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So I am new to playing, I got a Student Cermona ( No idea the type of strings )
I have tried different Pressures and Bow angles, but it always sounds harsh to me. I have debated new strings, but the guy at the music shop said it may not make a difference.
I find it a little frustrating when I practice trying to figure out if the sound coming out is me or just because it is a lower quality violin.
Was curious on other's thoughts on if I would better suited to go shop for a different Violin or risk the money on new strings?
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I am 63 soon to be 64 years old, just started playing again after about 50 years, and I must tell you that killing cats is an understatement. I sounded terrible when I first tried the bow on my new Cheep E-Bay fiddle, So I bought another a Lincoln G1 so my wife could use the CVN-200, well no difference. But then I started watching the instructional videos on Fiddlerman.com, that's where you are by the way, and my bowing improved, the cats went home, and I am now playing songs for my grand children. I mean Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Mary had a little Lamb, may not be too impressive for most, but for them it is wonderful, as it is for me.
So do the lessons provided, ask us about our experiences and trust Fiddler Man and his very wonderful instructions. You will we doing a Twinkle Twinkle Little Star duet with me in no time. And, then the sky is the limit. You get out of it what you put into it, and in all things that are worth doing. And if they are worth doing you should strive to do them well.
Hope this helps. I have yet to submit my scratchings to FM yet, as I feel I must work harder first, but soon.
Shalom Shalom
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I don't know what strings they put on Cremona violins either, but I know they are cheap ones. I have a Cremona SV-175, which also sounds harsh like you said. I've never tried putting different strings. The good strings really aren't affordable! xD
I plan on getting a new set of strings for my other violin soon, though. Then I was going to try putting the old set of strings on the Cremona and see what happens.
My teacher has a Cremona SV-175 cello, she put Dominant strings on it and it sounds wonderful! So new strings might help the violins too. 
I'll let you know what happens when I change the strings on my Cremona. 
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If the sound it harsh you guys can try softening the sound with synthetic core strings such as Daddario Pro-Arté. They are not all that expensive.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Stopped at the Music shop today and Played a couple different Violins they had there. Tried using my bow on everything they would let me touch, from a $2000 antique to a $395 chinese made. I tried to note the color coding on the stings ( Not that I know what they mean ) But I noted the differences.
Well I found that altough my playing is rough. There was a big difference in the sound from some of the violins. Ironically the one I found I like the most that had a great warm sound to it was an old German anitque. I was seriously considering just buying it right there and then, but it was a little high for what I wanted to invest at this point. I may add it to my Christmas list and make sure the wife sees it.
I did ask about the strings on it, but they were not sure.
I also asked them to look at my Cermona again and they said strings and a new Tail piece would probably improve it some, but at a cost of about $150 in parts and labor.
So I think I am going save and shop around and see what I can find. In the mean time I will keep practicing and try not to kill to many cats
Thanks for the input.
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Yeah I just got a CNV-500, and it is really really bad, my Lincoln G-1 is really a lot better. I couldn't believe the difference between the two instruments. I guess my Lincoln G-1 was a lit better than I though. The sound is changing however the more I play it, getting deeper and warmer. I noticed in the cheap Chinese violins, that the sound post us usually at an angle or in the wrong place. FM notes this in a couple of his demos and changed it or couldn't because of the improper length of the sound post. So I am going to try the tinker with the CVN-500 for a while and see what I can learn about making a pig in a poke sound like something. I got the 500 for about the same as my CVN-200, so I figure I can't lose on the deal. I can play with installing new Sound posts changing stings and the tail piece and see what makes these things tick.
I would say get the very best violin you can afford after you make sure you are going to play and stick with it. Unless you have the funds to purchase something really nice later.
My CVN-200 must have been an exceptional accident, it is so sweet and strong I can't believe it is just a Cheap E-Bay fiddle. I mean it is really nice. Luck of the draw. One thing about my 500, it seems really heavy next to my other fiddles.
Well, hope you don't get discouraged.
Shalom Shalom
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By the way, I was going to mention this in my last post. If you love that old German violin and it is sold while your thinking about it, your going to hate yourself for not jumping in and getting it. I do that all the time.
Just saying......
Shalom Shalom
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Perhaps they have a rent to own program, so you can decide on the purchase later, but play it now?
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Maybe they do. I used to shop for instruments using Bein and Fushi. They sent you the instrument and you tried it for a week and if interested, you hung on to it a bit longer and had to decide whether or not to buy it.
