CLICK THIS LINK to take you to my online music shop: www.amsmusicshop.com/learn-to-play-the-violin-1/ ----------------------------------------------- How to get started on my '1-30 Violin Course'? To start or enrol on my full '1-30 Violin Course', go here: tinyurl.com/2k3sansh This is the complete set of all books and all lesson resources you will need for the entire course. ----------------------------------------------- Or, the first 10 lessons and all resources/materials needed is absolutely free! Click on the pdf that says 'START HERE' first: www.onlineviolintutor.com/lessons-1-10-resources
Would you please through some light on Yamaha AV7 SG? What do you think of the Yamaha in terms of quality/ value for money? How does Yamaha AV7 compare with Stentor 2?
I rescued a violin with case from a store that was closing for £5. It is missing the bridge, strings and bow. Both the label inside the violin and the case tells me it is a Chinese skylark (made in republic). What should I do in regards to it? I know the better quality strings, bow and rosin the better sound in theory it can make in the right hands. But still thoughts?
My Cousins Daughter took Lessons in Russia 🇷🇺 her teacher died and left his Violin to her , it is priceless and was made about 350 years ago . Worth a great deal of money. She is near a Master Class now . 🇨🇦
Trevor, I had the same thing happen to me . I bought a violin some time ago on it said 1789 on it but, when I took it to my teacher she said ,"aww, sorry my boy but ,it says 17.89! That's the price sticker !
I am 80 years young. This is my first violin. I am experimenting with adjustable chin rests and adjustable shoulder rests as at the moment I am having trouble holding the instrument safely, hence I have not as yet played a note with my fingers. I am sure that in following your excellant tuition I will eventually suceed.
I got mine for £50 in a junkshop. It turned out to be worth £800. Covered in filth but i checked for cracks,open seams,soundpost in position andtook the chance!
I got me fiddle in Madrid 'Rastro' - flea market - for 300€. My luthier told me later it was a French factory Mirecourt 2 grand worth. Best buy ever. :)
I bought a Stentor 2 twenty two years ago, started learning but was interupted by health condition. Alway wanted to learn but health condition got in the way. Now 2024 ..improvement in health condition, I am delighted to hear you say that 'this' violin is of good quality!...Thank you ❤
Hoffmans are student quality violins. I have not played on one as we cant get them in the UK i dont think, but if you can get hold of a Stentor II off Amazon, they are great student beginner violins as they are a right, deep and velvety tone with very little if no scratch at all to them. Thats why i like and recommend them.
.....i recommend you try and get a full size violin as soon as you can. Sorry if thats not what you wanted to hear, but you obviously really want to play the violin so, you may as well do it properly and the best you can. :)
I studied the trumpet in school, but violin has always been my dream. It's hard when you live in an apartment to REALLY practice the trumpet like you want to. Thanks for your videos. I think I'll be able to follow my dream of learning the violin and actually be able to dive into practice.
i would always suggest getting one from a store as you can at least try it out. Even if you dont know what ou are looking for. If for example you (or the shop bloke) played 2 violins i bet you would like one more than the other...so even though you have no clue, you will know what you like and what you dont. If you want a stentor 2, then you can buy it straight online as you know they are good as i buy them and recommend them and im happy.
I bought a stentor 2 a few months ago for my first Violin. Pretty much just bought the best student Violin I could afford. nothing to compare it too yet of course but i really like it.
Allison thanks for all your great advice online I was able to purchase a Stentor 1500 for my first violin I'm trying to learn this at 50 so I hope I can learn this.
The Conservatoire is about £200 more than the SII and not worth it in my opinion. If you change the strings to Dominants on the SII, then you will have a fine little violin the same as the Conservatoire.
Great video. I'm a violinst as well and I've been looking through your videos just out of interest and you do a pretty good job on these. And it's great that I see you responding to comments - it's a very cool touch, especially for a channel with nearly 100,000 subscribers. Keep up the great work! :)
I started my violin journey with you about 1.5 months ago and I've got a Stentor II. I really love it and a friend of mine who plays the violin really well demonstrated how beautiful it can sound (meaning the scratchy sounds are definitely coming from me, not from the poor violin ;-)). I'm currently working on the second finger exercises and I'm really enjoying myself, thank you so much for everything you do. I have bought all your books and they're fantastic! ❤
Violas are gorgeous! I've been playing for 10 years. A piece of advice for you if your teacher hasn't already told you: spend as much as you can on nice strings. Viola strings are very expensive, but you can hear a HUGE difference when you put good money into them. My absolute favorite are Thomastik Dominant strings. The sound is very rich. Some people substitute the Dominant A with a Jarger A because Jarger has a brighter sound. That's all the player's choice. But good luck! :)
Larsen Regular, is also a good string,slightly more "premium" then standard Dominant, i play Violine, but have a shitty violine and no it was enough and ordered a Scott Cao "Plowden Gesu (850)through a vendor, hopefully it sounds moore fancy. i,m sure it do.
I have sort of already done this. Its called something like 'whats in my violin case'. Apart from a violin, bow , case and music, there isnt much else one needs.
I bought a violin for £50 in a pawn shop 15 years ago, and it was/is quite good, people were always surprised how good it was for the money, but I recently decided I should probably upgrade, which is why I decided to watch this video. Anyway, my £50 violin actually is a Stentor II, so now having seen this, thinking I might just stick with it
I am buying a second hand violin today, the girls aunt bought her this (fairly) expensive violin but she decided to stop playing so she is selling it now. I am glad to have these tips so I can look at it closely before giving her my money. I am in Canada and the violin is also from Canada. I have seen the same in my local shop for about 300 dollars at full size (That's an average at my local shop, but a bit expensive for me right now), but I never played it before.
Hi Alison, Bought myself a Stentor II today with shoulder rest and tuner. Very happy with what I got and looking forward to beginning to learn. I am 28 and decided roughly 6 months ago this was something I wanted to pursue. Looking forward to working through your videos
Okay update. I received my new violin yesterday. The worst part about the cheap violin is the strings. they came kinked and bent. So I knew it was going to break as soon as I was going to start to tune it. So I went out and got new strings that were durable and better rosin as well. the second downfall is the tuning nobs at the top of the violin. they are made out of cheap wood and they keep slipping out of the placement then it effects the tune of the strings. everything else seems to be okay so far.
If you buy a student violin, they can be surprisingly cheap. Not the best quality because they are for beginners but as long as you can play on it. You can check on ebay or amazon for cheap beginner violins
i always recommend the Stentor 2 but cant really advise you where to buy it as we live in different countries I believe....sorry - perhaps someone else can help?
