I started learning on a $300 rental instrument late last year and within three months I was already tired of it. Went back to the violin maker to try a few instruments in the $1000 to $1500 range and he even handed me some instruments that were slightly out of budget. The instrument I couldn’t stop picking back up again was right in the middle of my budget. I’m super happy and I’m excited to pick it up today.
For the first two years I had a German-made violin that wasn't of very high quality but was really great to start with. In December I went to the violin maker and played 12 instruments regardless of the price because I wanted to buy a violin that 100% suits my taste. In the end I decided on a French violin from Millant that was made in 1935. The current value is €4000. I only played the A string and knew that it was exactly the sound I was looking for and I'm super happy that I now have a violin that challenges me a bit. Maybe it was too early to get a new violin after 2 years but I have outgrown my old one. My luthier said the French violin has character and my old one was just loud in sound and the more I play my new violin the more I realize that he is absolutely right
This rings painfully true for me. I've only had one violin in my life, it's a beginner instrument and I have no idea of the value (my parent's paid for it and I never asked) but I've never had a complaint with the sound of it. But I have always struggled with spiccato (or whatever playing "off" the string is called.) I struggled and struggled for years until one day I considered that maybe it wasn't me, maybe it was the bow. Well, I had some bows sent to me to try by a retailer and when I tried a Codabow Diamond SX, suddenly, in and instant, I could play like I had always dreamed of playing. I should have purchased the bow on the spot, but things came up and life got in the way. I received from my mom that Christmas the higher model Diamond GX bow and somehow it just doesn't work the same. It's so crushing to have struggled so long, and then found a miracle and now to struggle with the same issue.
Good video! It's great that you take so much care to cooperate with a workshop that treats the employees well. (This should be a normal thing, but sadly it isn't.) That video of Ray making an extremely cheap violin sound so nice should be captioned with a huge disclaimer: "The good quality sound is 99,9% Ray, and 0,1% the instrument" 🤣
Many of the same things you mentioned about Violins can be translated to Woodwinds & Brass Instruments. I've found some excellent beginner Saxophones that are just as good as many Intermediate horns. Ditto for the Clarinet.....
Hi Olaf, I have quite recently bought a violin from China when i went to visit. There is a violin factory near Dalian that make surprisingly fine string instruments, from violins to double basses. I wonder if you have heard of Xueping violins. It's quite extraordinary what they manage to create, the quality of their new instruments and the precision of their copies of famous violins. I've come to find out there is very little information on them in the western internet, which is disappointing.
It’s all true! After 17 years playing on a $1800US instrument, I upgraded to a $14K instrument. OMG doesn’t even begin to describe it! The ease of playing, the better sound lead to more enjoyment and more confidence.
With musical instruments, like other tools and materials, I always try to get the best possible quality that I can afford. As an arranger, it's helpful to be able to play as many instruments as possible to some extent, at least, so I have to spread my budget around. I've got two violins (so I can play string quartets), a viola and a cello. All of them are mass-produced instruments. I got good advice from a reputable dealer and I'm happy with all of them. I could imagine upgrading to better instruments, but I don't feel that I have to struggle with them, so there's no urgency. There are some instruments where you can stand on your head and they still won't sound good. Then, upgrading is necessary. I felt that way about my plastic recorders. They are of good quality, but it just wasn't fun to play them for long periods, whereas I really enjoy playing the wooden recorders I upgraded to. I hardly ever play the plastic ones now, but they are still useful for some purposes. If I only played one or two instruments, I would consider spending 10,000€ or more on them, but with more, it's not realistic. Of course, for a concert harp or a grand piano, you can easily spend 20,000€ plus for standard instruments and you can even easily spend 30,000€ for an accordeon. Oboes and bassoons are also typically high-priced instruments. I find that woodwinds are the most demanding instruments with respect to caring for them. Bowed string instruments are a piece of cake in comparison. The first violin was actually a child's viola that cost slightly over 100€. It's the size of a 3/4 size violin. It was my first bowed string instrument and bought it because I wanted to try out the viola, it had gotten good but not unrealistic reviews, and I figured for that price, I could afford to experiment. I liked it and quickly upgraded to a better, but still low-priced viola. I had a violinmaker install a pickup and restring it as a violin. I don't play it very often, but I enjoy playing it when I do. Of course, it has its limitations, but even toy instruments can be nice to use in an arrangement (this instrument is not a toy).
Useful info as my previous violin met an early demise and I am shopping for a new one now. So not exactly the same situation, but useful info anyway! Thank you!
