I purchased a violin last week from a marketplace seller. It was her partners violin (who’d passed away recently) and she knew nothing about it except that it was a good sounding violin. She didn’t have a bow for it either and just an old wooden case held together by duct tape. Needles to say it’s beautiful and sounds nice. However I took it to a large reputable store here in Montreal and they told me there’s 800$ of repairs and they may not even touch it cause the repairs may not make much difference etc… I was about to message the seller then I picked up a bow and played the violin. And it sounds warm! And loud! She asked me if I wanted to rent one of theirs instead I said no thanks. So the receptionist who is a cellist helped me find my bow and all the fixins for it. Then I went on my way. I took it to another luthier whose eyes lit up when he saw it. The grain on the top isn’t cut symmetrical so I asked will it warp. And he said not likely cause it’s a hard spruce. The back is maple. He played it and told me he liked it. I finally heard it played by a seasoned violinist. He did tell me that the fingerboard needs replacing but that’ll be 80$. Far cry from 800$. And btw I’m never going back to the store where the luthier laughed with her colleagues at my violin. I thought that was highly unprofessional. She also assumed I was a novice without even asking me. I hated her because she has no idea about customer service and how to treat another human being. Anyways that’s my story so far. Thanks for the helpful video. I liked and subbed 😊
Thanks for taking a moment to share your story. The world is wide regarding all things violin (including repairs). I am happy you found a solution and agree that customer service matters. Thanks for subscribing! I work full-time as a nurse and do not get to many videos anymore, but post tons of freebies on my website. Thanks! HF
Hello! Please let me know any questions you may still have about purchasing a used violin in the comments below. Also, join me on my website to download a free PDF checklist and PDF of the accompanying article to help you in your purchasing process: www.musicforyoungviolinists.com/blog/how-to-buy-a-used-violin#/ Thanks, Heather
How should a person that has never played, knows nothing, but wants to learn, buy a used violin? It seems a lot of your points are geared to people that already have some common knowledge, which is great, this is not meant to be a negative comment. I'm just hoping for some guidance for a TOTAL newbie. (I don't even know how to read music yet!) :-)
Hello- Thanks so much for reaching out. I understand that much of this content relies on an existing foundational knowledge. With that in mind, you can consider it a lesson in itself to help you get started with this process. I recommend staying away from instruments on Ebay. For the best quality/for least amount of $ instrument, I recommend, Shar (www.sharmusic.com/). Lastly, most teachers are willing to assist in this process so you can ask your instructor for help (if you are learning this way). I hope something in this reply is useful to you. Congrats on beginning your musical journey! I am so excited for you, HF
One more thing, it may help to watch the other video in this series (czcams.com/video/JwhaTgjvxz4/video.html) and also look at the blog posts that accompany each video. Thanks again!
Dear User names Vicki, I'm not Tessabut to help you if your insecure about buy ing a violin rent one from a well established dealer. See if you like it and get in with a teacher and other students in a small class. Good violins are extremely expensive and can cost as much or more than a piano. If your pretty sure you want to buy one get one without cracks or warps have it sized to yourself or whoever will be playing it.make sure the instrument has a straight bridge and is facing correctly.are the strings comfortable on your fingers? Plan on a string change and shoulder rest cost.make sure it has at least two bows included in the cost. Bow repairs are not cheap. The most important part of the violin is its bow.Dont be afraid to take lessons from a Violist if you can't find a good violin teacher. Make sure you listen to them play their repertoire. Make sure they play loudly and with energy.I would look into Gliga violins they are Rumanian instrument and seem to have good tone.Make sure you buy a solid wood violin and not plywood which will never improve with age. Hope this helps. Bye!