I honestly cant say as i have no idea what your current violin is like. Its not aways about how much money, but rather the sound & how well the instrument can be manipulated. Do you feel your current violin is not working hard enough for you? Have you squeezed every last drop from it? Are you bored with the sound & want something different? These are questions you need to ask before you buy another. I would think that for $1600, you will have an instrument that is not rubbish by any means.
im sure it will be fine. If thats your budget, then thats your budget. It will work fine and be, but the more you can spend on a violin the better as there will be less scratch coming from it to start with and a better clearer tone. It will be ok for now im sure so dont worry about it - you can always sell it and upgrade later...
Nah never too late,i have been a professional flamenco guitar player for around 50 years,and i taught myself to play violin for fun,[ i am left handed] and after a couple of years i can play to a reasonable level,it relaxes my hands and soothes my soul. ! These vids you make are superb,i have picked up a few things... A big thanks from me. Only a great player with insight can teach as well as you do.
YOu need to go to a professional violin dealer as I always think that from grade 5 you dont want to buy brands anymore as they are mostly factory made so you need something a little more unique. I
I own a Fletcher. I am not sure if you've ever heard of this brand. I believe it was close to $400 (American dollars). Do you know much about this brand or have you ever played a Fletcher? I like it, but I am most likely going to be another set of strings as well as another chin rest, shoulder rest and another bow. :) This is my second Fletcher that I owned. The Fletcher I owned prior to his one, I loved how easy it was to tune. The pegs were so smooth & moved so easily. This one, the pegs are sort of rough. Is buying new pegs an options? I am amazed at the things that could be altered & changed to make the sound nicer!
Have not played on that exact one, but I should think that if its a Stentor then you probably cant go far wrong. At least it will be set up correctly and have better parts on it.
I would go for ball end as they will slot nicely into the fine tuners at the end - the same as the current ones will be. Loop end are for tagging onto fine tuners that have an 'end' if you like to them - having said that, I might just wait and make sure the ones the S2 comes with have a ball end. They should do, but if you are in a different country to me, I would hate to state ball end and then it turns out they have loop!
When my 3-year-old started her violin lessons, we bought her a new Suzuki 220 1/16 violin. The cost new was about $350, but the music store which sold us the violin has a policy where they will buy back the violin as our daughter grows if we buy a new, larger violin to replace it. I ended up getting a violin for myself, so I could practice with my daughter, I found a Suzuki 550, which is a beautiful instrument, for a good price. As a long-time guitar player, the violin is a little odd to me, but I enjoy learning to play along with my daughter.
Thank you for doing a great service on TH-cam - you've earned my sub! Would you be interested in doing a collaborative teaching video? I've been thinking about doing a teaching video on Bach Double and would love to combine ideas.
ABSOLUTELY! I have actually been following YOU for a couple of years now and love all your videos as you are a fantastic player! So im up for a collab! I will PM you.....
Just bought my first violin after years of wanting one. I love music and always wanted to try strings, a change from my sax. Love the videos, they help a lot. 😁🎻🎵🎵
I have not played on one, but i do know for sure Stentors II violins are great starters and especially if you replace the strings with Dominants or Pirastro Tonicas
Hi I've been watching your videos for awhile even doe I do not play the violin nor the piano! I'm 17 and I've been playing the guitar for at least 8 years and within the past year or so I've been wanting to pick up a different instrument, preferably one that is different to the guitar (I want to feel like I'm learning an instrument for the first time instead of just taking from what I already know..) I've two main questions, My first one is; Can I teach myself violin with the help of youtube? I don't know of many violin teachers nearby and I'm a bit too proud to be going into violin lessons with young children, That being said I know that technique is a huge part learning to play the violin and that you need a teacher for that but I've always been good at mimicry be it copy a golf swing or so on. My second question is should I buy a brand new violin or should I buy a older violin for my first violin? I've within the region of €400 to spend and I've seen some old (18th century if not older.. and of course younger) violins on ebay up for auction. If you've read this far, Thanks for bearing with me! and I look forward to your reply!
Theguitarwhiz you can learn to a point from TH-cam, but it wont teach you everything. Enough to get you started, learn the basics, decide whether its for you etc. What violin you buy is totally up to you. I would not advise buying a violin 'blind' so to speak. Buying a branded violin is fine if you have seen/heard reviews of it, but just buying online from ebay at random or other auctions is a bad idea as its all about the sound and tone as you play it, not necessarily about what it has or hasnt got. For example, someone could say that the violin is made from the best wood ever in the world and it has this and that on it, but if it sounds like you are banging a pipe against a wall, then its no good is it.
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor Thanks for the quick reply, you don't get that often on youtube! The violin is a 'Johann Ulrich Fichtl, in Mittenwald An. 1763' it obviously isn't in tip top condition (the varnish is well worn) but other then that it has no other damage. The violin is on bid for €133 but there is 8 days left (the violin started at €1) so its price will definitely go up but people are bidding on it so it cant be too bad, regardless if it goes for €200 thats a small price to pay to learn about violins, how to spot damage/how to spot a fake etc.. I also realise that those violins sell for large sums of money (well more than €200 at least!) For some reason I do not want to get a factory made beginner violin, I don't know why but I dislike the idea of every instrument being identical.. Any input? Thanks again for replying
Theguitarwhiz No worries. With the violin, I still wouldnt risk buying blind personally. You could end up with something that is in very bad condition - the type you cant see, such as the strings need replacing, the pegs need readjusting, the sound post repositioning etc (as well as the varnish of course as you say), which all costs money and all needs to be done by a proper violin luthier. You might be buying something thats going to cost you more to get looked at/set up than the cost its worth. You could also get something that sounds hideously loud, bright etc. Just because its an antique from 1760 or a Mittenwald, doesnt mean to say its good. There are A LOT of really terribly cheap, quickly made Mittenwalds out there and if its one of those, then you might not like it. Its totally your decision of course, but I just imparting my knowledge and thoughts on the matter to help you.
