Hi Greg, thanks for the compliments, very much appreciated. 

So, I haven’t been playing long. Roughly 6 or 7 months ago is when I picked it back up again. I played for something like 5 or 6 years when I was a child and started at 10 years old I think....5th grade around about. Quit for multiple reasons and ended up leaving home at 18 for the military. So it’s been something like 35 years since then. I was pretty good back then. Won multiple awards with the NY State Music Association. I was also chosen to play with the NY State all county music ensemble and had a record album recorded with them. 

In hindsight, just like many of us about decisions we make out of either stupidity or pride, I should have stuck with it. 

I did practice a lot back then because my mother forced me, one of the few reasons I grew to hate it, but it did come rather easy for me to learn quickly for some reason. 

So like I stated before I picked it backup 6 or 7 months ago. I never really forgot how to play it, and never forgot how to read music. After deploying two tours in Iraq back in 2004, I ended up not coming back as the same person. I went in a very dark place. I almost became an alcoholic. I was getting drunk on a regular basis and I found I had no direction. I would pray to God asking him why it is he kept me alive. Then one night while I was out at a bar getting obliterated, this live 2 person group started playing. One of them was a female who was playing the violin. Something in me clicked or snapped, whatever  you want to call it. I could literally remember smelling how the instrument smelled, and the sent of rosin. It was a pretty emotional moment. I woke up the next day hungover like hell with it still on my mind. Ever since that night I kept seeing violins everywhere, and hearing them everywhere. I took it as a sign from God so I picked it back up. It literally saved my life.

I definitely started rusty again, but I dedicated at least two hours a day, and 4 or 5 hours on sat and Sunday’s to practicing for 4 months. I wanted to get back to the level I thought I remembered I was able to play back then. I’m pretty close to that now, but it wasn’t easy, and I am still improving...The violin is one of those things that get better with time and dedication no matter how good you are or how long you’ve been playing. I still practice a bunch, but probably not as much as I was before. 

Yes I use personus studio one 5 pro. I don’t go to crazy with plug-ins. I stick with the basics. You can really get caught spending a ton of money on those. 

hahah  I bet you got a lot more than you bargained for there huh? LOL

@ELCBK 

I don't know about all-aluminum wound. I just went by reviews and youtube videos.

These are the ones I got in addition to the pro-arte

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