i guess you watch channel 7?

Jeff, I`m working hard at making "Mary Had A Little Lamb" not sound like "Mary Went To Hell And Back" LOL!!

Nox please tell me about the 100 year old violin! I eventually plan to upgrade to an antique violin of some type, so I`m interested to hear what other people get. Did you find it on-line?

I`m kind of excited about it. Actually, I`m very excited! After trying out a few violins in my price range (we live in a smaller community - not a lot available to try) and hearing the differences in sound quality, I was too scared to purchase on-line without trying it out...and I didn`t want the hassle of returning an instrument.

We ended up popping by a guitar shop that takes used instruments on trade/consignment - one of the last places I expected to find something, but we were in the neighbourhood.

Lo and behold - they had just gotten in 3 old violins that belonged to a collection that was being sold off by the widow of the collector.

The one caught my eye because of the mother-of-pearl inlay (floral design) on the front, back, tail piece and pegs. I`ve never seen one like that before. Turns out it`s a 1900 German, factory made violin. I picked it up and played it, more out of curiousity than anything else (I don`t know if I like the in-lay or find it tacky) and was struck by it`s tonal quality! It sounds (to me) beautiful!

There were two other violins from the same collection. One was an old Hopf (which I`ve heard of) but I thought it sounded awful compared to the decorated one, and the other was also decorated (with wood I think)(forgot where it was from) and also didn`t sound nice.

This violin needs to be `plumped up` (the shop was a little dry), a seam along the bottom repaired, and one of the fancy pegs repaired. They are doing that for me now. And provided the repairs go well (and I hope they do) I`ll be picking it up next week or so. I`ll have to keep the humidity up in the case for it - but was assured that it should stand up to my level of playing.

What instrument are you playing now? And what second instrument are you planning on purchasing?

I`ve got a Cremona SV-175 for my first violin and have been playing for less than a week, so I`m nowhere near ready to pick out a second violin yet! Yours sounds wonderful! Can you post some photos? I think as long as the tone pleases you, that`s would be what is most important. I tend to love the "dark" violins with a "gypsy" sort of tone to them. LOL something like you would expect the Vampire Lestat to play. I love the darker more mysterious sound.

I`m not familiar with the Cremona - I`ll look it up! If I can figure out how, I`ll try and post a picture of my violin when I get it from the shop. I`d love to get some opinions about it`s appearance, like I said, I don`t know if I like it or not!

I went to the music store yesterday. I`m finding it difficult to find `fun` intermediate pieces to play (when I`m not working on the Grade 4/5 rep. pieces). It seems the material is either too easy or much too hard. Has anyone else noticed this?

I just got the book shown on this forum 100 Solos for Violin and it has a nice variety of music.

I have it too, but from years ago. It does have a nice mix of stuff. Great to play from - even if just need a little break from the kind of music you usually play.

I also just purchased a very easy Waltz book - but it`s great to have it for reference - there are many common waltzes in it that I`ve never had the music for (and, unfortunately, I`ve never been able to play more that 2-3 bars by ear).

Well, I picked up my `new` violin, my new bow and my new case (complete with 4 bow holders and a hygrometre) yesterday! I was on cloud nine.

I came home, played it...and everyone could hear the difference it made to my playing (LOL I knew it couldn`t be ALL my fault!).

However, it keeps slipping out of tune, and I`m having a problem with the pegs slipping too. Then (my fault for not noticing in the first place!) I noticed the extensive repairs that had been made to the peg box at some point in the past and am worried about the soundness of the peg box (the rest of the violin looks very nice).

Now I`m kinda worried about it again.

I`ve always wanted a better violin... but I noticed also that its the emotion inside that matters. You have to feel the music. I`ve been playing for about 10 years now, and I began playing in 7th grade. I understand that you can`t really feel any emotion at all playing "Mary had a little lamb" (lol), but getting through that beginners music is the biggest obstacle. Improving on your skills is easy... lol... Well, I`ve been playing on a cheap violin for about 6 years now, and I don`t see myself getting rid of it soon. I love it too much... lol... I sound just the way I want to sound like on it.. I`d like to get a bow that weighed less though.. lol... it weighs a ton! I can`t play the faster music clearly, and when I do play that kind of music for just a little bit my right wrist starts getting sore... I was wondering if anyone knew a place to get a cheap light bow, or even if anyone knew someone selling a bow... i`d really appreciate it... thanxs

41?? I`ve been working on it for four years - just turned 50. We definitely need a support group. Any conferences for beginning adults that you know of??

Picked up my new violin on Friday. It sounds devine! I took it (with some trepidation) to my lesson last night, for my instructor to inspect - she loved it too! Said it sounded like a much more expensive instrument and said it was definately worth putting more repair into (the pegbox) should it become necessary.

I`m so relieved!



However, I`m going to really have to adjust how I play. This instrument resonates and is very responsive (unlike my other one). I also have to adjust my fingering. The notes are now in a different spot on the fingerboard. I never knew violins could be THIS different.