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor Thanks again, I actually did a bit more research in between replies and I've just the discovered how much goes into a violin to make it worth playing never mind make it sound beautiful! I think I'll pass on the violin and possibly go to a local luthier (there are very few places to buy mass produced violins here in Galway but there are a number or luthiers!) I'll if I can get an instrument within the €1000 range or if not atleast get their expertise on what to look for when buying one. I really can't thank you enough, I could have spend days looking about and getting mix matched information but instead I heard from someone who knows what they are talking about!
i dont know those other brands so i couldnt possibly say, but i do know that the Stentor 1500 is a great little starter violin for the money plus with better strings (either Dominants or Pirastro Tonicas) its even better.
hmm, well Pirastro Passiones deliver a nice rich deep tone in medium gauge, but I would recommend them for the G and D strings only - all dependant on your violin of course as what works for your violin say, may not work for mine, but these are nice. A Gold Label E string produces a lovely high tone which is rich, smooth and sweet. You just have to try and see, Dominants are good, but I dont find they have very much in them, in that they have rich toned strings, but there are others (passiones)
I find these on line tutor sessions a useful supplement to proper lessons. However, I found this video extremely waffley. You spent over fourteen minutes repeating yourself and saying something that I could sum up in one sentence i.e. that it is not worth buying a very cheap violin, and that the Stentor II is the one to go for when funds are limited. You mentioned near the beginning that very cheap violins i.e. £30 or so are not worth buying and cannot produce a proper sound, and then contradicted yourself at the end and say to buy one if you cannot afford anything more and that they are OK! I have heard from other buyers that £30 violins are a complete waste of money, don't tune properly and just fall apart. Lets face, it if you cannot afford to pay more than the price of a single lesson (£20 to £40) for an instrument, perhaps you are not taking things seriously. Perhaps you should borrow one and save up a bit more or go second hand. Also, in all that time when you were waving the two violins about in front of us, we were all expecting to hear a demonstration of the sound difference, and you did not even play them.
Andrew Taylor I agree she does seem to repeat her sentences throughout on this video and others but I suppose she is trying to be thorough. I forward the video when it happens. If she was more concise it would make better viewing.
its up to you and how much you can afford. I recommend the Stentor 2 but if thats too pricey, then go for the most you can afford. The cheaper the worse and $40 im afraid will be pretty awful...
Hi teacher, just wanna ask...can i play the violin using guitar chords/tabs? i cannot easily read notes, so i prefer to look at the tabs. if this is possible, then how? thanks
Conelisa Navales For guitar tabs are fine, for violin you should learn music. It's really not that hard once you get past the initial grind. You should be learning rythym and time signatures no matter the instrument.
this was exactly what I was looking for. I know next to nothing and am wanting to get in. Had NO idea what I should do. Had a local shop telling me if I didn't spend 500 dollars then I couldn't learn to play for even a beginner. Definitely looking into the one you suggested. It looks like exactly what I'm wanting
damn, i have no idea its that expensive, in my country you can get a standard violin for 50$, and a good quality one with only 200$ or, if you really dont have any money a second-hand violin is only around 15 - 20$
its a student quality violin. I have not played on one so i cant say whether its nice or now. Just remember that the cheaper you go the worse it will all be. You can use the price of the Stentor II as a guide.
I never really saw the point in buying violins under $500, let alone a package / kit that includes bow/case. When I first started, I used a rental which gives a high quality violin but no commitment till I gained some experience. Then I went and shop around for a violin in the 1.5k - 3k range. Think I played through 18 violins, 8 from the same brand until I settled on a Jay Haide. It was already a light violin, but to open it up, I replaced the ebony fittings with pernambuco giving it that better look and feels more open and ligther on the shoulder. As for violin strings, I wouldn't say Dominants are the best, they are just starting point to compare other things like the Pirastro Tonica equivalents which are cheaper in some places.
Very good idea, and after a couple of years you'll want one of 1500, and on that one you can just keep on playing (if it has a richness and complexity in the sound)
I have just found your videos on the internet and let me tell you that I 'm so so glad I did!! My little girl is learning to play the violin and I think is time to change the old one she has. This video has helped me a LOT, really, because I did not have a clue about what to buy outside. The thing is that I live in Argentina and we have tons of problems to buy goods via internet.Here we just have access to Chinese violins, which are not much recomended, at least by my daughter's teacher. My parents are in Spain now, so I'll ask them to buy a new one for me. Thank you so so much! You have a new suscriber here! Congrats!!
Hi Alison, I bought a Stentor 1 four years ago when I began on my journey to learn to play the violin. I 'pimped' it up with Thomastik Dominant strings and I've been happy with it ever since. It cost £112. I am now working towards my Grade 4 exam and thought it was time for a better quality, nicer sounding instrument, so, I have just bought a Hidersine Venezia. The tone is lovely and mellow, and the wood is beautiful with a two-piece walnut back and with a rosy antique finish :-)
well it depends on how much that stuff bothers you really. Im not too fussed about that sort of staff for a beginner violin as that will up the price more than the violin is worth, then you are into the territory where you are spending hundreds. Thats why i recommend the Stentor 2. You can GENTLY push the pegs in or use a little dry bar soap to help them grip.
hello,im 25 years old,and i want to start play violin, i can spend around 500 euros on violin,but i complitly dont have a clue where to look for, a really good one, and i would be really greatfull if you could send me a link where i could order for this price,as you are a master of this subject,and really helpfull. tank you very much for any reply..hope to hear soon..
Maja Makotcenko Cecilio or Stentor are good makes that i can personally recommend. Buy the most that you can afford and remember the cheaper it is, the worse it will be.
HI! Im trying to figure out which violin to buy between Cecilio CVN300 and Stentor 2(1500). The Cecilio is 100 pounds but comes with a 1 year warranty and d'addario strings whereas the other 1 is 150 pounds but has worser strings. Any advice? :/
If you are talking in pounds, then I assume you are in the UK? You wont be able to get Cecilio violins in the UK (as far as I know) so I would get the SII. Ignore the warranties...no violin I know has ever broken, plus if it does break during shipping for example, the shop will replace it as standard.
nope they are the same, but folks in the USA call it the 1500 and UK the Stentor II. same thing as i did double check! (the 1400 refers to the Stentor I - dont go there though as its no where near as good for an extra few quid)
Find these videos really instructive and informative, however there is a problem with my wanting to learn this lovely instrument. I am left handed, you cannot buy a left handed violin off the shelf, the only people who sell them are from USA or Germany and of course China, which I have already discarded as cheap alternatives. There is plenty of people who have advised me to learn right handed, but this is so alien to me and as far as I am concerned that advise centres on my eventually playing in an orchestra, which I have no intention of doing. I am left handed and always will be. I cannot pluck one off the shelf to see if I like it with regard to tone, feel, weight etc., plus I am wanting to learn the instrument, I do not yet play, I would not know what to look for albeit your advise has given me an incite into what to look for. I have also been advised you cannot convert truly a right handed violin to a left, the strings are wrong, as is the bridge, the chin rest, pegs and what about the sound post? Could you advise on where to buy a left handed violin for a new student to this instrument please.i have contacted a German company who make LH violins, these are about £266, which I am prepared to pay but this is the top of my budget and of course, you do not see secondhand LH violins to purchase, help!
