I received a violin from my grandpa when he passed away. It was made in st. petersburg
the thing is, even though it is in very good condition, everyone in the family says that it doesn`t sound right, which confuse me because I compare the tones with a piano and it sounds okay to me.
my question is : is anyone know of any reason why the violin might make "incorrect" sound ? and for the notice, I am practically the only one who plays violin in my family (yup, that includes every cousins, uncles, aunties, nieces, nephews).

Could be all sorts of things to do with set up. Especially the strings.

Liz

Maybe u can be more detailed, so that we might help u better. U mean not right as in the pitch is off? or like the tone colour is not right? Or like the sound projection/carrying power is not right?

tks for replies, I will try to describe in more detail.
when I check the notes frequency, it is set correctly. when I try to play it, it sounds quite okay for me, yet everybody else says it sounds like a mouse screaming.
I don`t have any acquaintance that own an old violin, so I don`t have any comparison, but compared to new ones, it does have a different color of tone. I mean, the sound brings this chilling feeling of sadness and melancholy, even when I am just testing the notes, it sounds like "sad"

Alright, if yr pitch(frequency) is correct, then lets move onto yr strings. Maybe it`s the tone colour of the strings. When u say screaming mouse, is this unwanted tone colour consistent across all 4 strings, or does the mouse thing comes out only in certain strings, certain positions? U can try changing the strings that give u this problem. Pick a brand with warmer tone colour. If this still doesn`t work, check the way u bow. But I doubt you`ll have any problem with that, as u quoted that u do play the violin. Are u playing too near the bridge? And lastly, it may just be the tone colour of the violin itself. Some violins are more defined and bright in tone colour. So, same thing, change the strings and esp. rosin to change the tone. And pls check for cracks on the wood. The cracks will alter the tone, esp. splits along the side (near to the F holes).

And continued from top...Could it be that yr family just don`t like the sound of a violin? Not everybody can take the squeaks of the instrument when one is praticing. Why don`t u play for some of yr fellow violinists and check what they have to say, it may well be yr family who thinks that way. Caz pp with music background and without do percieve differently. If all these doesn`t work(chaning strings, rosin, bowing methods), then take it down to a luthier. He will be able to tell u. Thank u

tks for the answer, I will try all the suggestions.