Help with purchasing a violin for an experienced player.

November 11, 2015 at 04:16 PM · If you are an experienced player you really need to go and try violins in person. You'll know the sound/playability you want once you discover it for yourself.

There are many in your price range. Hard to make a recommendation I would think.

November 11, 2015 at 08:22 PM · You could try some Canadian ones and take advantage of the currency exchange rate.

November 12, 2015 at 04:23 PM · Realistically, at your budget you're likely to be looking either for a new instrument from an emerging market and/or a factory OR an old one that has no brand equity. That could be because it's not labelled, not Italian, not in perfect shape, maybe not made by a single artisan, etc.

There's no perfect answer to either of those. Even deciding on a Chinese violin doesn't mean a lot, as China is a very big place. However, if you want to see what can be done, Yung Chin (a bowmaker who's near where Morel used to work) will help you find a good Jay Haide instrument. The best of those sometimes deliver quality well beyond their price.

November 12, 2015 at 04:43 PM · Even though 3-4k might be a lot of money to you, I suggest that you do not agonize over the selection process very much. Since you understand violins, I'm sure you will agree that trying dozens upon dozens of violins in that price range is not likely to be too productive. In your price range there are going to be a lot of really good-sounding Chinese violins, my guess is that you can find a winner after trying no more than 15-18 violins.

November 15, 2015 at 12:04 AM · Thanks for the advice guys. I played some instruments at my luthier, who is in the middle of moving his shop, then played most of the violins of the "snow" Chinese line at the flushing violin shop, their American showroom. Then I went to virtuoso resource on the upper west side of Manhattan , by appointment , and played lots of things. I found an Edgar E Russ instrument that I really like and seems to fit me. The bottom is amazing.The e string seems to have ever so slightly less power but still is the best of what I've played so far. I am thinking of maybe changing e string.

Harold at virtuoso resources was very easy to work with and had a lot of fiddles.

November 15, 2015 at 04:33 PM · You might be able to boost the e-string power by switching to a "stark" string or having a luthier make an adjustment (e.g., sound post). The luthier can also check to make sure there is nothing weird about the nut or bridge grooves that might be robbing you of some of your treble voice.

November 15, 2015 at 04:53 PM · Let us know what you end up with! I really enjoy the what and why of the process and the decision making! :D

November 16, 2015 at 08:57 PM · I currently have 2 violins for sale. One is an old German or Tyrolean with a fairly deep, mellow tone. It's had a number of repairs and as is I'm asking $3,000. The other was custom-made for me by Ed Maday in 2007, with one repair. As is, I'm asking $14,000. I have 2 other Madays or I wouldn't sell this one, which I made my 2nd CD with. You can see it on my website - http://rkviolin.com - in the "other activites" section and you can hear it on audio clips in my CD section on the "Chaconne d'Amour" CD. I currently live in Long Branch, NJ but sometimes get in to NYC. The 2 other violins currently shown on my website have been sold.

November 16, 2015 at 11:16 PM · Thank you Raphael, but I'm going to be out of town from Tuesday night to Sunday. I took the Edgar Russ violin home. He is a maker in Cremona. It was on the 4000 range. As I said before it has an amazing low end. The original set up was with tonica strings. Once I changed the e string to a pirastro gold label the highs perked up. The tonicas are very warm with this violin but I think I want to change them out to Dominants. I think the tonicas are a bit bit "murky" but I'll see what the difference is. That's part of the "fun". It is a new instrument -2014 and I've been playing non stop. I'm sure it'll open up. I played a lot of new instruments and I'm amazed at what's out there. The tone of some of these new instruments, especially the Chinese makers is really remarkable. I was very pleasantly surprised by the choices. I love what I purchased but in the end I was deciding between three or 4 that I really liked.

November 17, 2015 at 03:25 AM · I think I heard of Russ and that price for any professional contemporary violin is amazing! Good luck!

November 17, 2015 at 06:07 PM · From his website, it appears that Russ also sells "workshop" violins. That might explain the low price for some.

I'd be quite hard-pressed to know of any maker who can make high-quality, personally-made violins for 4K, unless they have other income streams which enable them to make violins at a loss. ;-)

November 18, 2015 at 02:32 AM · I have to say, I was wondering about that...

November 18, 2015 at 10:00 PM · I would suggest looking at Hiroshi Kono -- well within your price range. I own one as a backup fiddle and my son plays one as his primary fiddle. There are quite a few pros that have a Kono as a backup, for outdoor gigs or traveling where they don't want to bring their main instrument.

Kono's tend to be really warm and powerful. Response is usually pretty even.

November 18, 2015 at 10:17 PM · He reworks parts from a factory in Germany, in his shop in Cremona, puts the violins together and varnishes, and adjusts. In my hands so far it beat out all of the competition in that range. Including the Chinese hand made "assembly line" types like Snow, and Scott Cao ( the higher end of these).

I used to have a Fawick. And this leaves it in the dust. Fawick used to bring in parts from France I believe, and put them together in his factory and varnished. In this price range and I guess in any it's all about sound, and playability. From what I've seen I'm about 3-4000 away from the next tier. I did see and play something that was very interesting from as unknow (name I cannot remember) Amish maker from 1903. That was the only other real contender I have played so far.