I never bought one that way though. Just tested instruments that were way too expensive for me. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I think my reservation in getting the German Violin was that it had a 4" crack from the f hole. Now the crack had been repaired and I was told it was not a big deal. But at the price, I was just concerned. Somone with experience may have had no reservations, but for me it was quite a bit of money, with the potential to cost me more for additional repairs, as they said since it was such a long crack I might want to consider adding a patch ( I don't know what that means or how much ), But I am still considering it while I do more research and keep looking.
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As long as yhe crack was cleated ther will be no problems with it. I have violins with several craks in them and one where the top was cracked into two pieces an not on the seam.
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Well I broke down and got new synthetic strings and also a new Tail piece, as I was informed that the Fine tuners did not go with the tail piece that was on there. It did make a big difference. As my wife put it " It no longer sounds Crunchy"
But I have to say I got an ear full from the Music store owner about low quality violins and he made sure I understood that the only way to make the Cermona sound any better now was to get different violin. Well I Got One
. The Wife found was is touted to be an early 1900's 1721 Strad Copy made in Germany. She got it for me for Xmas. I'd post a picture of it, if I could figure out how to do that.
Now at least I will have no one to blame but me.
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Congratulations CGBowNut. 
Sounds like you got what you wanted for Christmas.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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But how does the new one sound. I mean the new old one.
Good for you, hope you enjoy your new fiddle, you can hang
the other one on the wall. It will make a wonderful decoration
and conversation piece.
Shalom Shalom
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Hello everybody. I am a new violin player. When bowing the strings it sometimes makes this high pitchy sound, like a cat screaming. I dont know its bcoz of the bow is not tight enough or the strings are not tight enough. It only happens when I lay my fingers on the string notes.A man who looked at my violin and said it is China made but I'm not sure if it is. I bough it in Malaysia. Can anybody suggest to me what I can do about it. Thanks a lot.
Anna Marisa.
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BCShalom said
But how does the new one sound. I mean the new old one.
Good for you, hope you enjoy your new fiddle, you can hang
the other one on the wall. It will make a wonderful decoration
and conversation piece.
Shalom Shalom
Well, As soon as I got it, I tuned it up with the old strings that were on it, and played "Hark the Angels" and as I finished my 10 year old walked in and Said " Wow Dad, That sounded great" So I took that as a seal of approval. Down side is I took yesterday to the luthier and it looks like I have got about $175 bill coming for New Strings, New Bridge, and the 2 big items, reset the finger board? It has dropped? and a small seam by the tailpiece. But when he is done, he said this will be 5 times the violin you have now and you will be much happier with your playing.
Here is a pic of it
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Congratulations. Sorry about the future luthier bill.
If you can afford it it's already a good thing though.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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One of the most valuable violin lessons I have learned so far is that having a quality sounding instrument is the MOST important place to start when learning to play. At least for me, as the frustartion caused by the crunchy sounds of my rather inexpensive first purchase caused me to not enjoy my practice time or overall experience. So although I am spending more to get this one fixed. I will be much happier in the long run and wish I had either done a rent to own on a good one to start, or just made the initial investment up front. As I would probably be much farther along on my ability to play then I am now.
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anna marisa said
Hello everybody. I am a new violin player. When bowing the strings it sometimes makes this high pitchy sound, like a cat screaming. I dont know its bcoz of the bow is not tight enough or the strings are not tight enough. It only happens when I lay my fingers on the string notes.A man who looked at my violin and said it is China made but I'm not sure if it is. I bough it in Malaysia. Can anybody suggest to me what I can do about it. Thanks a lot.
Anna Marisa.
Could it be that you are not putting enough pressure on the string with your finger or that the bow is not perpendicular to the string.
Does this happen only on one string or any string and does it happen on any place in particular on the fingerboard?
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Could actually be many things. Definitely what Kevin suggested above about enough pressure. You want enough to get a good sound but not enough to cause you pain.
Make sure you have plenty of rosin on your bow. If you put too much you will only have a mess and not a bad sound. Just wipe off the excess rosin with a soft cotton cloth.
Maybe you are playing too close to the bridge. For now, concentrate on playing between the bridge and fingerboard but maybe closer to the fingerboard.
Lastly, experiment with bow speed. Make sure that you are using enough bow pressure for a good string contact.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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