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Chinese Violins
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Ferret
Byron Bay Australia
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May 2, 2012 - 8:52 am
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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 againlaugh

Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of dunno ..... What was I saying???? facepalm

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Oliver
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May 2, 2012 - 9:11 am
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"Happy" is the only opinion that counts.

In general, the Chinese violin has matured a lot.

coffee2

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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Chinny
Perth

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May 2, 2012 - 9:14 am
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Hi John. I've never used a Chinese violin before. My acoustic is German and my electric is Japanese, pretty sure the origin doesn't make a difference to how addictive it is though :P Do you live in oz world too?

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NoirVelours
Quebec

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May 2, 2012 - 10:03 am
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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 dunno. 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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Kevin M.
Nicholson, Pa
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May 2, 2012 - 10:41 am
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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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EJ-Kisz
Midwest, US
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May 2, 2012 - 10:53 am
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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

SkullSmall-1.jpg

 

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ftufc
SoCal
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May 2, 2012 - 11:43 am
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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.

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NoirVelours
Quebec

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May 2, 2012 - 12:35 pm
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You guys make me jealous with your handmade violins drooling

"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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Oliver
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May 2, 2012 - 12:38 pm
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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 ?

http://www.snowviolin.com/

coffee2

http://www.snowviolin.com/history.php

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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ftufc
SoCal
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May 2, 2012 - 1:38 pm
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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 roflol

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.

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NoirVelours
Quebec

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May 2, 2012 - 1:45 pm
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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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Kevin M.
Nicholson, Pa
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May 2, 2012 - 6:45 pm
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NV, the tonewoods coming from Canada are actually exceptional.

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cdennyb
King for a Day, Peasant for many
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May 2, 2012 - 8:50 pm
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NoirVelours said
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!

Then I guess you'll be taking a nice "road trip" this summer in search of violin makers in your northern area huh....

looking for that violin of your dreams! Remember, when you go, you have to a daily picture thread here to keep us up to date.

"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein

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NoirVelours
Quebec

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May 2, 2012 - 9:12 pm
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Kevin I'm really happy to learn that! I didn't know. It's real hard to find any online info on our luthier, I bet it's ear to mouth stuff.

"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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springer

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May 2, 2012 - 9:15 pm
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I have two chinese Violins. one is a CVN 500 and the other is an unknown. The 500 is a nice Violin, the other is beautiful Violin but is not well put together, it even has real purfuling and birdseye burl maple back. So sometimes you win sometimes you loose. BUY a good name.

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Crazymotive

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May 5, 2012 - 1:41 am
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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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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
May 5, 2012 - 2:19 pm
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The great Kohr violins that are set up at Howard Core are also Chinese but they are made of only the finest materials and truly skilled Chinese luthiers.
Remember that you need to compare apples to apples. Can't compare a $50 violin to one that costs $1000 and up.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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Joe

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May 20, 2012 - 1:30 am
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my advice...dont..if you can afford something better   ....I hear some of the cheap german fiddles are ok...buts that just hearsay 

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