Perfect timing. I want to upgrade my bow and am wondering should I look for a new violin too. In the beginning with 0 skills it was too good. My teacher was able to play with it beautifully while I made scratchy noises. Haven't made a decision yet as I'm fond of current one.
@@gamer-zm3bi exactly! Once you have found that love of your life, you don't need to upgrade! The important thing is that you really look after it and keep it working at its best. Thanks for sharing and how wonderful to own a piece of history like that 😊
It's actually quite shocking to me how many people in our local professional orchestra (I can't even type it as 'professional orchestra) unfortunately.... don't know what they're playing on. I've asked about 6 to 8 people over the last few years what they're playing on, and the amount of times people [who've been playing in the orchestra for around 20 years] say: "Ooh, I dunno, I think it's some German viola." Then I ask them about their bow and they hand it to me and I can clearly see it's a Bausch or a Bazin just by looking at the head and style of the frog etc, and then I see the genuine stamp that somewhat confirms the fact. Then when I hand it back, the player says "all I know is that a paid a few thousand for it". Let that sink in: " *all I know is* " ...
Then another player says "oh, I've got the latest and greatest violin in the world". Really? Proof (of sorts)? "Where was it made" I ask - and there response is "Brazil". Me again: "Are we talking about the bow here or the actual violin?" Them: "The violin". Okay.... (me) "where is your bow from?" .... them: "Oh.... I don't know, but it's a nice old bow perhaps from 50 years ago in England....?" - I look down at the bow [EVERY aspect of it] from the style of the head, to the shape of the stick, to the style of the *original lapping* , to the original frog, to the button, to the genuine stamp... and I see that it's a genuine Sartory. Not just one that I believe is a Sartory ... but one that I've seen in a catalogue before. The player didn't even know what they were working with ----- and this upsets me a lot as you can tell. Also, the orchestra I speak of are holding their bows VERY high up (around the lapping/winding), so they're not getting the fullest sound they might want to achieve. Anyway. This is one reason why I'm happy enough not to play in the orchestra where I live. If any soloist visits - may as well just bring out a CD player and play the backing tracking, and have an AI video going on in the background.
This is a great example of an advanced beginner. Actual experts are so gentle and kind and helpful. Advanced beginners are like rude dogs at the dog park breaking up everyone’s games with loud barking and nipping
😂my budget would be less than the student violin I now have. It’s kind of ugly looking, there isn’t a single piece of flame maple in it, it’s not put together like it should have been, but tone wise, it blows other student violins out of the water. Someday, it might fall apart, and I’ll be forced to get a new one. But for now, it is definitely not holding me back. It’s never been touched by a luthier, I wonder if a new bridge would help it.
@@thomascooper193 electric is fun! It's a bit of a different instrument, because you can make a whole lot of different sounds... If it works for the music that you are playing, just go for it! It's all about your love from music and getting the kind of sound you want out of an instrument.
Im approaching 2yrs now im age58....im abrsm lvl6 i m american. Living in asia .i paid $550 my violin will trade up when. Im at 4yrs ish under my belt😂
How do you avoid people who overprice instruments? I spent 500 USD and a couple of months later I found out my local music store sold me 189 USD for 500 USD. When I asked home about this he told me it cost 300 to tune and make sure the bridge on the Oldenburg.
I started learning on a $300 rental instrument late last year and within three months I was already tired of it. Went back to the violin maker to try a few instruments in the $1000 to $1500 range and he even handed me some instruments that were slightly out of budget. The instrument I couldn’t stop picking back up again was right in the middle of my budget. I’m super happy and I’m excited to pick it up today.
Enjoy to the max!!
@@EzyoMusic great to hear 😊
For the first two years I had a German-made violin that wasn't of very high quality but was really great to start with. In December I went to the violin maker and played 12 instruments regardless of the price because I wanted to buy a violin that 100% suits my taste. In the end I decided on a French violin from Millant that was made in 1935. The current value is €4000. I only played the A string and knew that it was exactly the sound I was looking for and I'm super happy that I now have a violin that challenges me a bit. Maybe it was too early to get a new violin after 2 years but I have outgrown my old one. My luthier said the French violin has character and my old one was just loud in sound and the more I play my new violin the more I realize that he is absolutely right
Your journey sounds commendable
@M_SC thank you :)
Miss you TwoSet! I was just listening to them. Thank you for the happy memories you brought back Olaf!❤
I am holding my violin 🎻 back 😢
The good thing about that is you can fix it
😂 I feel the same
Me too... 😅
Better strings made a day and night difference. An A grade bridge was mind blowing. Then my bow upgrade just took me to another level.