I would recommend just playing right handed. Left handed violins historically have been a bit of a novelty. Mastery of the instrument requires equally high dexterity in both hands. You may struggle more with bowing than fingering at first, whereas right handed players tend to struggle more with fingering than bowing at first. But in the end both hands have to become skilled. It is a bit like asking for a left handed piano.
Rory Grant yeah I got bored of it tho I never got into a class bc I was in middle school when I wanted to learn and I was supposed to be learning on the early elementary school
company have allowed me to return my 3/4 and will be exchanging it for full size... so thanks for that Alison, glad to have your advice when it comes to total newb things like size of instrument.. thanks
I think your videos are useful and normally accurate but I take you to task about this "you get what you pay for" myth. I have been making and restoring stringed instruments for at least 30 years. You can pay 2 or 3 times more for an appalling German trade fiddle than you would for a superb handmade Chinese violin. I have two of these that I lend to students and I can tell you that a Stentor 2 comes nowhere near. Highly flamed, beautifully made and set up they cost me about £100 each plus postage and UK vat. Just because an instrument is old or hand made( I used to charge £1500 for mine) or has a trade name, doesn't mean it is good. Just think how much brand names pay for their fiddles if they can sell them to you for £100-£150. The day of the Skylark firewood fiddles is over for good. Thankfully.
Yes, I have many many videos with me playing in them. Some video do not require me to play and if i did it would be out of context. Have a look at the videos on my channel page and you will see loads.
Hi Alison, thanks to your review I have bought STENTOR II violin and I am very pleased, thank you for your review! I have been using it for a year now and slowly thinking of upgrading it.
My violin is almost as old as your and was my great great grandfather's. Although it sounds beautiful from a distance it scratches up close and inches from it, it made me hate practicing for 35 years. Then I put 35 dB ear plugs in my ears and all of a sudden it began to be fun.
yes in my opinion it is. The Stentor II is great all rounder starter violin and if you want better, then you need to spend pare more than $500 as anything close to $500 will be so comparable to the StentorII, that its not worth the extra money.
There are literally hundreds and hundreds of violin brands all available in different countries. I have not played on this one so i cant comment. The reason i recommend the Stentor II is that out of the ones i have tried, its the best.
Yes fine as long as there is no damage to them of course or the hair on the bow doesn't need replacing as that will cost more to repair or buy a new one than the worth of the violin potentially.
I just got a new violin from a music shop that specialises mostly in pianos and keyboards, wasn't expecting much for £90 but it has ebony pegs and fingerboard unlike my last one and a very fine finish (and comes with a very nice case, crap bow and white rosin). And it's so light, less than 500g with the chinrest on (and a better tailpeice). And it sounds fantastic.
The Argos ones are ok, but not fantastic and are quite scratchy and because the bridge is not angled enough, its hard not to hit other stings. Ok if you are on a tight budget.
if you are talking about the fine tuners on the tail piece, you need to 'reset' them so that they are unscrew about half way then retune with the pegs. Is that what you mean?
well a stentor 2 would have been the optimum choice, but perhaps you should wait and see what the ebay one is like. Do you have the option to return it? If so, you could not open it and send it straight back for a refund then buy a stentor - its up to you, but just a suggestion?
The violin that Ive got most people have never seen before as its not a traditional violin shape. I recently got it from an estate sale, it was handcrafted in Nova Scotia and sets me in mind of something similar to a cigarbox violin. Even the guys at my local music shop hadnt seen anything quite like it before when I showed it to them. They stated it set them in mind of more a Folk music style violin.
well personally the Stentor 2 as i have no idea on the other one im afraid so it may well be the best violin in the world, or the worst....its something you will never know when buying blind, but at least I have bought one and im going about recommending them. I know that doesnt help much, but its a start. The most ideal thing would be to try them out if poss and make your choice from there.
Thank you for the video......I took lessons 25+years ago and looking to get back into it. Just started looking for a new one. Rented when i was younger going to buy this time
I guess I'll stick with what I have for now and consider buying something better when I'm better at it already. Thanks for the quick reply and the tip! :)
i dont know the other brands you mentioned, but to get something that will last you until you decide to go professional say, would be upwards of £600 - in fact the more the better as you will get what you pay for. you are then going away from brands and into the old school violin makers of long ago which of course are always better...
CLICK THIS LINK to take you to my online music shop:
www.amsmusicshop.com/learn-to-play-the-violin-1/
-----------------------------------------------
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To start or enrol on my full '1-30 Violin Course', go here: tinyurl.com/2k3sansh
This is the complete set of all books and all lesson resources you will need for the entire course.
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Would you please through some light on Yamaha AV7 SG? What do you think of the Yamaha in terms of quality/ value for money? How does Yamaha AV7 compare with Stentor 2?
@@orwellhighlands7620 I dont know anything about the Yamaha violins im afraid.
@@TheOnlineViolinTutor thank you for replying to my message.
I rescued a violin with case from a store that was closing for £5. It is missing the bridge, strings and bow. Both the label inside the violin and the case tells me it is a Chinese skylark (made in republic). What should I do in regards to it? I know the better quality strings, bow and rosin the better sound in theory it can make in the right hands. But still thoughts?
the only reason why I’m spending my time is because of your voice
My Cousins Daughter took Lessons in Russia 🇷🇺 her teacher died and left his Violin to her , it is priceless and was made about 350 years ago . Worth a great deal of money. She is near a Master Class now . 🇨🇦
Trevor Graham Welch that's amazing!!
That is really uh... unbelievable I guess?
aww its sad that her teacher passed away
Teachers love and are quite loyal to their students as well as their violins. He probaly knew it would be in good hands.
Trevor, I had the same thing happen to me . I bought a violin some time ago on it said 1789 on it but, when I took it to my teacher she said ,"aww, sorry my boy but ,it says 17.89! That's the price sticker !
I am 80 years young. This is my first violin. I am experimenting with adjustable chin rests and adjustable shoulder rests as at the moment I am having trouble holding the instrument safely, hence I have not as yet played a note with my fingers. I am sure that in following your excellant tuition I will eventually suceed.
Good luck
That's amazing, i wish you the best of luck
I got mine for £50 in a junkshop. It turned out to be worth £800. Covered in filth but i checked for cracks,open seams,soundpost in position andtook the chance!
Luckyy
where'd you get that?!
I got me fiddle in Madrid 'Rastro' - flea market - for 300€.
