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I had wanted to buy a viola for my birthday this May, but I have changed my mind. I do still want a viola, but I think I will wait until next year for that. As someone suggested, perhaps it would be best to hone my violin skills more first, and then try something else.
I am also holding off on getting Fiddlerman strings, bow, and rosin.
My new plan is the buy the Fiddlerman Concert Viola for my birthday. That violin was already on my wish list, but I had planned to get a viola first. Now I will go for the new Concert violin first, instead. And since that comes with the Fiddlerman strings, bow, and rosin, I might as well wait for those, and save that money to put towards that new violin.
I would really like to go for the Fiddlerman Artist violin, but that is just a bit out of my price range. I might be able to buy one of those eventually, just not within the next few months. The Fiddlerman Concert Violin is something I can budget for to buy in May.
Meanwhile, I am investing in a few other violin supplies and a few basic luthier tools. I had intended just to learn how to play the violin, but I am finding that I have also been bitten by the luthier bug. I want to be able to take a violin apart and put it back together, and then, maybe, take it farther and buy a kit to build one. But these are long term goals, not something I am rushing into. I am taking all this one step at a time. It will take several months, or more probably... years, to buy all the tools I will need.
MACJR
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Sounds like a good plan 
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World's Okayest Fiddler
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In my next budget cycle, coming up in a few days, I will purchase a fairly good low-budget violin, another Cecilio, to start the process of learning on. It has an ebony fingerboard, but probably will not sound as nice as my CVN-500. I plan to do some simple stuff with it, at first. Change out the fittings for rosewood, except for the fingerboard, and maybe that too in time. I will also try different chin rests and strings on this instrument.
Then, I search for a real project violin. Something used that needs work, but not too much work. I do not have all the tools yet to do extensive violin repairs. A violin that I can try changing a fingerboard and nut on would be perfect. I guess it does not even have to be playable afterward, but I think I would rather get one that can be played after the fingerboard and nut job, so I can confirm that everything went well (or not).
I have not found that used violin yet, but I will keep searching until I find something within the range of price and needed repairs I am looking for.
MACJR
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Ebay always seems to have a good selection of old fiddles that need a little love.
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So far, my searches have found lots of violins that would do on eBay... if I wanted to pay more for a used violin than that same instrument, make and model, brand new, is selling for on Amazon.
I have seen a lot of highly inflated prices on eBay lately.
MACJR
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Wow... congrats on your decision to get the Concert Violin. Yahoo... so many many happy happy members with that selection.
awh..the Luthier bug... that is one that certainly bites a lot of the members here.
I am not good with all that sort of thing. I keep promising myself to get a sound post setter, because they day that post falls, I will be a heap of messed up. I will freak out. I haven't had a sound post fall or need adjustment so far... KNOCK on wood.
Great plans for your project and Birthday Violin.
Cheers,
Thanks for sharing.
Toni
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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Thanks, Toni.
It is a long time to May, and yet, I know it will be here like tomorrow by the time I get there. Time seems to flow so much faster the older I get. I sit down for breakfast, and an entire season flies by before I am done... well, not quite, but it seems like it sometimes.
Yep, I need to get those tools for working on sound posts too. I have not need them yet, but it is best to get them before I do. At least my new solid body electric violin does not have a sound post to worry about. 
MACJR
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MACJR said
So far, my searches have found lots of violins that would do on eBay... if I wanted to pay more for a used violin than that same instrument, make and model, brand new, is selling for on Amazon.
I have seen a lot of highly inflated prices on eBay lately.
MACJR
Ah ok, I misunderstood, I thought for your second project violin you were looking for something older, not a new model. I see lots of really cheap fiddles on ebay that would be good for someone wanting a project, but have never bothered to price new ones.
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damfino said
Ah ok, I misunderstood, I thought for your second project violin you were looking for something older, not a new model. I see lots of really cheap fiddles on ebay that would be good for someone wanting a project, but have never bothered to price new ones.
I have looked at some older ones too, but I would rather not use one of those for practice. Older violins, of some quality, should be worked on by someone who knows what they are doing.
I would rather work on a newer violin that is not too low budget, but not too expensive either. Something that it would not sadden me if I screw it up.
MACJR
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That makes sense
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Sounds like a great plan MacJR
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Good plan. BTW, even if you are big enough for a 16.5" inch viola, you might be better off getting a 15" or 15.5" viola since the viola has wider finger spacing than the violin to the point where it feels different on both. It could really affect your intonation on either if you intend to double. I'm not saying that it's not possible to play a 4/4 (14" or 14.5" in viola size terms) violin and a 16.5" viola at the same time and be in tune and all that, I'm just saying that it is harder to do so. Keep that in mind.
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I've found that the more you play both, the less the difference between them is an issue. Your mind learns that the fingering for each is contextual, and that you need more space between the fingers for the bigger instrument. It DOES mess you up some at first, but that effect dwindles pretty rapidly (a few weeks). YMMV.
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I will probably go for the 15.5" viola, either later this year, or sometime next year.
For now, I will stick with the violin. The violin is keeping me busy, and will for a while yet, so this is okay with me.
MACJR
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