I just thought exactly the same thing.
I actually just got a pier lomant violin from Olaf and… omg I had no idea a violin could be so sensitive and resonate
This rings painfully true for me. I've only had one violin in my life, it's a beginner instrument and I have no idea of the value (my parent's paid for it and I never asked) but I've never had a complaint with the sound of it. But I have always struggled with spiccato (or whatever playing "off" the string is called.) I struggled and struggled for years until one day I considered that maybe it wasn't me, maybe it was the bow. Well, I had some bows sent to me to try by a retailer and when I tried a Codabow Diamond SX, suddenly, in and instant, I could play like I had always dreamed of playing. I should have purchased the bow on the spot, but things came up and life got in the way. I received from my mom that Christmas the higher model Diamond GX bow and somehow it just doesn't work the same. It's so crushing to have struggled so long, and then found a miracle and now to struggle with the same issue.
It’s personal. “Better” isn’t always better for you.
I am going to share this video with lots of my students.
Good video!
It's great that you take so much care to cooperate with a workshop that treats the employees well. (This should be a normal thing, but sadly it isn't.)
That video of Ray making an extremely cheap violin sound so nice should be captioned with a huge disclaimer: "The good quality sound is 99,9% Ray, and 0,1% the instrument" 🤣
@@agatafurczyk9149 haha absolutely!
Many of the same things you mentioned about Violins can be translated to Woodwinds & Brass Instruments. I've found some excellent beginner Saxophones that are just as good as many Intermediate horns. Ditto for the Clarinet.....
Great chat. Thanks
If you love how your instrument sounds you are more likely to enjoy playing and practicing and are therefore more likely to get better.
but don't forget that how it plays it's just as important 😉
Hi Olaf, I have quite recently bought a violin from China when i went to visit. There is a violin factory near Dalian that make surprisingly fine string instruments, from violins to double basses. I wonder if you have heard of Xueping violins. It's quite extraordinary what they manage to create, the quality of their new instruments and the precision of their copies of famous violins. I've come to find out there is very little information on them in the western internet, which is disappointing.
It’s all true! After 17 years playing on a $1800US instrument, I upgraded to a $14K instrument. OMG doesn’t even begin to describe it! The ease of playing, the better sound lead to more enjoyment and more confidence.
Did you bought a modern violin or antique? I think about it to fly to Cremona and buy a Violin
@ I bought a modern violin. I tried a few older instruments but they weren’t for me.
Geez, a $1800 violin would be like a dream come true for me!
Chloe Chua is a special talent, no doubt. Wunderkind.
With musical instruments, like other tools and materials, I always try to get the best possible quality that I can afford. As an arranger, it's helpful to be able to play as many instruments as possible to some extent, at least, so I have to spread my budget around. I've got two violins (so I can play string quartets), a viola and a cello. All of them are mass-produced instruments. I got good advice from a reputable dealer and I'm happy with all of them. I could imagine upgrading to better instruments, but I don't feel that I have to struggle with them, so there's no urgency.
There are some instruments where you can stand on your head and they still won't sound good. Then, upgrading is necessary. I felt that way about my plastic recorders. They are of good quality, but it just wasn't fun to play them for long periods, whereas I really enjoy playing the wooden recorders I upgraded to. I hardly ever play the plastic ones now, but they are still useful for some purposes.
If I only played one or two instruments, I would consider spending 10,000€ or more on them, but with more, it's not realistic. Of course, for a concert harp or a grand piano, you can easily spend 20,000€ plus for standard instruments and you can even easily spend 30,000€ for an accordeon. Oboes and bassoons are also typically high-priced instruments. I find that woodwinds are the most demanding instruments with respect to caring for them. Bowed string instruments are a piece of cake in comparison.
The first violin was actually a child's viola that cost slightly over 100€. It's the size of a 3/4 size violin. It was my first bowed string instrument and bought it because I wanted to try out the viola, it had gotten good but not unrealistic reviews, and I figured for that price, I could afford to experiment. I liked it and quickly upgraded to a better, but still low-priced viola. I had a violinmaker install a pickup and restring it as a violin. I don't play it very often, but I enjoy playing it when I do. Of course, it has its limitations, but even toy instruments can be nice to use in an arrangement (this instrument is not a toy).
What a wonderful letter Corine!😊
Useful info as my previous violin met an early demise and I am shopping for a new one now. So not exactly the same situation, but useful info anyway! Thank you!
