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What to do? Buying violin tomorrow.
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Aleive
Northern Norway

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January 22, 2012 - 5:22 pm
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So tomorrow is the big day. And I am buying one of the fantastic violins I have been trying out.. I am completely stumped as to which though.. The choices are between 5 pieces

 

Electrical Stagg EVA

Electrical Stagg EVN

Electrical Cecilio CEVN-series

All of which I am confident will be more than adequate once I make some minor adjustments, take my car, run it over the bows, and replace them.

As for acoustic there is one handmade by a local. He is a very respected man. But my wallet is starved. At least for that kind of money, and I can't quite justify blowing $4000 on my first self-owned violin.

There is also the August F. Kohr violin HC602. I loved playing all of them. I am just lost. The Stagg EVA won out as far as the electrical ones goes. But I will have to do quite the bit of work on it. Raise and lower both the fingerboard and bridge proportionally. Luckily I know how to- And I'd get help.

 

Would there be any benefits/drawbacks by learning on an electrical violin? Purely technically I can only see advantages. Like how my neighbors won't have to bring about their shotgun. Because it is quieter than an acoustic one. And I have a rather good soundcard, but no microphone to boast of.

So it boils down to: If there are no serious drawbacks to practicing on an electrical violin, I will go for it.

 

In advance: Thank you!cheers

"Art, as far as it is able, follows nature, as a pupil imitates his master; thus your art must be, as it were, God's grandchild."

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Oliver
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January 22, 2012 - 6:59 pm
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Assuming a solid body electrical you are immediately free from sound post worries and many other ailments.

coffee2

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

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Kevin M.
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January 22, 2012 - 7:02 pm
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The only major difference will be the weight.  With the electric you might have to support it with your hand whereas with the acoustic you can easily hold it with your chin.

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screeeech

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January 22, 2012 - 7:42 pm
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I was given a Cecilio electric as a gift and the string were installed incorrectly and 2 broke while tuning.

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Aleive
Northern Norway

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January 22, 2012 - 8:13 pm
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screeeech said

I was given a Cecilio electric as a gift and the string were installed incorrectly and 2 broke while tuning.

Wow. That's a super-bummer :O The one I tried out was all good though. I was not impressed by the bow and the distance between the strings and fingerboard though.

"Art, as far as it is able, follows nature, as a pupil imitates his master; thus your art must be, as it were, God's grandchild."

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
January 23, 2012 - 2:57 pm
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There is a possibility that the strings were over tuned when they broke screeeeech, right? This doesn't generally happen with new strings unless something is terribly wrong.

The electric violin will probably be fine for you but you need to realize that the un-enhanced sound on an electric violin is not that great. Sounds more like a sewing machine. With effects you can have a lot of fun.

If you are serious about buying a August F. Kohr violin HC602, let me know and I'll beat anyone's price, special price for you:-)

Plus I can test it for you first if you like. I want to learn more about these instruments.

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

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Aleive
Northern Norway

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January 23, 2012 - 3:12 pm
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Fiddlerman said

There is a possibility that the strings were over tuned when they broke screeeeech, right? This doesn't generally happen with new strings unless something is terribly wrong.

The electric violin will probably be fine for you but you need to realize that the un-enhanced sound on an electric violin is not that great. Sounds more like a sewing machine. With effects you can have a lot of fun.

If you are serious about buying a August F. Kohr violin HC602, let me know and I'll beat anyone's price, special price for you:-)

Plus I can test it for you first if you like. I want to learn more about these instruments.

I just bought a Stagg. For the moment being I am not impressed. I had no idea I would have to shave both the bridge and fingerboard. I am just now trying to figure out if I want to keep this. Or get my money back.. It is a rather cheap violin. And Stagg isn't exactly known for delivering goods without manufacturing defects. Which is why 1 of the 3 music shops nearby has decided not to take in stuff from them unless a special order comes along. So I am trying to decide between getting my money back, and buy a different one. If I was to keep it I need to either take it to the local violin-maker or fix it myself. If I was to return it I need to decide on a new instrument all together :3 

So I thank you. I shall keep your offer in mind ;) But I do not think I am ready to make up my mind just yet ;) I need to find some rosin (Since the pack that was included was a brick, that turned to dust) And see if it actually works semi-properly.. 

 

Again thank you Fiddle^^ I appreciate it. Although "Special prize for you my friend" is a rather dangerous line to use :P But that is a story for another time^^

"Art, as far as it is able, follows nature, as a pupil imitates his master; thus your art must be, as it were, God's grandchild."

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Aleive
Northern Norway

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January 23, 2012 - 3:17 pm
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Price even..

 

Anyhow I bet you would be able to. As everything is roughly two to three times as expensive here in Norway-.- One of the drawbacks of living in a very rich country.. 1: People can afford it. 2: the taxes makes it inevitable that the price skyrockets.

"Art, as far as it is able, follows nature, as a pupil imitates his master; thus your art must be, as it were, God's grandchild."

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Aleive
Northern Norway

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January 23, 2012 - 4:37 pm
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Okay.. So.. I am getting rid of this violin.. Even if it is one that fiddlershop has in stock, and sell.. 

My issues with it is:

1: Poor seam on fingerboard/Do you get neck tension.

2: Crooked fingerboard

3: Static on pickups

4: Bad bow (Replaceable, but stilll.)

5: Ruined rosin. (This is stuff you'd expect, however very inconvenient)

6: Pegs are loose. (Tuning won't stay. They just roll back out of tune. And pushing does not help)

7: The glitter.. I feel odd playing it

8: The arch does not allow for playing 1 string at a time 

 

So I am sorry to say so, even if fiddlershop sells this. I am not likely to reccomend this one to anyone else. Admittedly all of these could arguably be production errors. So I won't badmouth it. The sound is good though. So with a lot of work it could very well be a masterpiece. But I seriously am not spending that much money on a WIP. If the store would give me a 50%, then maybe. But no. 