My luthier told me later it was a French factory Mirecourt 2 grand worth. Best buy ever. :)
Same but Mine cost 180$us dallors I got it yesterday
P Heart bib
I bought a Stentor 2 twenty two years ago, started learning but was interupted by health condition. Alway wanted to learn but health condition got in the way. Now 2024 ..improvement in health condition, I am delighted to hear you say that 'this' violin is of good quality!...Thank you ❤
Hoffmans are student quality violins. I have not played on one as we cant get them in the UK i dont think, but if you can get hold of a Stentor II off Amazon, they are great student beginner violins as they are a right, deep and velvety tone with very little if no scratch at all to them. Thats why i like and recommend them.
.....i recommend you try and get a full size violin as soon as you can. Sorry if thats not what you wanted to hear, but you obviously really want to play the violin so, you may as well do it properly and the best you can. :)
I studied the trumpet in school, but violin has always been my dream. It's hard when you live in an apartment to REALLY practice the trumpet like you want to. Thanks for your videos. I think I'll be able to follow my dream of learning the violin and actually be able to dive into practice.
i would always suggest getting one from a store as you can at least try it out. Even if you dont know what ou are looking for. If for example you (or the shop bloke) played 2 violins i bet you would like one more than the other...so even though you have no clue, you will know what you like and what you dont. If you want a stentor 2, then you can buy it straight online as you know they are good as i buy them and recommend them and im happy.
The Stentor II is the one i recommend
I bought a stentor 2 a few months ago for my first Violin. Pretty much just bought the best student Violin I could afford. nothing to compare it too yet of course but i really like it.
Allison thanks for all your great advice online I was able to purchase a Stentor 1500 for my first violin I'm trying to learn this at 50 so I hope I can learn this.
What I appreciate is that you don't push the usual "If you can't spend $1000, there's no hope."
The Conservatoire is about £200 more than the SII and not worth it in my opinion. If you change the strings to Dominants on the SII, then you will have a fine little violin the same as the Conservatoire.
What a great teacher you are. Thanks.
Great video. I'm a violinst as well and I've been looking through your videos just out of interest and you do a pretty good job on these. And it's great that I see you responding to comments - it's a very cool touch, especially for a channel with nearly 100,000 subscribers. Keep up the great work! :)
I started my violin journey with you about 1.5 months ago and I've got a Stentor II. I really love it and a friend of mine who plays the violin really well demonstrated how beautiful it can sound (meaning the scratchy sounds are definitely coming from me, not from the poor violin ;-)). I'm currently working on the second finger exercises and I'm really enjoying myself, thank you so much for everything you do. I have bought all your books and they're fantastic! ❤
Violas are gorgeous! I've been playing for 10 years. A piece of advice for you if your teacher hasn't already told you: spend as much as you can on nice strings. Viola strings are very expensive, but you can hear a HUGE difference when you put good money into them. My absolute favorite are Thomastik Dominant strings. The sound is very rich. Some people substitute the Dominant A with a Jarger A because Jarger has a brighter sound. That's all the player's choice. But good luck! :)
Larsen Regular, is also a good string,slightly more "premium" then standard Dominant, i play Violine, but have a shitty violine and no it was enough and ordered a Scott Cao "Plowden Gesu (850)through a vendor, hopefully it sounds moore fancy. i,m sure it do.
I have sort of already done this. Its called something like 'whats in my violin case'. Apart from a violin, bow , case and music, there isnt much else one needs.
I bought a violin for £50 in a pawn shop 15 years ago, and it was/is quite good, people were always surprised how good it was for the money, but I recently decided I should probably upgrade, which is why I decided to watch this video.
Anyway, my £50 violin actually is a Stentor II, so now having seen this, thinking I might just stick with it
I love watching ur videos you give such good advice! You are so gorgeous too! Thanks for your teaching and you play so beautifully
I watch these videos for help but I play viola. #thuglife
Miguel Quiroz me too
Lalalalal i love your violín and your the best yt violin playing :) and placse like me ;)
same
Miguel Quiroz same
Violists need the help lol 😂
I am buying a second hand violin today, the girls aunt bought her this (fairly) expensive violin but she decided to stop playing so she is selling it now. I am glad to have these tips so I can look at it closely before giving her my money. I am in Canada and the violin is also from Canada. I have seen the same in my local shop for about 300 dollars at full size (That's an average at my local shop, but a bit expensive for me right now), but I never played it before.
Hi Alison,
Bought myself a Stentor II today with shoulder rest and tuner. Very happy with what I got and looking forward to beginning to learn. I am 28 and decided roughly 6 months ago this was something I wanted to pursue. Looking forward to working through your videos
where did you buy your violin on.
I bought it from Woodbridge Violins in the UK.
Okay update. I received my new violin yesterday. The worst part about the cheap violin is the strings. they came kinked and bent. So I knew it was going to break as soon as I was going to start to tune it. So I went out and got new strings that were durable and better rosin as well. the second downfall is the tuning nobs at the top of the violin. they are made out of cheap wood and they keep slipping out of the placement then it effects the tune of the strings. everything else seems to be okay so far.
I've just started to look for a violin and I could not for my life find any that were pretty cheap, but also good. Thank you so much!
i really want to play the violin but i dont have one... because we're not rich hahahahahah
Nanjing Huang same here so I'm collecting money but its still far a way ....😩😔
yeah i'm trying now to save my money just to buy a violin hahahaha
If you buy a student violin, they can be surprisingly cheap. Not the best quality because they are for beginners but as long as you can play on it. You can check on ebay or amazon for cheap beginner violins
hahahah ok thanks for the advice!!
you can get one for only 60-70$ !
Alison, great video. ♥️🙏 Could you tell me what is the name of this dtudent vidolin that you own please? 🙏🙏🙏
i always recommend the Stentor 2 but cant really advise you where to buy it as we live in different countries I believe....sorry - perhaps someone else can help?
I honestly cant say as i have no idea what your current violin is like. Its not aways about how much money, but rather the sound & how well the instrument can be manipulated. Do you feel your current violin is not working hard enough for you? Have you squeezed every last drop from it? Are you bored with the sound & want something different? These are questions you need to ask before you buy another. I would think that for $1600, you will have an instrument that is not rubbish by any means.
you're so lovely, thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with all of us
YES!! They will brighten up the tone and give you lots of colour
excellent! glad to have helped
im sure it will be fine. If thats your budget, then thats your budget. It will work fine and be, but the more you can spend on a violin the better as there will be less scratch coming from it to start with and a better clearer tone. It will be ok for now im sure so dont worry about it - you can always sell it and upgrade later...