Ray Chen could make a sardine can sound awesome
@procrastipractice 😂
@procrastipractice haha ..
I was just saying yesterday that he could make a cigar box with strings sound amazing...
Omg yes!!
Perfect timing. I want to upgrade my bow and am wondering should I look for a new violin too. In the beginning with 0 skills it was too good. My teacher was able to play with it beautifully while I made scratchy noises. Haven't made a decision yet as I'm fond of current one.
Definitely upgrade the bow if you are attached to the violin. My teacher lent me her old bow and suddenly I improved like 4 stages
@@M_SC wow 😮
I can't upgrade my violin any more 😭 it's an italian from the 18th century. Was much fun searching for it!
@@gamer-zm3bi exactly! Once you have found that love of your life, you don't need to upgrade!
The important thing is that you really look after it and keep it working at its best.
Thanks for sharing and how wonderful to own a piece of history like that 😊
@AskOlaftheViolinmaker thank you very much. It's always a pleasure to watch your videos. Best greetings from Germany 😊
Can I upgrade my bow arm? Heck both arms
Yep. It only takes 10,000 hours.
7:43 - Hi Olaf, just wondering if you ever met Arthur Robinson from Perth WA? He worked with Charles Beare for a bit.
It's actually quite shocking to me how many people in our local professional orchestra (I can't even type it as 'professional orchestra) unfortunately.... don't know what they're playing on. I've asked about 6 to 8 people over the last few years what they're playing on, and the amount of times people [who've been playing in the orchestra for around 20 years] say:
"Ooh, I dunno, I think it's some German viola." Then I ask them about their bow and they hand it to me and I can clearly see it's a Bausch or a Bazin just by looking at the head and style of the frog etc, and then I see the genuine stamp that somewhat confirms the fact. Then when I hand it back, the player says "all I know is that a paid a few thousand for it". Let that sink in: " *all I know is* " ...
Then another player says "oh, I've got the latest and greatest violin in the world". Really? Proof (of sorts)? "Where was it made" I ask - and there response is "Brazil". Me again: "Are we talking about the bow here or the actual violin?" Them: "The violin".
Okay.... (me) "where is your bow from?" .... them: "Oh.... I don't know, but it's a nice old bow perhaps from 50 years ago in England....?" - I look down at the bow [EVERY aspect of it] from the style of the head, to the shape of the stick, to the style of the *original lapping* , to the original frog, to the button, to the genuine stamp... and I see that it's a genuine Sartory. Not just one that I believe is a Sartory ... but one that I've seen in a catalogue before.
The player didn't even know what they were working with ----- and this upsets me a lot as you can tell.
Also, the orchestra I speak of are holding their bows VERY high up (around the lapping/winding), so they're not getting the fullest sound they might want to achieve. Anyway. This is one reason why I'm happy enough not to play in the orchestra where I live.
If any soloist visits - may as well just bring out a CD player and play the backing tracking, and have an AI video going on in the background.
Wow.
This is a great example of an advanced beginner. Actual experts are so gentle and kind and helpful. Advanced beginners are like rude dogs at the dog park breaking up everyone’s games with loud barking and nipping
😂my budget would be less than the student violin I now have. It’s kind of ugly looking, there isn’t a single piece of flame maple in it, it’s not put together like it should have been, but tone wise, it blows other student violins out of the water. Someday, it might fall apart, and I’ll be forced to get a new one. But for now, it is definitely not holding me back. It’s never been touched by a luthier, I wonder if a new bridge would help it.
Don’t hate me but what about electric?
@@thomascooper193 electric is fun!
It's a bit of a different instrument, because you can make a whole lot of different sounds...
If it works for the music that you are playing, just go for it!
It's all about your love from music and getting the kind of sound you want out of an instrument.
@ Thanks just wondering because of the sounds they get/copy from an electronic piano.
Im approaching 2yrs now im age58....im abrsm lvl6 i m american. Living in asia .i paid $550 my violin will trade up when. Im at 4yrs ish under my belt😂
My violin is a piece of shit. I've had it for over thirty years.
Unfortunately, I need a new car more than a new violin.
That’s unfortunate
How do you avoid people who overprice instruments? I spent 500 USD and a couple of months later I found out my local music store sold me 189 USD for 500 USD. When I asked home about this he told me it cost 300 to tune and make sure the bridge on the Oldenburg.
@@OneLoneMan It's worth reading my 7 essentials report... If you are not sure, always get a second opinion!