I'm currently playing a 'middle-of-the-road' fiddle and am looking to upgrade. Any pieces of advice or suggestions would be appreciated as I havn't clue where to start!
There are lots of threads here about that, and there are some guides you can find on the Internet, like this one: http://www.violinist.com/wiki/buying/
If you aren't sure of your ability to pick out the right fiddle, it helps to have an experienced player along with you to give advice.
Always play a fiddle before you buy it; I don't recommend buying one over the Internet without trying it out, unless they have a good return policy. Many shops will ship instruments to you to try out and you can keep returning them until you find the one that's right for you. That's usually only an option on the more expensive instruments, though.
Also, don't forget about the bow! Having a good bow is at least as important as having a good fiddle. Try out some different bows and see how they feel. You might be surprised at how much difference the right bow can make in your playing.
I reached the point you're at last year. You really need to play as many fiddles as you can to figure out what you want. If you know the sound and feel you want, just keep trying them out until you find a keeper. Make sure you take your fiddle and bow with you, so you can make an apples/apples comparison.
It's good advice to make sure a good bow doesn't improve your current setup, and strings, too, for that matter. If you're happy with your bow and plan on keeping it, make sure you use it to play any fiddles you're trying out.
Good luck, and I hope you find something in your budget. I had been playing a factory Maggini knockoff and had to move into the $1800-2500 USD to get what I was looking for.
I agree, play as many fiddles as you can, but never play one out of your price range, because that will be the one that will speak to you. There will be a fiddle, eventually, that will speak to you, that is the one you have to have. Don't listen to any stories about the fiddles you try (around here nearly every family has at least one "Strad" that belonged to a great uncle), listen only to the fiddle.
My mother bought my fiddle for me when I was 15. My teacher had me turn my back and he played the same tune on each of five fiddles. Then I played another tune on each of the five fiddles. The fiddle I liked was the same both times. I still play it and I have never had any desire to play another. It is a big 4/4, so it is really too big for my hand, but it also has a big rich sound and I can make that g string ring when I play tunes like Neil Gow's lament for James Moray and then make the e string sound as sweet as anything in the next tune.
I take every opportunity to play fiddles "out of my price range" (having played many in the $30,000 USD range, plus a few *much* more expensive), and what I've found is that I like my $650 mock Heberlein very much, thank you. Price has less to do with sound and playability and a lot to do with a Cremona address or other "collectible" features.
In short, play expensive instruments to learn that you don't have to spend a fortune to get a great sounding fiddle.
Buying a new fiddle
Buying a new fiddle
I'm currently playing a 'middle-of-the-road' fiddle and am looking to upgrade. Any pieces of advice or suggestions would be appreciated as I havn't clue where to start!
# Posted on April 20th 2008 by TradChic
Re: Buying a new fiddle
There are lots of threads here about that, and there are some guides you can find on the Internet, like this one: http://www.violinist.com/wiki/buying/
If you aren't sure of your ability to pick out the right fiddle, it helps to have an experienced player along with you to give advice.
Always play a fiddle before you buy it; I don't recommend buying one over the Internet without trying it out, unless they have a good return policy. Many shops will ship instruments to you to try out and you can keep returning them until you find the one that's right for you. That's usually only an option on the more expensive instruments, though.
Also, don't forget about the bow! Having a good bow is at least as important as having a good fiddle. Try out some different bows and see how they feel. You might be surprised at how much difference the right bow can make in your playing.
# Posted on April 20th 2008 by Marklar
Re: Buying a new fiddle
If you live in or near Cork City you could try,
W.D. Patterson, Violin Sales & repair
Camden House, Camden Quay, Cork
Tel./Fax: 021 - 450 68 68
and for general advice and perhaps further information,
Pro Musica
20 Oliver Plunkett Street
Cork
Tel 021 427 1659
The Music Department of the University in Cork
# Posted on April 20th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Buying a new fiddle
I reached the point you're at last year. You really need to play as many fiddles as you can to figure out what you want. If you know the sound and feel you want, just keep trying them out until you find a keeper. Make sure you take your fiddle and bow with you, so you can make an apples/apples comparison.
It's good advice to make sure a good bow doesn't improve your current setup, and strings, too, for that matter. If you're happy with your bow and plan on keeping it, make sure you use it to play any fiddles you're trying out.
Good luck, and I hope you find something in your budget. I had been playing a factory Maggini knockoff and had to move into the $1800-2500 USD to get what I was looking for.
# Posted on April 20th 2008 by nofrets
Re: Buying a new fiddle
I agree, play as many fiddles as you can, but never play one out of your price range, because that will be the one that will speak to you. There will be a fiddle, eventually, that will speak to you, that is the one you have to have. Don't listen to any stories about the fiddles you try (around here nearly every family has at least one "Strad" that belonged to a great uncle), listen only to the fiddle.
My mother bought my fiddle for me when I was 15. My teacher had me turn my back and he played the same tune on each of five fiddles. Then I played another tune on each of the five fiddles. The fiddle I liked was the same both times. I still play it and I have never had any desire to play another. It is a big 4/4, so it is really too big for my hand, but it also has a big rich sound and I can make that g string ring when I play tunes like Neil Gow's lament for James Moray and then make the e string sound as sweet as anything in the next tune.
# Posted on April 21st 2008 by Slippyroad
Re: Buying a new fiddle
I take every opportunity to play fiddles "out of my price range" (having played many in the $30,000 USD range, plus a few *much* more expensive), and what I've found is that I like my $650 mock Heberlein very much, thank you. Price has less to do with sound and playability and a lot to do with a Cremona address or other "collectible" features.
In short, play expensive instruments to learn that you don't have to spend a fortune to get a great sounding fiddle.
# Posted on April 21st 2008 by Will Harmon