Good info, i will start learning :D
lol
Nah never too late,i have been a professional flamenco guitar player for around 50 years,and i taught myself to play violin for fun,[ i am left handed] and after a couple of years i can play to a reasonable level,it relaxes my hands and soothes my soul. ! These vids you make are superb,i have picked up a few things...
A big thanks from me. Only a great player with insight can teach as well as you do.
YOu need to go to a professional violin dealer as I always think that from grade 5 you dont want to buy brands anymore as they are mostly factory made so you need something a little more unique. I
I have Primavera 200 4/4 Size Violin as a complete beginner. Good to play and sounds nice.
I own a Fletcher. I am not sure if you've ever heard of this brand. I believe it was close to $400 (American dollars). Do you know much about this brand or have you ever played a Fletcher? I like it, but I am most likely going to be another set of strings as well as another chin rest, shoulder rest and another bow. :) This is my second Fletcher that I owned. The Fletcher I owned prior to his one, I loved how easy it was to tune. The pegs were so smooth & moved so easily. This one, the pegs are sort of rough. Is buying new pegs an options? I am amazed at the things that could be altered & changed to make the sound nicer!
I have never heard of them.
Have not played on that exact one, but I should think that if its a Stentor then you probably cant go far wrong. At least it will be set up correctly and have better parts on it.
I'm a grade 9 violinist and I thought these were so helpful as i require a new violin
So your suggestion for a beginner violin?
I'm going to start learning violin soon.
I would go for ball end as they will slot nicely into the fine tuners at the end - the same as the current ones will be. Loop end are for tagging onto fine tuners that have an 'end' if you like to them - having said that, I might just wait and make sure the ones the S2 comes with have a ball end. They should do, but if you are in a different country to me, I would hate to state ball end and then it turns out they have loop!
I love when you talk! This English is so perfect! A huge difference to American English
When my 3-year-old started her violin lessons, we bought her a new Suzuki 220 1/16 violin. The cost new was about $350, but the music store which sold us the violin has a policy where they will buy back the violin as our daughter grows if we buy a new, larger violin to replace it. I ended up getting a violin for myself, so I could practice with my daughter, I found a Suzuki 550, which is a beautiful instrument, for a good price. As a long-time guitar player, the violin is a little odd to me, but I enjoy learning to play along with my daughter.
Thank you for doing a great service on TH-cam - you've earned my sub! Would you be interested in doing a collaborative teaching video? I've been thinking about doing a teaching video on Bach Double and would love to combine ideas.
ABSOLUTELY!
I have actually been following YOU for a couple of years now and love all your videos as you are a fantastic player!
So im up for a collab!
I will PM you.....
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor
Woo hoo! With our powers combined....
My two online violin teachers will team up?! just frank yang is missing :D
yes indeed, Ben and I are bringing you a special collaboration coming very soon...!!
Nevzat Basci I would have never expected to see a fellow Frank Yang follower on this channel...
yes of course! Dominants are great!
Just bought my first violin after years of wanting one. I love music and always wanted to try strings, a change from my sax. Love the videos, they help a lot. 😁🎻🎵🎵
Justin Boone how old are you?
A fellow Saxophone player wanting to try violin too! Is learning violin harder than sax?
I have not played on one, but i do know for sure Stentors II violins are great starters and especially if you replace the strings with Dominants or Pirastro Tonicas
Hi I've been watching your videos for awhile even doe I do not play the violin nor the piano!
I'm 17 and I've been playing the guitar for at least 8 years and within the past year or so I've been wanting to pick up a different instrument, preferably one that is different to the guitar (I want to feel like I'm learning an instrument for the first time instead of just taking from what I already know..)
I've two main questions, My first one is; Can I teach myself violin with the help of youtube? I don't know of many violin teachers nearby and I'm a bit too proud to be going into violin lessons with young children,
That being said I know that technique is a huge part learning to play the violin and that you need a teacher for that but I've always been good at mimicry be it copy a golf swing or so on.
My second question is should I buy a brand new violin or should I buy a older violin for my first violin?
I've within the region of €400 to spend and I've seen some old (18th century if not older.. and of course younger) violins on ebay up for auction.
If you've read this far, Thanks for bearing with me! and I look forward to your reply!
Theguitarwhiz you can learn to a point from TH-cam, but it wont teach you everything. Enough to get you started, learn the basics, decide whether its for you etc.
What violin you buy is totally up to you. I would not advise buying a violin 'blind' so to speak. Buying a branded violin is fine if you have seen/heard reviews of it, but just buying online from ebay at random or other auctions is a bad idea as its all about the sound and tone as you play it, not necessarily about what it has or hasnt got.
For example, someone could say that the violin is made from the best wood ever in the world and it has this and that on it, but if it sounds like you are banging a pipe against a wall, then its no good is it.
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor Thanks for the quick reply, you don't get that often on youtube!
The violin is a 'Johann Ulrich Fichtl, in
Mittenwald An. 1763' it obviously isn't in tip top condition (the varnish is well worn) but other then that it has no other damage.
The violin is on bid for €133 but there is 8 days left (the violin started at €1) so its price will definitely go up but people are bidding on it so it cant be too bad, regardless if it goes for €200 thats a small price to pay to learn about violins, how to spot damage/how to spot a fake etc..
I also realise that those violins sell for large sums of money (well more than €200 at least!)
For some reason I do not want to get a factory made beginner violin, I don't know why but I dislike the idea of every instrument being identical..
Any input?
Thanks again for replying
Theguitarwhiz No worries. With the violin, I still wouldnt risk buying blind personally. You could end up with something that is in very bad condition - the type you cant see, such as the strings need replacing, the pegs need readjusting, the sound post repositioning etc (as well as the varnish of course as you say), which all costs money and all needs to be done by a proper violin luthier.
You might be buying something thats going to cost you more to get looked at/set up than the cost its worth.
You could also get something that sounds hideously loud, bright etc. Just because its an antique from 1760 or a Mittenwald, doesnt mean to say its good. There are A LOT of really terribly cheap, quickly made Mittenwalds out there and if its one of those, then you might not like it.
Its totally your decision of course, but I just imparting my knowledge and thoughts on the matter to help you.
The Online Piano and Violin Tutor Thanks again, I actually did a bit more research in between replies and I've just the discovered how much goes into a violin to make it worth playing never mind make it sound beautiful!
I think I'll pass on the violin and possibly go to a local luthier (there are very few places to buy mass produced violins here in Galway but there are a number or luthiers!)
I'll if I can get an instrument within the €1000 range or if not atleast get their expertise on what to look for when buying one.
