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Hi All
What is the going opinion on Chinese violins.
I have one and I'm rather happy with it. It cost me $AU800. It sounds good to me and its better than the other two I have.
The only problem is. if I play it, an hour later I feel like playing it again
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of ..... What was I saying????
Honorary advisor
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Honorary tenured advisor
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Personnaly *iduno* lol. From what I read a bit everywhere chineese beginner violins are overall crap but sometimes you can get lucky. The violinist opinion on intermediate ones are a lot better. I guess it's like for anything, if it's cheap it means it's made with cheap materials so don't expect much. I never played on a chineese violin though, just read a lot about what to buy before ordering mine. I never played on a good quality violin either . Pierre told me to go try violins at a luthier to see, something I will do next time I go downtown.
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
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I think the real problem is people are comparing a $68 dollar violin with a $300 violin. You can buy cheap garbage instruments made all over the world butif you compare $200 violin with another $200 violin I think for the most part you will get a better quality if not the same quality from China. Now if you want to compare $5000 violins the Chinese violins are in my opinion extremly good and well worth the money.
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I have a Chinese, mid-level violin as well and it just needed minor adjusting! It sounds great now for being a $250 set up! The luthier I went to told me that the newer Chinese violins are much better then the ones they were making in the early 90's.
Mine still sounds really bright compared to my old German violin, but I don't mind! Actually, the older it gets, the more it seems to be "settling." It actually reminds me of a puppy in the sense that when it was a "pup," it was wild, high-strung and in constant need of attention! LOL That's why I named mine "Jules" which means young one or youthful!
It seems to be breaking in quite well now and I'm really happy with it!
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin
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John, I agree with the points laready made by everyone, i.e., you can buy "cheap" from any country; it's the quality of materials and the craftsmanship that make the instrument.
That said, I personally believe [from experience, albeit short] that the quality of materials and craftsmanship are dictated by the specific luthier; it's the philosophy and experience of that luthier that makes the instrument and there happen to be some incredible luthiers in China today. Both of mine are by Scott Cao; one was made in China in his "factory" and the other was handmade in CA by just one of Scott's craftsmen. Both are incredible instruments, but clearly the more expensive one produces an unbelievable sound and continues to grow every week I play it.
Honorary tenured advisor
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King
In the 90's I bought 3 Chinese instruments:
Cello my rating very good
16" viola my rating great sound no projection
15 1/2" viola my rating minus 30
Today however I probably could not afford the cases ?
When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
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NV, at this point I probably can't make mine sound any better than yours, lmao! And remember, I'm old enough to be your grandpa, this is probably the last violin I ever own,,, you have dozens of years to get the violin of your dreams... I'm too old for the "anticipation is sweet" concept
But I do love my violin with my soul; I honestly never knew an instrument could sound so vibrant and full and alive,,, it's actually like it's alive, just waiting for the opportunity each day to SING,,,,, but alas, for the next year, it'll have to be happy with just being strangled daily.
Honorary tenured advisor
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I'm not that young lol I'm 39! The violin of my dreams would be made with my province good maple and spruce! I bet it's quite an experience to play on an instrument that has roots and soul where you were born!
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
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Honorary tenured advisor
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Honorary tenured advisor
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Honorary advisor
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This past winter I bought an Eastman violin which is made in China. So far I am impressed with the quality, workmanship, appearance and excellent tone of the instrument. The Chinese have made great strides in bringing quality into Chinese violin making. In the past Chinese violins were called VSO's (Violin Shaped Objects). But that stereotype is rapidly changing as more Chinese makers produce quality instruments.
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