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Fiddlerman Soloist Vioin
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bunify

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September 5, 2019 - 4:41 am
Member Since: May 13, 2019
Forum Posts: 46
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I am interested in buying the Fiddlerman soloist violin or the Bench Cannone or Amati

I’m after a professional violin that sounds nice when play in all the positions. 

What makes a violin expensive and what should I look for?

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Mouse
September 5, 2019 - 7:58 am
Member Since: December 26, 2018
Forum Posts: 5305
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Well, bunify, you came to the right place. @Fiddlerman will definitely be able to explain this. Until he sees your post, here is what i have read about this topic.

The age of the wood, the talent of the luthier, the setup. 

In case you are concerned about having a violin shipped to you, I can attest to the care given by Fiddlershop during your purchase and the shipping, Purchasing Violin Online Through Fiddlershop

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Jim Dunleavy
United Kingdom
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September 5, 2019 - 8:59 am
Member Since: April 19, 2015
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I hope I'm correct in saying that the range of violins from Apprentice to Soloist are essentially classed as student violins.

However, my understanding is that the soloist is on the borderline and could be used by a pro on a tight budget. Most pro players would be looking for a bench made violin though (again, my understanding).

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x Coach

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September 5, 2019 - 7:10 pm
Member Since: November 22, 2018
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I play a fiddlerman soloist violin and recently upgraded to a Holstein 3 star bow. Together, they produce a beautiful sound. Don’t underestimate the importance of the bow. I highly recommend both.

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AndrewH
Sacramento, California
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September 5, 2019 - 7:21 pm
Member Since: November 5, 2017
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Look for clarity on the G string, tone in the high positions, and response to subtle changes in bow speed and pressure. Depending on what you want to use it for, you may want to test projection at a distance, which is not the same as volume under your ear; for that you would need to have someone stand across the room and listen, or have someone else play while you listen from across the room.

As for professional use: it depends on what kind of professional use. The Soloist is in the upper range of student violins. Pros who play in concert halls or other controlled environments (where every little nuance is important), or even people who are auditioning for professional orchestras (where they're competing with a hundred other excellent violinists for one spot in an orchestra), are probably going to want something bench-made with excellent tone quality and response throughout the range. There's a tier in between student violins and what most pros would consider "professional" -- that would be the high-end workshop violins that are frequently used by college-level (pre-professional) students or serious amateurs. Examples would include the MJZ 909, Scott Cao 1500, or Jay Haide L'Ancienne. A pro with a limited budget would likely use one of those.

But many pros also buy a second, less expensive violin to use for outdoor or amplified gigs, where nuances in tone quality are harder to hear and the risk of damage is a bit higher. For those gigs, "good" tone quality throughout the range is enough, and a high-end student violin such as the Fiddlerman Soloist is quite typical. Violins at that level are good enough that they are often hard to tell from a bench-made "professional" violin in outdoor or amplified settings.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 8, 2019 - 12:03 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

No matter what you decide, you can if you like, always turn to me for help.
I play videos when requested of different instruments for comparison purposes.
Every single instrument, no matter who the maker, sounds different. There are some consistencies but a lot of individuality as well.

More money buys you better quality wood and better makers which is often the recipe for a better violin.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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