Need suggestions on a used Violin? Anyone?

[samba2nite]

I am interested in buying my daughters used violins for them to learn to play. I know NOTHING about violins and am looking for suggestions or guidelines on what to look for in a used violin or what to stay away from. My girls have expressed an interest in playing them but until I know for sure that they will stick with it for longer than two years...I want to go used.

 

Any one care to give their thoughts

[Loupelou]

Here is a previous thread that might be of help.

 

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100269&highlight=violin

 

Good luck!:)

[plain jane]

I am interested in buying my daughters used violins for them to learn to play. I know NOTHING about violins and am looking for suggestions or guidelines on what to look for in a used violin or what to stay away from. My girls have expressed an interest in playing them but until I know for sure that they will stick with it for longer than two years...I want to go used.

 

Any one care to give their thoughts

 

 

One thing I learned back when I was shopping around for violins is that, depending on the instrument, some violins will actuall GAIN value and are worth more used than new. The high quality instruments will sound better with age and therefore a new one can be a more cost effective choice. :001_huh:

 

This isn't the case for all of them, but I was told this enough times when I scoured stores and internet sites for "used" violins that I stopped asking for "used" but rather for economical, starter ones. :tongue_smilie:

[Hen]

we go to an actual violin shop, they allow me to take a few home with me, and then we have our violin teacher test them out with my student- since I know very little about instruments.

 

I like going through the shop, because as the child grows, the shop will buy back the violin and put the buy back price towards the next instrument. They can get expensive, and I know from experience that a $100 violin sounds like a $100 violin...which is my violin, and dd's instruments have always cost more, and sounded way better.

[hillfarm]

Many of the low priced new violins are not well made and are physically more difficult to play and never sound very good. They often won't stay in tune, which can be a disaster when learning to play a non-fretted instrument.

 

I would be a little leary of buying a used violin online unless it was from a company I knew really well that had a generous return policy. I recommend finding a teacher for your dd's first and then ask the teacher for a recommendation for a good local place to find used violins. In the mean time, you can usually go to local music stores and participate in the instrument rental programs designed for public school children. I knew a mom who did that in my area and the rental for a violin was around $15 - 17 per month. That would make it possible for them to get started with a teacher, give you time to locate a suitable instrument, and be a low cost investment that you could walk away from easily if they decide they would rather play flute or oboe. In our area, the rental programs usually require only a 3 month committment and offered fairly decent violins. I wouldn't necessarily buy from them because the violins I saw there were definitely overpriced. The music store didn't want to rent to homeschoolers but when my friend gave the name of her homeschool (Willowbrooke Academy), the clerk smiled and asked who was teaching music over at Willowbrooke these days. My friend gave the name of her dd's violin teacher, the clerk nodded, and all was well.

 

I paid $200 for my used violin (which I play as a fiddle!:D). It was later appraised for more than the value of my car:w00t:. So yes, some do go up in value. I bought mine from an elderly lady who was discarding her deceased husband's belongings. She had actually thrown it into the trash before a friend of mine/her next-door neighbor convinced her to sell it to me.

 

We have always had a guideline in our family regarding instruments that, when you can outplay the one you have, we will do what it takes to get a better one. Beginning students need a serviceable violin, but IMO, not the most expensive one.

Edited May 13, 2009 by hillfarm

[Tabrett]

You are going to have to go through several violins because you have to buy the correct size for your dc. You first need to find a teacher so they can tell you what size you need. Ebay has inexpensive started violins. That is where I bought my dc's violins. Until your dc is ready for a full size violin and you know they are serious, I wouldn't spend more than $100 on a violin (that is on the expensive side). A student violin in a music store is going to be around $300-$500. A broke $60 violin is easier to deal with than a broke $300 violin.

 

Make sure you violin has a wooden bow and has real wood inlay (not painted on). They should tell you this in the description of the violin. It should have 4 fine tuners, a case and rosin.