Hello, Thanks for the reply. I would not recommend purchasing a used instrument unless you can see and play it in person. That's my opinion. There are too many people who do not even know what they are really selling and misrepresent the instrument. Best wishes, Heather
THANK YOU! WILL WANT TO WATCH AGAIN. MOST HELPFUL! DID NOT KNOW YOU LIVE I N EUGENE OREGON. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO. AUDITION A VIOLIN FOR ME WHILE I LISTENED? ITS NOT THAT I DONT TRUST MY EARS BUT RATHER HAVING A PROFESSIONAL PLAY THE INSTRUMENT WOULD FREE ME UP TO INSPECT STRUCTURAL integrity. I APPOLOGIZE, I THINK IVE IMPOSED. I WAS THI KI G OF POSSIBLY. BUYING ANOTBER VIOLIN OR VIOLA. WHEN YOU SAID YOU LIVED I.N EUGENE OREGON I ABOUT FLIPPED! YOUR CHELLO HOLD VIBRATO EXERCISE WAS VERY. CONCRETE.and direct, I FELT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN. 40 YEARS an instructor was not B.S. ING ME! IT WAS RUDE OF ME TO ASK YOU TO PLAY AN PERSPECTIVE VIOLIN, WHEN YOU HAVE A LIFE OF YOUR OWN. I WANTED TO CHECK OUT EUGENE VIOLIN SHOP. PLEASE DONT FEEL OBLIGATED TO HELP ME. IM GOOD! I OWN 2 VIOLINS ALREADY. AND I AM THANKFUL FOR THEM. YOUR LIKE ROYALTY, YOUR A CELEBRITY. A star!. WHAT you do with that maginni is breath taking. I CI CERELY BELIEVE YOU.HAVE THE FINEST SOUNDI G. VIOLIN IN THE WORLD. THAT I STRUMENT HAS POWER AS WELL AS TONE! I JUST GOT THROUGH GLUING 2 CELLO PARCHMENTS TO MY MILO STAMM BRIDGE. I WAS ABLE TO PLAY THE CAN CAN, IT WAS LIKE THE FOLLIES BERGIERE IN MY TRAILER.MY INSTRUCTOR USED TO SAY GRAB SOME RUBBER CEMENT AND ROLL IT INTO A BALL AND STICK IT UNDER THE HIGH.E and a string. I DONT THINK I.EVER DID THAT BUT IVE USED RUBBER BANDS AND FOIL AND WAS THINKING ABOUT CORK AS APARCHMENT. WELL NOW THAT I HAVE REAL PARCHMENT FINALY AFTER 40 YEARS, ITS LIKE MY VIOLI N IS SAYING IM. ALIVE! THE HIGH E IS LIKE IVE HEARD VIOLINS ON TELEVISION AND SYMPHONYS. JUST THINK 40 YEARS TO GET AROUND TO FINALLY INSTALLING PARCHMENTS. I WISH I HAD INSTALLED THEM YEARS AGO ON MY GREAT GRSNDFATHERS CREMONA COPY MADE IN ABOUT 1850. WOW WHAT A. TIME WARP.! I WHITTLED OUT THE Milo stamm with directions from Davide SOLLa master Luther in Cremona. The measurements he showed enlightened me very Much. I NOW CONSIDER MY SELF A HACK LUTIER. MY BRIDGE FEET WERE TOO WIDE. ANYWAY SORRY TO BORE YOU, BUT I THINK I HAVE BEEN BITTEN BY THE VIOLIN BUG! HOPE TO . MEET YOU SOMETIME BUT I KNOW YOUR BUSY WORLD CLASS MUSICIAN. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP! BYE FOR NOW.
I purchased a violin last week from a marketplace seller. It was her partners violin (who’d passed away recently) and she knew nothing about it except that it was a good sounding violin. She didn’t have a bow for it either and just an old wooden case held together by duct tape. Needles to say it’s beautiful and sounds nice. However I took it to a large reputable store here in Montreal and they told me there’s 800$ of repairs and they may not even touch it cause the repairs may not make much difference etc… I was about to message the seller then I picked up a bow and played the violin. And it sounds warm! And loud! She asked me if I wanted to rent one of theirs instead I said no thanks. So the receptionist who is a cellist helped me find my bow and all the fixins for it. Then I went on my way. I took it to another luthier whose eyes lit up when he saw it. The grain on the top isn’t cut symmetrical so I asked will it warp. And he said not likely cause it’s a hard spruce. The back is maple. He played it and told me he liked it. I finally heard it played by a seasoned violinist. He did tell me that the fingerboard needs replacing but that’ll be 80$. Far cry from 800$. And btw I’m never going back to the store where the luthier laughed with her colleagues at my violin. I thought that was highly unprofessional. She also assumed I was a novice without even asking me. I hated her because she has no idea about customer service and how to treat another human being. Anyways that’s my story so far. Thanks for the helpful video. I liked and subbed 😊
Thanks for taking a moment to share your story. The world is wide regarding all things violin (including repairs). I am happy you found a solution and agree that customer service matters. Thanks for subscribing! I work full-time as a nurse and do not get to many videos anymore, but post tons of freebies on my website. Thanks! HF
You've done an excellant job Tessa thank you!
Thanks!
Hello! Please let me know any questions you may still have about purchasing a used violin in the comments below. Also, join me on my website to download a free PDF checklist and PDF of the accompanying article to help you in your purchasing process: www.musicforyoungviolinists.com/blog/how-to-buy-a-used-violin#/ Thanks, Heather
Thank you for accepting me. I am a specialist in oriental music
You are most welcome. We need music in the world. Stay focused.
How should a person that has never played, knows nothing, but wants to learn, buy a used violin? It seems a lot of your points are geared to people that already have some common knowledge, which is great, this is not meant to be a negative comment. I'm just hoping for some guidance for a TOTAL newbie. (I don't even know how to read music yet!) :-)
Hello- Thanks so much for reaching out. I understand that much of this content relies on an existing foundational knowledge. With that in mind, you can consider it a lesson in itself to help you get started with this process. I recommend staying away from instruments on Ebay. For the best quality/for least amount of $ instrument, I recommend, Shar (www.sharmusic.com/). Lastly, most teachers are willing to assist in this process so you can ask your instructor for help (if you are learning this way). I hope something in this reply is useful to you. Congrats on beginning your musical journey! I am so excited for you, HF
One more thing, it may help to watch the other video in this series (czcams.com/video/JwhaTgjvxz4/video.html) and also look at the blog posts that accompany each video. Thanks again!