I really can't thank you enough, I could have spend days looking about and getting mix matched information but instead I heard from someone who knows what they are talking about!
i dont know those other brands so i couldnt possibly say, but i do know that the Stentor 1500 is a great little starter violin for the money plus with better strings (either Dominants or Pirastro Tonicas) its even better.
mine is a handmade violin from 1911 i payed 200 dollars and love it to death.
Apollo coollllll.. :)
how did you get such a deal??
How did find such a violin?
hmm, well Pirastro Passiones deliver a nice rich deep tone in medium gauge, but I would recommend them for the G and D strings only - all dependant on your violin of course as what works for your violin say, may not work for mine, but these are nice. A Gold Label E string produces a lovely high tone which is rich, smooth and sweet. You just have to try and see, Dominants are good, but I dont find they have very much in them, in that they have rich toned strings, but there are others (passiones)
I find these on line tutor sessions a useful supplement to proper lessons. However, I found this video extremely waffley. You spent over fourteen minutes repeating yourself and saying something that I could sum up in one sentence i.e. that it is not worth buying a very cheap violin, and that the Stentor II is the one to go for when funds are limited. You mentioned near the beginning that very cheap violins i.e. £30 or so are not worth buying and cannot produce a proper sound, and then contradicted yourself at the end and say to buy one if you cannot afford anything more and that they are OK! I have heard from other buyers that £30 violins are a complete waste of money, don't tune properly and just fall apart. Lets face, it if you cannot afford to pay more than the price of a single lesson (£20 to £40) for an instrument, perhaps you are not taking things seriously. Perhaps you should borrow one and save up a bit more or go second hand. Also, in all that time when you were waving the two violins about in front of us, we were all expecting to hear a demonstration of the sound difference, and you did not even play them.
Andrew Taylor Oh well mate, you go make some vids then. Some people will find the "waffle" useful.
Andrew Taylor I agree she does seem to repeat her sentences throughout on this video and others but I suppose she is trying to be thorough. I forward the video when it happens. If she was more concise it would make better viewing.
its up to you and how much you can afford. I recommend the Stentor 2 but if thats too pricey, then go for the most you can afford. The cheaper the worse and $40 im afraid will be pretty awful...
Just bought my first violin before watching this video ._.
yes always. if you can afford to do so then geo for it. Either Dominant strings or Pirastro Tonicas
Hi teacher, just wanna ask...can i play the violin using guitar chords/tabs? i cannot easily read notes, so i prefer to look at the tabs. if this is possible, then how? thanks
Conelisa Navales For guitar tabs are fine, for violin you should learn music. It's really not that hard once you get past the initial grind. You should be learning rythym and time signatures no matter the instrument.
this was exactly what I was looking for. I know next to nothing and am wanting to get in. Had NO idea what I should do. Had a local shop telling me if I didn't spend 500 dollars then I couldn't learn to play for even a beginner. Definitely looking into the one you suggested. It looks like exactly what I'm wanting
damn, i have no idea its that expensive, in my country you can get a standard violin for 50$, and a good quality one with only 200$ or, if you really dont have any money a second-hand violin is only around 15 - 20$
Professional violins can cost thousands of dollars.
otherworldhades I love your profile pic. Yuno is beautiful.
RedDeJaVu2 Good luck with a 50 dollar violin.
What's your country? In my country people pay $50 for a guitar and amo and think it's "fine".
Chris Hall $50 is fine for a guitar. Average is about £70
its a student quality violin. I have not played on one so i cant say whether its nice or now. Just remember that the cheaper you go the worse it will all be. You can use the price of the Stentor II as a guide.
I never really saw the point in buying violins under $500, let alone a package / kit that includes bow/case. When I first started, I used a rental which gives a high quality violin but no commitment till I gained some experience. Then I went and shop around for a violin in the 1.5k - 3k range. Think I played through 18 violins, 8 from the same brand until I settled on a Jay Haide. It was already a light violin, but to open it up, I replaced the ebony fittings with pernambuco giving it that better look and feels more open and ligther on the shoulder. As for violin strings, I wouldn't say Dominants are the best, they are just starting point to compare other things like the Pirastro Tonica equivalents which are cheaper in some places.
Very good idea, and after a couple of years you'll want one of 1500, and on that one you can just keep on playing (if it has a richness and complexity in the sound)
I have just found your videos on the internet and let me tell you that I 'm so so glad I did!! My little girl is learning to play the violin and I think is time to change the old one she has. This video has helped me a LOT, really, because I did not have a clue about what to buy outside. The thing is that I live in Argentina and we have tons of problems to buy goods via internet.Here we just have access to Chinese violins, which are not much recomended, at least by my daughter's teacher. My parents are in Spain now, so I'll ask them to buy a new one for me. Thank you so so much! You have a new suscriber here! Congrats!!
this video prove that my dad was wrong
Hi Alison,
I bought a Stentor 1 four years ago when I began on my journey to learn to play the violin. I 'pimped' it up with Thomastik Dominant strings and I've been happy with it ever since. It cost £112. I am now working towards my Grade 4 exam and thought it was time for a better quality, nicer sounding instrument, so, I have just bought a Hidersine Venezia. The tone is lovely and mellow, and the wood is beautiful with a two-piece walnut back and with a rosy antique finish :-)
1. Find a stradivarius
well it depends on how much that stuff bothers you really. Im not too fussed about that sort of staff for a beginner violin as that will up the price more than the violin is worth, then you are into the territory where you are spending hundreds. Thats why i recommend the Stentor 2. You can GENTLY push the pegs in or use a little dry bar soap to help them grip.
hello,im 25 years old,and i want to start play violin, i can spend around 500 euros on violin,but i complitly dont have a clue where to look for, a really good one, and i would be really greatfull if you could send me a link where i could order for this price,as you are a master of this subject,and really helpfull. tank you very much for any reply..hope to hear soon..
Maja Makotcenko Cecilio or Stentor are good makes that i can personally recommend. Buy the most that you can afford and remember the cheaper it is, the worse it will be.
thank you very much for reply....appreciate it..
HI! Im trying to figure out which violin to buy between Cecilio CVN300 and Stentor 2(1500). The Cecilio is 100 pounds but comes with a 1 year warranty and d'addario strings whereas the other 1 is 150 pounds but has worser strings. Any advice? :/
If you are talking in pounds, then I assume you are in the UK? You wont be able to get Cecilio violins in the UK (as far as I know) so I would get the SII. Ignore the warranties...no violin I know has ever broken, plus if it does break during shipping for example, the shop will replace it as standard.
