Just a little whimsey for the new year. Or is it?

Were you influenced at all by the look of your violin?

Can you play your best on a violin you don`t like the look of?

There are looks I prefer over others, but in general it doesn`t make a large influence in my decision. However, I was trying out violins today and played this one that had an antiqued varnish. These are usually nice, but the colors on this violin were from bright yellow to bright red-orange. The violin literally looked like a fire. Even if it had an exceptional sound, I`m not sure if I would consider buying it.

-Tim

It`s important for me. I don`t like the yellowish- or lighter-coloured violins. I prefer the browns, or browny-reds, or antiqued look (as long as it`s not overly antiqued like some I`ve seen).

But since I don`t need a really good violin I can afford to be fussy about its appearance as long as it produces the sound that I prefer.

Has anyone else come across "distressed finish"? YUCK!

liz

What is this "distressed finish"? You`ve made me curious!

-Tim

I bought a student violin (Cremona SV-175) and won`t upgrade until I`m very sure of what I want and know what I`m doing. But I`d like my next violin to be antique, not only for the sound quality of an aged instrument, but because I love, respect and appreciate antiques of all types. They are incredible pieces of history. Instruments are especially, because not only is touching them like reaching back in time, but you can hear what someone else heard 100 years ago or more... how cool is that?!!
Admittedly, I love the look of flaming and even more I love the ones with carved lion head scrolls, but neither is something that would influence me to purchase it over an old, integrally sound violin with a beautifully mysterious voice!

Distressed finish: you can see the one we have here (somehow i don`t think we`ll be getting another!). this is supposed to be all the rage now.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2368398191&category=10180

(if that won`t paste just go to ebay and type in number 2368398191 in the search box)

liz

Actually, that`s rather funny. I`ve just committed to purchasing the 1900 violin I was looking at, provided the repairs go well, and those eBay shots look a lot like my violin does! They did a good job antiquing it.

I think it`s vile but each to their own..

Liz

Liz, re

I think it`s vile

You`re not alone.

If it`s still in stock when I come back for an upgrade, don`t even think about it!!

I don`t mind that look too much. Trust me, it is not NEARLY as bad as the "fire" violin I saw. I`d rather have a bright blue violin, which you can get, with a good sound than this fire thing.

I`m not exactly sure what flaming is (I don`t know all these terms), but if you are refering to the stripe-like marks on the back, then I like those a lot. Why are they called flaming?

-Tim

Yes that`s flaming, and i haven`t a clue why it`s called that apart from the obvious, that it looks like flames. I had never heard the term before we started selling violins!

liz

Hi Jeff,

I saw some at the British music trade fair, many from germany that all looked distressed like that. The stentor rep told me they were all the rage. I haven`t exactly seem a rush on this one though.

The peculiar thing is that they still have a shiny varnish so they don`t even look convincing once you get up close.

very odd.

Ah well you live and learn ....

lzi

Although this antiqued look is popular now, I was really surprised to find out that they`ve been antiquing violins for the last 100-200 years! However, it appears that Stradivarius only produced `new` looking instruments (duh!)

There is boring, there is BORING and there is this.

I`ve had a look in Chambers Dictionary and there is no entry for "flaming" when applied to violins. I assume, therefore, that it is prosaically named because it looks like flames.