Returning it tomorrow. Now I need to figure out what violin I want to buy instead.

 

Fiddlerman: Mustang mentioned making a film of his two violins. So per now I stand between those and the Kohr. Is the violin sold without everything? If so. How much would you need for a pack with the Kohr, a decent bow (I like slightly heavy ones), some rosin, and a decent case? I might also eventually be interested in a shoulder rest. 

This is of course all very hypothetical, and I am making no promises whatsoever. And I am NOT a haggling person. Just so you know :P Feel free to PM me^^

"Art, as far as it is able, follows nature, as a pupil imitates his master; thus your art must be, as it were, God's grandchild."

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Aleive
Northern Norway

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January 23, 2012 - 6:08 pm
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Also.. I have had my share of fun with it though.. All day and night have I been ploinking at it. Bluuuuuuues! Hell yeh. No bow though. Which sucks. I was able to borrow my neighbors for a second, that was somewhat fun though <33

"Art, as far as it is able, follows nature, as a pupil imitates his master; thus your art must be, as it were, God's grandchild."

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
January 23, 2012 - 10:45 pm
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Aleive, I'm not entirely sure which violin you own but I am guessing it's a CEVN and I'm sorry to hear that it's not in the shape that you expected it to be in. Where did you get it and when? You should be able to return it with all those problems. You don't have to worry about talking bad about any instruments that I sell. I want users to hear all sides of the story and I can only speak for the instruments that I have tested personally. I am sure that they differ from one another. This is inevitable when instruments are mass produced. It's also the only way to keep the price as low as it is.

As you know, in life you stand a greater chance of getting something good if you can pay more for it. This being said, it is not always the case. Usually better workmanship takes much more time. Better materials cost more.... We have cases that cost

I have Jaeger cases that cost over $1400.00
My personal bows cost me betweed 2000 - 4000

I still use my inexpensive Carbon Fiber bow from time to time and am seriously satisfied with it.

The good thing about the core instruments is that they are set up one by one and carefully adjusted. That is not to say that the sound post or bridge won't move when shipping but that can be quickly corrected by your local luthier IF necessary.

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

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Aleive
Northern Norway

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January 23, 2012 - 11:07 pm
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Fiddlerman said

Aleive, I'm not entirely sure which violin you own but I am guessing it's a CEVN and I'm sorry to hear that it's not in the shape that you expected it to be in. Where did you get it and when? You should be able to return it with all those problems. You don't have to worry about talking bad about any instruments that I sell. I want users to hear all sides of the story and I can only speak for the instruments that I have tested personally. I am sure that they differ from one another. This is inevitable when instruments are mass produced. It's also the only way to keep the price as low as it is.

As you know, in life you stand a greater chance of getting something good if you can pay more for it. This being said, it is not always the case. Usually better workmanship takes much more time. Better materials cost more.... We have cases that cost

I have Jaeger cases that cost over $1400.00
My personal bows cost me betweed 2000 - 4000

I still use my inexpensive Carbon Fiber bow from time to time and am seriously satisfied with it.

The good thing about the core instruments is that they are set up one by one and carefully adjusted. That is not to say that the sound post or bridge won't move when shipping but that can be quickly corrected by your local luthier IF necessary.

 

Yeah. It is my least favorite instrument shop I got it from. Going to stand outside their door in aprox 4 hours. 

As I mentioned I am fairly sure these are just production errors. And/or mishandling from the people at the store. (needless to say they do not have a lot of respect in town) And I was fully aware that the quality wouldn't be prime.. But I had hoped it was playable at the very least. That said, I have friends that are super happy with their Staggs :) And this one could be very good if I put some work into it. However if I wanted to put x^2 number of manhours into getting a functional violin, I would probably go about it another way. Which is why I am returning it^^ 

Don't get me wrong. I am not super-picky. Nor do I have the skill required to be super-picky, but some things just stick out too much you know.. Nor do I have a fat enough wallet to invest $5-10.000... Even if I DID have a wallet that thick, I am sensible enough not to spend that much on my first violin. 

Even if I am a quick learner, as far as instruments goes (It is just about my one and only hobby :P) I am not pro. Nor do I aim to become that :P  

My only ambition is to enjoy myself, and the music, learn new things. But I do think the violin will be on top of the pedestal. 

 

But I digress.

 

So I will digress some more:

I am super happy you are so active in your community here, and that you are so friendly too. I realize there is potential business on this forum for you. But it pleases me that it is so evident that is not your only motivation ;) You deserve kudos for this, you really do!

"Art, as far as it is able, follows nature, as a pupil imitates his master; thus your art must be, as it were, God's grandchild."

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Aleive
Northern Norway

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January 24, 2012 - 11:17 am
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I was very pleased today.. After some "no." And "No way we are returning your money" while I was explaining to them the defects with the violin. I resorted to the more hostile approach referring to this trade as a scam. They sold me a bad product. Knowingly so, and refused to give me my money back. I reminded them that that is a crime and punishable by law. 

 

They ended up almost throwing the money at me. So I left happy as all hell. And I am never going back. Unethical, unprofessional people..... Urgh.

 

But I am happy now though. Even if I do feel a hole in my soul with no violin to play..

"Art, as far as it is able, follows nature, as a pupil imitates his master; thus your art must be, as it were, God's grandchild."

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
January 24, 2012 - 6:49 pm
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Well, what is better, having a bad quality instrument that you don't feel like playing because you didn't have the guts to return it or pursuing the instrument that will satisfy your soul and desires?
Congratulations. I never fully understood which one you had bought though???

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

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