hands-on, for the first time in my life, I've discovered their individuality goes far beyond even what I expected.
It sounds like you're having a great journey with your new instruments. Enjoy!
Yes, definitely enjoying the entire process. Each of the violins I've had have been uniquely different from one another.
The violin and the process of playing violin is fascinating!
Your images - now hosted on ImageShack came across great! Congrats on your new "baby"!!
It's beautiful!
Is there a thread where members simply posts pics of their beloved violins?
Was this violin made by Ning & Ivanov by any chance? That's the only Russian violins I could find. That and the Vecchio Collin-Mezzin Russian Maple violins but they are lower quality than the Vecchio Amati models.
Hello Steven and welcome.
I regretfully must inform you that you just opened up a can of worms on a very controversial and touchy subject. Let the fun begin...
Yes. I always enjoy getting a new violin. Usually my "new" violins are old. I would however advise against getting a bunch of average violins. It makes more sense, IMO, to put your money together to get one better violin.
Cheers Carlo
Hello Jeff Jetson. How so? I sure didn't mean to. I was simply inquiring on the specific Oviolin violin Russian model he was referring to. I'm thinking about getting one and I'm between thier Vecchio Amati models and Their Ning & Ivanov models.
I was only funning with you Steven. Scroll back through the forum topics a few pages and take a look through Why not to buy a Chinese violin Part 3. This discussion became quite controversial and one new member was banned from this site for speaking his opinion and I think that some of the other parts to this interesting discussion have been obliterated and destroyed. When you reopened this thread Steven I was thinking of a possible continuation of Chinese Violin part three. Don't mind me as I do not know myself what I am talking about at times. A smile.
Jeff Jetson. Thanks! I'm new here and I am looking everywhere for good violins, not just China, but who knows? Thanks for the kind words :)
It turns out, that the "Russian" violin I bought was made by Yang Wei in his workshop (2006 VSA silver award winner for tone, viola). I liked it so much, I bought a second one (still have them).
I also have purchased two of the Ning & Ivanov (and have subsequently sold them). They were beautiful to behold. They also had a VERY POWERFUL TONE, tending towards a bit overbearing. They weren't "screechers", but they lacked any hint of tonal nuance.
For the money, I have been quite happy with the Yang Wei violins.
Seraphim Protos. Thank you for the info! Good to know, overbearing might not be awful for the styles I play (Gypsy, Hungarian, Celtic, Scandinavian, other folk and some Classical New Age) but I will keep that in mind. I have heard sound samples of both the Vecchio Amati and the Ning & Ivanov and they both have their good traits. I'll have to let everyone know what I buy and do a possible review. Anyways, thanks again!
And a picture Steven...
Seraphim, what happened to those days, when you had 210932170094503298095183021 yita music violins? Are you moving onto the "good stuff"?
I only ever had a single Yita violin (T19). It was the most disappointing of all the Chinese violins I tried.
I've had a dozen or more (14?) from OVH, two of which I have kept. I have had five violas from Yita, of which I still have 3, and the 4th now belongs to my instructor.
Jeff Jetson. Yes, I will definitely post a few pictures!
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January 8, 2013 at 08:34 PM · Congrats on your new partner! I hope its a long and mutually rewarding relationship :)