Ty alot ^^
nope they are the same, but folks in the USA call it the 1500 and UK the Stentor II. same thing as i did double check! (the 1400 refers to the Stentor I - dont go there though as its no where near as good for an extra few quid)
Find these videos really instructive and informative, however there is a problem with my wanting to learn this lovely instrument. I am left handed, you cannot buy a left handed violin off the shelf, the only people who sell them are from USA or Germany and of course China, which I have already discarded as cheap alternatives. There is plenty of people who have advised me to learn right handed, but this is so alien to me and as far as I am concerned that advise centres on my eventually playing in an orchestra, which I have no intention of doing. I am left handed and always will be. I cannot pluck one off the shelf to see if I like it with regard to tone, feel, weight etc., plus I am wanting to learn the instrument, I do not yet play, I would not know what to look for albeit your advise has given me an incite into what to look for. I have also been advised you cannot convert truly a right handed violin to a left, the strings are wrong, as is the bridge, the chin rest, pegs and what about the sound post? Could you advise on where to buy a left handed violin for a new student to this instrument please.i have contacted a German company who make LH violins, these are about £266, which I am prepared to pay but this is the top of my budget and of course, you do not see secondhand LH violins to purchase, help!
Honestly, I don’t know if any left handed violins or any makes etc. Sorry I can’t help.
I would recommend just playing right handed.
Left handed violins historically have been a bit of a novelty. Mastery of the instrument requires equally high dexterity in both hands. You may struggle more with bowing than fingering at first, whereas right handed players tend to struggle more with fingering than bowing at first. But in the end both hands have to become skilled.
It is a bit like asking for a left handed piano.
On April 2nd I am getting a new violin 🎻
Same
yes there will be, but 'what' will depend on the instrument itself - i couldnt say whether a on-piece would be rich for example and a 2- dark etc...
In the usa the stentor is $300 i know because i bought one.
Isai Gonzalez was it good?
Rory Grant yeah I got bored of it tho I never got into a class bc I was in middle school when I wanted to learn and I was supposed to be learning on the early elementary school
company have allowed me to return my 3/4 and will be exchanging it for full size... so thanks for that Alison, glad to have your advice when it comes to total newb things like size of instrument.. thanks
I think your videos are useful and normally accurate but I take you to task about this "you get what you pay for" myth. I have been making and restoring stringed instruments for at least 30 years. You can pay 2 or 3 times more for an appalling German trade fiddle than you would for a superb handmade Chinese violin. I have two of these that I lend to students and I can tell you that a Stentor 2 comes nowhere near. Highly flamed, beautifully made and set up they cost me about £100 each plus postage and UK vat. Just because an instrument is old or hand made( I used to charge £1500 for mine) or has a trade name, doesn't mean it is good. Just think how much brand names pay for their fiddles if they can sell them to you for £100-£150. The day of the Skylark firewood fiddles is over for good. Thankfully.
I know this comment was left a long time ago but can you suggest any particular Chinese made violins?
i would suggest an acoustic violin for beginners really... Stentor II's are great.
Yes, I have many many videos with me playing in them. Some video do not require me to play and if i did it would be out of context.
Have a look at the videos on my channel page and you will see loads.
Hi Alison, thanks to your review I have bought STENTOR II violin and I am very pleased, thank you for your review! I have been using it for a year now and slowly thinking of upgrading it.
I have a stentor 1 and the tone is outstanding and warm. It also rings like a bell when plucked.
My violin is almost as old as your and was my great great grandfather's. Although it sounds beautiful from a distance it scratches up close and inches from it, it made me hate practicing for 35 years. Then I put 35 dB ear plugs in my ears and all of a sudden it began to be fun.
yes in my opinion it is. The Stentor II is great all rounder starter violin and if you want better, then you need to spend pare more than $500 as anything close to $500 will be so comparable to the StentorII, that its not worth the extra money.
That is such great piece of advice. Thanks so much.
There are literally hundreds and hundreds of violin brands all available in different countries. I have not played on this one so i cant comment. The reason i recommend the Stentor II is that out of the ones i have tried, its the best.
Yes fine as long as there is no damage to them of course or the hair on the bow doesn't need replacing as that will cost more to repair or buy a new one than the worth of the violin potentially.
i would suggest you go to a shop where you can try them out for size as i honestly couldn't say just by reading this. Sorry
I just got a new violin from a music shop that specialises mostly in pianos and keyboards, wasn't expecting much for £90 but it has ebony pegs and fingerboard unlike my last one and a very fine finish (and comes with a very nice case, crap bow and white rosin). And it's so light, less than 500g with the chinrest on (and a better tailpeice).
And it sounds fantastic.
thank you ♡ , I'm an intermediate player and I love watching your videos extremely helpful 🙏
The Argos ones are ok, but not fantastic and are quite scratchy and because the bridge is not angled enough, its hard not to hit other stings. Ok if you are on a tight budget.
if you are talking about the fine tuners on the tail piece, you need to 'reset' them so that they are unscrew about half way then retune with the pegs. Is that what you mean?
fine, but the II has a lot less scratch. Up to you if you want to change it.
You are terrific! This is so helpful to us beginners.
well a stentor 2 would have been the optimum choice, but perhaps you should wait and see what the ebay one is like. Do you have the option to return it? If so, you could not open it and send it straight back for a refund then buy a stentor - its up to you, but just a suggestion?
The violin that Ive got most people have never seen before as its not a traditional violin shape. I recently got it from an estate sale, it was handcrafted in Nova Scotia and sets me in mind of something similar to a cigarbox violin. Even the guys at my local music shop hadnt seen anything quite like it before when I showed it to them. They stated it set them in mind of more a Folk music style violin.
well personally the Stentor 2 as i have no idea on the other one im afraid so it may well be the best violin in the world, or the worst....its something you will never know when buying blind, but at least I have bought one and im going about recommending them. I know that doesnt help much, but its a start. The most ideal thing would be to try them out if poss and make your choice from there.
Thank you for the video......I took lessons 25+years ago and looking to get back into it. Just started looking for a new one. Rented when i was younger going to buy this time
Stentor II i think is the name you are after.
I guess I'll stick with what I have for now and consider buying something better when I'm better at it already.
Thanks for the quick reply and the tip! :)
i dont know the other brands you mentioned, but to get something that will last you until you decide to go professional say, would be upwards of £600 - in fact the more the better as you will get what you pay for. you are then going away from brands and into the old school violin makers of long ago which of course are always better...
HI, Thanks for ur guidance . I too was very confused to which violin to pick up. now this video helping me allot!
I have to buy 2 violins and had NO IDEA what to look for. THANK YOU so much for the information it really helped.
Started 5weeks ago but in a group so finding your videos very helpful. Thank you!!