Heather Figi - Thanks so much for your response, it really does help!
Dear User names Vicki, I'm not Tessabut to help you if your insecure about buy ing a violin rent one from a well established dealer. See if you like it and get in with a teacher and other students in a small class. Good violins are extremely expensive and can cost as much or more than a piano. If your pretty sure you want to buy one get one without cracks or warps have it sized to yourself or whoever will be playing it.make sure the instrument has a straight bridge and is facing correctly.are the strings comfortable on your fingers? Plan on a string change and shoulder rest cost.make sure it has at least two bows included in the cost. Bow repairs are not cheap. The most important part of the violin is its bow.Dont be afraid to take lessons from a Violist if you can't find a good violin teacher. Make sure you listen to them play their repertoire. Make sure they play loudly and with energy.I would look into Gliga violins they are Rumanian instrument and seem to have good tone.Make sure you buy a solid wood violin and not plywood which will never improve with age. Hope this helps. Bye!
Hi there, this video was very helpful. What do you think about buying used instruments online?
Hello, Thanks for the reply. I would not recommend purchasing a used instrument unless you can see and play it in person. That's my opinion. There are too many people who do not even know what they are really selling and misrepresent the instrument. Best wishes, Heather
Just curious, who is the violin maker in Eugene, OR?
David Gusset www.gussetviolins.com/
I like your channel. You are wonderful in explaining good luck
Hello! Thank you for the kind words and support. Best wishes to you and your music. Heather
THANK YOU! WILL WANT TO WATCH AGAIN. MOST HELPFUL! DID NOT KNOW YOU LIVE I N EUGENE OREGON. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO. AUDITION A VIOLIN FOR ME WHILE I LISTENED? ITS NOT THAT I DONT TRUST MY EARS BUT RATHER HAVING A PROFESSIONAL PLAY THE INSTRUMENT WOULD FREE ME UP TO INSPECT STRUCTURAL integrity. I APPOLOGIZE, I THINK IVE IMPOSED. I WAS THI KI G OF POSSIBLY. BUYING ANOTBER VIOLIN OR VIOLA. WHEN YOU SAID YOU LIVED I.N EUGENE OREGON I ABOUT FLIPPED! YOUR CHELLO HOLD VIBRATO EXERCISE WAS VERY. CONCRETE.and direct, I FELT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN. 40 YEARS an instructor was not B.S. ING ME! IT WAS RUDE OF ME TO ASK YOU TO PLAY AN PERSPECTIVE VIOLIN, WHEN YOU HAVE A LIFE OF YOUR OWN. I WANTED TO CHECK OUT EUGENE VIOLIN SHOP. PLEASE DONT FEEL OBLIGATED TO HELP ME. IM GOOD! I OWN 2 VIOLINS ALREADY. AND I AM THANKFUL FOR THEM. YOUR LIKE ROYALTY, YOUR A CELEBRITY. A star!. WHAT you do with that maginni is breath taking. I CI CERELY BELIEVE YOU.HAVE THE FINEST SOUNDI G. VIOLIN IN THE WORLD. THAT I STRUMENT HAS POWER AS WELL AS TONE! I JUST GOT THROUGH GLUING 2 CELLO PARCHMENTS TO MY MILO STAMM BRIDGE. I WAS ABLE TO PLAY THE CAN CAN, IT WAS LIKE THE FOLLIES BERGIERE IN MY TRAILER.MY INSTRUCTOR USED TO SAY GRAB SOME RUBBER CEMENT AND ROLL IT INTO A BALL AND STICK IT UNDER THE HIGH.E and a string. I DONT THINK I.EVER DID THAT BUT IVE USED RUBBER BANDS AND FOIL AND WAS THINKING ABOUT CORK AS APARCHMENT. WELL NOW THAT I HAVE REAL PARCHMENT FINALY AFTER 40 YEARS, ITS LIKE MY VIOLI N IS SAYING IM. ALIVE! THE HIGH E IS LIKE IVE HEARD VIOLINS ON TELEVISION AND SYMPHONYS. JUST THINK 40 YEARS TO GET AROUND TO FINALLY INSTALLING PARCHMENTS. I WISH I HAD INSTALLED THEM YEARS AGO ON MY GREAT GRSNDFATHERS CREMONA COPY MADE IN ABOUT 1850. WOW WHAT A. TIME WARP.! I WHITTLED OUT THE Milo stamm with directions from Davide SOLLa master Luther in Cremona. The measurements he showed enlightened me very
Much. I NOW CONSIDER MY SELF A HACK LUTIER. MY BRIDGE FEET WERE TOO WIDE. ANYWAY SORRY TO BORE YOU, BUT I THINK I HAVE BEEN BITTEN BY THE VIOLIN BUG! HOPE TO . MEET YOU SOMETIME BUT I KNOW YOUR BUSY WORLD CLASS MUSICIAN. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP! BYE FOR NOW.