Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.
Check out our 2023 Group Christmas Project HERE
Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
(3 votes) 
New member
Offline
I am a keen violinist, but with limited technique (play regularly in a small band in my church, struggle if asked to move out of 1st postion 
I have an old violin (german, about 100yrs old) which my luthier says is worthless (literally falling apart in places), and does sound awful - I've had new strings/bridge/sound post adjustment etc and nothing has helped, it's been in my possession for 30 years, and I'd like to replace it.
My budget is very limited, and I am down to a choice of 2 violins - your help please in selecting =
Stentor conservatoire
or
hidersine piacenza
It has to be one of these 2 as this is what is available in my price range in my local shops.
Many thanks for your help
which would you recomend?
- Stentor conservatoire
- hidersine piacenza
Offline
Can you take one home and play it for a couple weeks? Take notes about likes and dislikes about it. Record yourself playing it, even if just sound. Note which violin it is.
Take it back and try out the other? Do the same thing and then talk to your luthier? If you prefer one but like a sound from the other, the luthier might be able to help with different strings or adjustments to get the one you prefer to have some of the qualities you preferred from the other? Just my thinking.
The Bumblebee Flies!
Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.
Regulars
Offline
I'm with cid on this. Often the sound varies with the same models and it's had to tell only going by a make or model, although this does tell us something about the construction of the violin and maybe some general characteristics. If I were pressed between these two I would want to at least give them both a try for awhile if possible.
Regulars
Offline
@april I'm not personally familiar with either of the violins you mentioned, but they appear to be around $350-$400. I would take a look at the FiddlerMan viollins at http://www.FiddlerShop.com. The Fiddlerman Apprentice, Concert and Concert Deluxe are in the similar price range and have gotten great reviews.
Fiddlershop offers home trial which is a good way to try out several violins you might like. I'm in Texas and the instruments I've tried from them always got here in great shape and return shipping is included.
I agree with @Mouse and @starise that you need to try any violin before buying.
Bob in Lone Oak, Texas
Offline
Yup @april - agree totally with all the above comments - if possible, try before you buy, and as @bob says above, great service from FiddlerShop as well with the home trials.
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
Offline
I think April is trying to buy locally, but, April, if that is not a priority, Fiddlershop is great. If you decide to expand the search, Fiddlershop is very customer oriented and you can email and call them to get as much information as you need. I know, I am always getting useful friendly info before purchasing. I have not heard or read one bad thing about their instruments on here, or in Googling reviews when I was searching.
Full disclosure, I did go local when buying, but if I had not had that option, it would have been Fiddlershop. Sometimes I wish I had not lucked out with a shop within driving distance and tried Fiddlershop. They were to be my goto until I found the shop in driving distance. But, again, try them first from your local store.
The Bumblebee Flies!
Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.
Regulars
Offline
cid I tend to think you're right about her trying to buy locally. If she is in a country with steep fees for shipping it makes an off shore purchase a lot more expensive. I hope I'm wrong about that.
Regulars
Offline
Since you asked about those 2 I voted Stentnor only because of the name recognition. I think the online violin and piano tutor lady says they are good.
New member
Offline
thank you all for your replies - I am not US based, and I have tried both the violins, and liked them both
I am grateful for the words of wisdom - thank you
Offline
Well, figure out what you like and dislike about each snd jot sown your notes. Maybe it is the feel in your hands, which would probably be the decider. If it is sound, talk to the luthier. (S)He can probably adjust it to the one you decide on if the prederec sound is the one you don’t like. Maybe he will swap out the strings for a set more to your liking. I prefer mellow warm. Some like brighter.
Just talk to your luthier and ask questions. You’ll be fine.
The Bumblebee Flies!
Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.
Offline
Personally, I purchased two fiddles, unseen (i.e unplayed by myself), but selected by @Fiddlerman ( Pierre ) ( a FM Concert and about 2 years later a MJZ 905 ) - but - I already knew that (a) I could trust those guys, and (b) FM took the time to do a you tube demo of the instruments... what more could I ask for ?
But, for sure - I really do understand - having the instrument in your hand, feeling it, responding to it (yup, WE respond to the instrument, not necessarily the other way round ! ) is often, in the absence of better information, the best thing to do !
I wish you success in your choice of instrument, whatever it may be, and oh - meant to say - Big Welcome to the forum ! Keep us advised of both your decision and progress, good to have you aboard ! 
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
Regulars
Offline
april said
I am a keen violinist, but with limited technique (play regularly in a small band in my church, struggle if asked to move out of 1st postionI have an old violin (german, about 100yrs old) which my luthier says is worthless (literally falling apart in places), and does sound awful - I've had new strings/bridge/sound post adjustment etc and nothing has helped, it's been in my possession for 30 years, and I'd like to replace it.
My budget is very limited, and I am down to a choice of 2 violins - your help please in selecting =
Stentor conservatoire
or
hidersine piacenza
It has to be one of these 2 as this is what is available in my price range in my local shops.
Many thanks for your help
which would you recomend?
- Stentor conservatoire
- hidersine piacenza
Total Voters: 2
I have a Stentor Conservatoire II** and can vouch for it.
And Hidersine are probably OK (I've got my eye on their electric violin), as their name is generally good, and my teacher knows the owner of the company.
If you have both violins in a local shop, I assume you've played both of them and can't make your mind up?
I'd be very wary of getting rid of that 100-year-old German violin, though. Is your local "luthier" good and honest, or is "luthier" just a flashy word for "violin shop owner"? If it's "falling apart", whatever that means, then is it worth having a genuine luthier (i.e. violin maker) totally disassemble and reassemble it with new glue everywhere? Maybe that will cost as much as a Stentor, but some of those violins are worth a thousand or more. What's your location?
** purchased unseen. Mail order is common nowadays - there's thestringzone and cardiff violins and fiddlershop if you want to go transatlantic. I'm afraid to do that, as I don't trust customs and exise, but presumably now's the time to do it, as the pound will never recover in value. Otoh, if you're in Scotland, the future may be rosy!
Andrew
1 Guest(s)
Mouse
ELCBK
