Hi all,

Ive been thinking of learning the violin for some time now, I`m 18. I`ve two years of guitar experience, so my theory work isnt too bad.

Im hoping for what I should look for in a begginer violin, including what size or any other features.

Thanks, please email me or reply with any info whatsoever,

Cheers
-Dan

Well for one thing, you will need the full size violin because you are a full sized person. :-)

Oh, and try to buy the oldest cheapest violin you can find on EBAY!!!!!!! The reason why is for one thing, the older the violin is, the better it sounds and the more it`s worth, but on ebay they come a dime a dozen and are very cheap. Ebay is an auction where the price of something could be anything. Don`t try to buy a new violin, they are cheap price and quality, well if you have the money to buy a real expensive one, they can sound good.



ebay link

Cheers! Most appreciated!

How difficult is it to pick up the basics to a reasonable standard? I`m willin to put in a LOT of time and effort (currently I do a minimum of five hours a day on my guitar so I can split that with the violin)And I assume lessons would be a vital addition for the learning process - In what ways will these benefit me?

Also, could you suggest some good violin pieces that I should study first?

Sorry if I seem stupid or anything, but I`m pretty clueless Im searching the UK ebay now (I`m in England, though the violin count isnt too great)

Cheers! Most appreciated,

-Dan

Your searching the UK ebay????????? I live in the U.S.A. and would try to find a good instrument in Australia on ebay if I had to. I never look just in the U.S.A. for something hard to find when it comes to stringed instruments. Try to find a beginners book of a violin player,it will show you how to hold it and the bow, along with easy music to play. Getting a tutor/private teacher is the best thing and could answer the rest of your questions easily.

Search under Antique violin.




ebay link

Just because a violin is old, doesn`t mean its going to be the best of quality. Some really old violins are to old to even pick up. I`ve gotten several things off of ebay, and haven`t been 100%happy with them. I`ve gotten a cello off of there, and its a very poor quality, the bridge cracked a couple of weeks after i got it, along with the finger board being warped. I also got a violin off of there, its been a nice violin, but the case is very cheep. Even as a beginner, your going to want to be careful of certian things when buying off of the computer.

Hi! I`m 15 and gonna learn violin in school next school yr. Not too far away *Yay* I am lucky to already have some violins, they just need new strings. Thats cool Dan Fox you know guitar! At least you know strings.. I play clarinet and started piano. Yeah.. 3 instruments at once.. *I knoww...* But I luv music. *might be a director some day eek!!* Good luck!!

When it comes to ebay and instruments being sold on there, I don`t expect for the cellos for instance to be in the best of condition, like if they are really old they will probably be in very poor condition, but remember, if you see a cello, violin whatever that is really old the only thing that matters is what condition the body is in (especially the front because if the front is in bad condition,then the whole instrument will sound like crap), forget everything else that you can buy seperatly if broken. When I got my cello, it was a piece of $hit, but after a while, I fixed it and was and still is the best cello I have ever played.

Oh and my cello is about 150 years old. Every professional that looks at my cello thinks it`s a piece of $hit, from all the stress cracks.

Well if your willing to go and buy all the other parts for an instrument body, go for it. But from my personal experiance, i don`t like doing business off of ebay. I`d much rather pay a few more $$ at a good music store where i can test out the instrument before i buy some thing.

If you want a nice violin (antique), so you could invest in (which would work either way if you`re bad at violin or not ) You shouldnt go for ebay as most of the people on it arent actual violinists and don;t have a clue on anything about the violin, especially when it comes to certifying what the violin is. Try going local, cheap private sellers it makes alot of difference later on in the years

im trying to get violin lessons now, if anyone knows any good sites with information if they could post them it would be much appreaciated.

thanks,
steve

Hello
Well I have to admit that i have no clue about anything to do with insterments the only thing i ever learnd was the flute in grade 5. So latly i have fallen in love with the violin and was woundering is not having a clue about anything to with music going to make me takes years of learning just to read a note??

Dan,

search on e-bay using the word "violin". That`ll give you the widest search. If you plump for something abroad, check the postage costs before bidding. Look at the seller`s feedback to avoid a bad buying experience.

I bought a couple of old violins off e-bay for £30 each a few months back, and the`re both being used regularly. However you need to be careful, because there`s a lot of junk out there. My main fiddle now is a new violin I got from Elida Trading (more below on this). Also, as a beginner you`ll need a bow, case, rosin and possibly a shoulder rest, and many of the cheap old violins need extra work before thay are playable. I got away with a new set of strings on each of mine, but you might also need a new bridge if it`s missing, new fingerboard if it`s damaged, soundpost if it`s missing or fallen over, pegs possibly, the list goes on. So you`re taking a gamble buying something old and used, purely on looks and a bit of (often misleading or ill-informed) description. Don`t spend what you couldn`t afford to lose.

I suggest you check out a local violin shop if you have one, to see what their prices are, for both old and new fiddles. Old violins can be better, but for a beginner a new outfit (bow, case, violin & rosin usually) might offer better value.

Also check out new violins on the internet. I`m impressed with Gliga violins, available through Elida Trading in the UK (they sell new instruments through eBay and are very helpful.) My fiddle cost £350.00, without bow or case. If you have a budget, bear in mind the cost of a bow & other bits you may need.