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Pierre, I appreciate all of the time and effort you have put into the website and your business approaches in general. I can tell you're all about helping players play.
Although I am not immediately in the market for a new violin I like what you have on offer. As you know finding a violin that works can be daunting, especially for a beginner.
From what I can tell you have extensive violin training and experience in classical music. Can you tell me if the genre of music played should dictate the type of instrument one is after? Is there a difference in what a person should look for based on this?
I eventually plan to play some classical, but my main love is probably folk fiddle music. I don't want to "sell myself short" in buying something that works well for fiddle but not so well for classical music. Like many others 15K-20K would not convince my better half for me to buy a custom made instrument. Do you reel your offerings are up to the task for both and do you have a specific suggestion for someone who wants a versatile instrument but doesn't have 15K to spend on one? Many of your instruments are comparatively much less expensive than the typical classical musician is prepared to spend on one. Why is the bar so much higher in classical music instruments?
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Hi Starise, I know you primarily looking for an answer from FM but if this is any help....
I love both classical and fiddle tunes - I have 2 violins, one almost newish, around $2,000 that sounds nice to me, deep tone - then a couple years later I found one that was a late c.1800-ish - paid around $1,300 for it, definitely used! It had been used as a fiddle for a long time but had also done a stint in an orchestra.
Everywhere I go around music or fiddle peeps, at least 3-4 people ask if they can play it (I know it's not my playing for sure!) - and they sound great.
My teacher who is classical only grabs it and plays, it sounds gorgeous - he is not fond of fiddling and laughs and says it is definitely a classical violin!
So maybe if you can find one that YOU love, based on feeling and sound....and it will do both equally well.
And....obviously you can't go wrong with a Fiddlerman one!!! - Good luck
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starise said
Can you tell me if the genre of music played should dictate the type of instrument one is after?
The genre should not dictate the type of instrument but perhaps the tonal qualities. But classical, fiddlers, rock n roll, pop, genre violinists all play the same instruments. Generally what changes is the set-up.
Some blue-grass violinists have flatter bridges, supposedly to be able to cross strings faster but if you keep the bow at a close angle to the other string the crossing is just as close on a rounder bridge. Different however is switching double stops back and forth for distance. That being said, I can play between double stops as fast as any fiddler or faster without the more rounded bridge. Also, there are probably as many fiddlers with more rounded bridges as those with flatter bridges.
That being said, you can change the set up, and especially the bridge on any instrument at any time. No issue.
Is there a difference in what a person should look for based on this?
For lessons? Great technique will apply to any genre in my opinion, but you will probably get better tips if you find the person who teaches the music genre that you desire to learn.
Why is the bar so much higher in classical music instruments?
Only because a classically trained violinist often aspires to play professionally and on a very controlled environment such as a silent stage where optimal sound is even more essential. Also, because professionals feel that you must give yourself the best tools for the job. But there are plenty of successful fiddlers who set the bar very high as well.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Mimi Aysha said
Hi Starise, I know you primarily looking for an answer from FM but if this is any help...................
And....obviously you can't go wrong with a Fiddlerman one!!! - Good luck
Thanks for thew help Mimi. And welcome back!!! 😁
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Thank you Mimi and Pierre. I suspected that maybe there wasn't much of a difference in the instrument between genre. I personally don't think I would venture to change my bridge to a flatter bridge. I have one friend who plays Irish music on the fiddle very well and he has never changed his bridge and in fact said it wasn't necessary.He also plays some bluegrass, is good enough to have been invited to play at times in a symphony and he doesn't have what I would consider outlandishly expensive instruments.
Mimi your instruments would certainly be considered low price for classical music. I am pleased that you like to play them in both genre and have no problems!
My present violin has a nice sound but I seem to work harder to get tone on it than what I see some professionals doing. This could possibly be my technique.
Thanks again you guys for chiming in here. I will most certainly be looking at your inventory the next violin I buy. Pierre, do you allow a player to try several violins to see if an instrument is a good fit?
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Hee! Yes I got lucky, I wasn't able to play the really old one as it was a bit tore up - but I went with it...I hope you find one too, I do believe its nice to know how your violin can sound, and be in love with the tone, makes playing way more fun.
My teacher laughs and says that fiddle players only hit the notes half the time so it doesn't matter as much!...
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Ack! Probably the only ones more disrespected are bass players.
I'm not a fiddler. I play fiddle music on a violin.
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starise said,
Ack! Probably the only ones more disrespected are bass players.
Na drummers are, I've been asked if they can they actually be called musicians 
Mark
Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.
Albert Sammons
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starise said
I'm not a fiddler. I play fiddle music on a violin.
I love this!!! Probably the best quote I have seen on this forum!!!
Mark said
Na drummers are, I've been asked if they can they actually be called musicians
My background is percussion, @Mark. Don't worry. I am not offended. After 25 years of percussion, when I began violin I was still completely lost with music. Fortunately, I had learned to read some music over the years.
- Pete -
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Aha - and what could be further from the truth! All band instruments are equally important, as we all can hear when one messes up...
I started with a triangle in school, just one note at the end of a song, or when there was a break, but I was always day dreaming, or staring at the cute drummer! or getting a sip of water - I tried following along with the music but lost interest or lost my place!...terrible memories...everyone just waiting for that one note...and I never knew when the heck it was supposed to be.
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Mimi Aysha said
...but I was always day dreaming, or staring at the cute drummer!
That was me, the cute drummer! Why didn't you come say 'hello'?
- Pete -
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Too funny....unfortunately they kicked me out of band! 
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That explains a lot... Good excuse.
Thank you for letting me down easy LOL!!!
It's ok... I went for the hot violinist!
- Pete -
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starise said ............Pierre, do you allow a player to try several violins to see if an instrument is a good fit?
Yes we do. Up to 4 at a time. Check out this link:
https://fiddlershop.com/pages/.....ome-trials
I can also play them on a video for you as we do on our Fiddlershop youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/fiddlershop
Under the violin tests playlist.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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@starise The Fiddlershop home trials are great. I bought a new bow this way and after two, 3 violin trials in a row finally found MY violin.
Fiddlershop packing and shipping are excellent. The instruments were even still in tune when I received them. They'll send a return receipt for returning any instruments you don't decide to buy (wish I could have bought them all) 
Bob in Lone Oak, Texas
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