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So, I've decided I need something better than my current instrument. I'm currently saving for a much better one.
But, I still do have my old violin (never used) back at my parents house overseas. I was thinking about asking them to send it to me. It would be a small upgrade since it is only a Stentor Student 1.
The thing is though, it's never ever been played (yes, 
I feel very bad about that!!)
The violin is about 17 years old (wow that's a long time...
) Would it still be playable?
I don't want to waste money on having something shipped I can't use.
Sorry for the small ramble.
It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. Johann S.Bach
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@AnnyJ , is there someone who can check the violin out before shipping it?
If the violin has been sitting with the strings loosened and not subject to temperature or humidity extremes, then it is very likely still fine. However, if the strings have been under tension without being played during that time, the wood may have warped out of shape. Likewise, if it has been subject to extreme heat, cold, or humidity, the wood may have become warped or cracked, or the varnish may be ruined.
I learned this lesson the hard way. One day about 20 years ago I put away my sweet-sounding old German factory fiddle, and with moving, new jobs, etc, I didn't open the case until last autumn. I had put it away with the strings in a fully-tuned state, and though I was reasonably careful about temperature and humidity, the wood warped. The luthier said the cost of repairs would exceed the value of the instrument.
If your parents don't play, maybe they could ask someone to take a look at it before going to the trouble and expense of shipping it?
My thoughts are to have it shipped and if you are not happy with playing it, sell it and add the money to your savings for buying an upgrade.
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I agree. Most likely, provided that it has been stored in a well tempered environment, it will be fine. Have some pictures taken and we'll tell you what we think needs to be done. Also, Fiddlershop can take care of any issues if you feel it is worth it.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Thank you everyone! Last time I looked at when we were there (last year) it seemed to be in fairly good condition, from what I could tell. Only the bow hair seemed to have fallen apart. The strings where just tight enough to keep the bridge up.
The main worry was that it being unplayed, I heard that after a certain point you can't play it in anymore. (true?)
@Fidelestre I'm sorry to hear about your violin.
@mryikes I like your idea! Thank you.
@Fiddlerman the temperature in the room it's in it pretty much the same all year round. 
I guess I'll tell them to get a box ready! Can't wait. 
It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. Johann S.Bach
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@Fiddlerman do you sell pegs by any chance? I just remembered the reason it was never fully tuned, the pegs are kind of loose.
It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. Johann S.Bach
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We definitely sell pegs, but pegs always need to be fitted. Where do you live? Would you be willing to ship your instrument?
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I have a Stentor and though it probably isn't 17 years old, it's really nothing special.
Opportunity is often missed because it wears suspenders and looks like hard work.
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I've never owned or played a Stentor, but among the violin teachers over here they are reasonably well thought of as a student instrument. However, there is a big difference between the models - one teacher on YouTube always recommends getting the Stentor II as a starter instrument as she says the Stentor I isn't so good.
Funnily enough, I just watched a video yesterday showing how Stentor violins are made (video was made in the 90s though, so things may not be quite the same now). It's an amazing process, and doesn't seem that much different to how a craftsman would do it, except they use piece-work techniques (i.e. they have one shop carving all the scrolls, another doing the backs, another the fronts and so on rather than making one violin at a time in one shop).
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I don't want to talk badly about any specific instrument brand but we chose not to sell the Stentor brand violins.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Honorary tenured advisor
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@AnnyJ, what violin are you playing now?
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright
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@fiddlerman I wouldn't mind shipping it, if doesn't cost too much, lol, it'll be about 2 months though before I'll even get it.
@--Jim-- Dunleavy, that's an interesting video, thank you. I've seen an English Lady on youtube, that reviewed both the 1 and 2.
I know it's not on of the good instruments, although the reviews I've gone through are very varied. It'll just bridge me over until I can afford something much better, (like one of Fiddlerman's 
@Uzi it's one of them cheapo crystalcello ones, I bought it a while back, I can't remember the model though, since hind sight is 20/20, I don't think I could have done much worse, the closer I look at it the more issues I find with it.
It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. Johann S.Bach
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I'm not sure what the quality of Stentor was like 17 years ago, but I was led astray by I'm sure the same lady on YouTube and originally bought a Stentor II, had it for a little over a day before the tailpiece broke, and had to return it. The sound was also not so great, and I would think of the II as only being useful as a very glossy wall decoration, lol. But the quality may have been very different when yours was made, a lot of places have let their quality control slip through the years. Worst case scenario, you sell it and put the money towards your new violin.
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Figures. Mine is a Stentor 1. I went and looked inside, guess it was made in 2009. I know I get MUCH better sounds out of my instructor's instruments then I can get out of mine on my best day. So yea, don't spend too much for shipping...
Opportunity is often missed because it wears suspenders and looks like hard work.
As a lone voice in the wilderness, I have a couple of $30 violins, one of which would take $5,000 to get out of my hands. Now admittedly, I have wasted almost a year to learning how to make it better with the end result that though it is the easiest of my violins to play and I much prefer playing it than the others, it still has and will never lose the sound of a plywood violin. And yet, as my wife can tell you, there have been times I went to her with tears in my eyes because of the beauty of the sounds that violin produced.
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MrYikes, that is super cool to hear. You are blessed to have such a great instrument that hardly cost you anything.
1stimestar - Yours can be great. Just because it's this brand or that brand, doesn't make it play any worse. Just today a lady and her husband came by Fiddlershop with a CVN700 that they were not satisfied with and ended up getting a STV017 instead. We played on 2 of them and the one was completely different from the other. We all felt the exact same way and she was a happy camper. Two violins made by the same maker, with the same wood, set up at the same shop, can sound completely different.
AnnyJ - By all means you should have them ship it. It shouldn't take more than 10 days or so. We get things from China frequently.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Thank you everyone for your input
. I did go ahead and told them to send it.
@damfino maybe just maybe I'll be lucky for once, lol. Can't sound much worse than what I currently have and it only has to last for a short while anyway.
@MrYikes it's really neat your are able to get such beautiful sounds out of your instrument to evoke an emotional reaction like that! You must play really well.
Fiddlerman said
AnnyJ - By all means you should have them ship it. It shouldn't take more than 10 days or so. We get things from China frequently.
10 days? Wow, that's quick. My mom has sent us packages in the past, some of them took so long, we thought they got lost.
It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. Johann S.Bach
I don't mean to mislead anyone. This violin still has a tone like a plywood violin and I certainly do NOT play well,,,,,at all. Which means that the sound is muffled and constrained, dark and soft. But when I'm playing "Strangers in the Night", the sounds from this violin fit in really well,,,sometimes.
And with your violin, it has its own character and if you find the music that fits that violin, it will sound good. A really good violin can fit into almost any music and sound good and further, a good violin player can make most violins sound good; but they cannot change the tone.
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@mryikes What a good story about your violin. I have read of the upgrading and tweaking you have done over the year. And all the work you do with sound analysis for strings. I am sure you have a good ear for what sounds good.
I am completely happy to hear that you have been moved to tears from your playing. You are probably better than you think. It seems you play many many songs... over time all that practice. I bet you are coming along just great.
cheers
Toni
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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