You've left this pretty wide open, and you may want to let us where you live. Fiddles aren't like guitars where you can easily recommend one brand over the other. Maybe some would disagree. If you've never played before, you may want to think about renting one for a few months and make sure it's for you.
If you have a fiddle/violin shop nearby, go talk to them with a budget in mind. That's a good place to start and they will know more than any generic music shop. Some shops will give you the full price back when you trade up to a better fiddle later on.
In the US there are several reputable shops on the internet, Shar's, KC Strings, Gianna's, and so on, but I don't know if you live in the states, UK, Euope or Australia. Some people are comfortable with online purchases, but when it comes to fiddle, I'd like to hold it and play it.
I'm sure you'll get plenty of responses. Good luck. I hope you have time for a new addiction!
I'm glad I started out on a cheap piece of junk mass-produced one. It was basically disposable, so it taught me how NOT to take care of a violin without me ending up with a messed up valuable fiddle. Sure, they sound like crap, but you're going to sound like crap regardless for quite a while. Also, you'll have a much better idea of what your dream fiddle is like by the time you've completely outgrown the cheapie as opposed to now, so you'll be in better shape to shop for one instead of trying to find THE ONE right now.
I started with a really cheap crappy one... and made myself practice till i could get a half decent sound out of it. It made getting the new one all the more worth while... as it wasn't as hard to get the sound out of the better instument.
I agree. I started with a Chinese thing that I eventually took apart out of curiosity. It served its purpose for little cost, and I got a case with it. If you have any woodworking ability, incidentally, Stewart McDonald's guitar supplies do an excellent violin kit that could keep you occupied while you learn to play.
1.Find an experienced fiddler whose sound you like.
2.Bring the fiddler with you when you go shopping.
3.Have the fiddler test the fiddles available in your price range.
As implied above by others, if the fiddler can get the sound you want out of the selected instrument, then, with proper technique, so will you eventually.
My first fiddle is still with me, I still have a long way to go with it, BUT I still recall how my teacher could pull the most amazing music from it with little effort.
Soooo...
It is definitely better to start on a cheap fiddle or rent one from a shop for a while, because you have to figure out if the fiddle is the right instrument for you. I also started on a cheap Chinese fiddle from Stentor, but it really was o.k. and had a nice sound. The bow was crap so when I got better I first replaced the bow and then the fiddle.
I started on an ok beginners instrument made in the Czech republic(about$180 US). After a few months, I upgraded with better strings(Helicore) and a better bow(Arco Nouveau carbon fiber). This made the cheap instrument sould so much better and was an inspiration to keep going.
I've just started playing fiddle (teaching myself although I might try to find some classes soon). I'm at the stage where I can play a couple of tunes off by heart and am starting to get a real feel for it, getting better every day. So I'm kind of inbetween yourself and the people who've replied above right now. I've started on a cheap ex-rental student fiddle which I got for about £50. Yes, it sounds REALLY rubbish! And I've been thinking about upgrading, so I went recently to a proper violin shop to look at upgrading to a much better one I can keep for the rest of my life and which will sound a lot better when I'm playing it. But this is my advice - like everyones saying, get a cheap as dirt one to start with until you have a proper hang of it. It doesn't really matter what make, as long as it makes a sound. Because when I went to the shop, they gave me the chance to play a couple of different ones, to compare what they sound like, then you pick the one you really want, and what you're supposed to do is listen to someone else playing it first ( someone you bring with you to the shop or the shop assistant) , then have a go at playing it yourself to see what it sounds like when you're playing it, because they both sound slightly different - because of the way sound travels etc when you have it up close to your face. That way you compare them all and pick the one you like the sound of the best. Because believe it or not, there can be quite a difference in the way different violins sound (and the most expensive are not always the best by the way as I heard with my own ears today). You can also try out different bows, and I now know 1st hand what a difference the bow can make. The shop assistant let me try a bow which costs £1300, and believe me what a difference! Not that I'll ever have one of those in my lifetime but it was nice to try! But - before you get to that stage, you really need to have a bit of experience to be able to know what sounds good + what doesn't, and at least know a tune or 2 to be able to try out on them, to see what you think of the sound it's making. There probably wouldn't be any point in going to try out different ones until you know exactly what it is you're looking for. The shop assistant also said that as you get more experienced, your tastes normally change, so if you spend a lot on a really good violin right now, you might not like what you have this time in a year or two. So honestly a really cheap one is fine to start with.
It's odd, but almost nobody I know has done the "cheap then upgrade" route. If you know you'll be with it for a while, buy something nice, and you'll find that as you get better, your instrument will sort of grow into you and you into it - I got a $1200 fiddle maybe a year into playing, and over the last three years its tone and mine have completely changed. If you know you're in for the long haul, consider getting something good you can age with.
The important point to remember with the cheaper fiddles from non-specialist suppliers is that they're not necessarily set up properly. In particular, the action (the height of the strings above the fingerboard) is almost certain to be too high for comfort or even playability, and the bridge and soundpost (a VERY important component inside, almost under the bridge) also may not be set up properly. A millimetre or so out of position for bridge/soundpost will have a bad effect on resonance and tone.
Other things that could be out of kilter are ill-fitting pegs and simple (but not obvious to a beginner) things like the shaping of the string grooves in the nut at the end of the fingerboard and the bridge. And the strings themselves may be so cheap and nasty as to be unpleasant to play on.
If a beginner does come by a cheap instrument from a non-specialist source the advice I'd give is to ask an experienced player to look it over. He/she will immediately spot any of the things I've mentioned, if present, and then the next port of call will be to a luthier who will be able to rectify the problems at a modest cost.
A "cheap" instrument isn't necessarily bad news; I've seen and heard Stentors that a violin dealer has taken the trouble to set up properly before offering for sale, and they've proved to be excellent choices for beginners and those quite more advanced.
I started a year ago on an ultra-cheap chinese fiddle. Things have gone well and I'll definitely be sticking with the fiddle - love it. Looking back I find myself thinking...gosh I wish I'd put more cash into a good first fiddle...but you know... I didn't have the cash. And now that I know I love this and it was meant to be I am saving up for something really decent. I will be upgrading as soon as I can muster the cash. Which in this economy could be a while.
I do wish I'd been able to score a fiddle with soft varnish (as opposed to the hard varnish on my mass-produced fiddle)...but again..cash was the issue. I did have it set up with a better bridge and that made a load of difference. Even so, the sound is petty rough.
I'd set a budget and just get the best you can for the money you have and if at all possible....get a fiddle with soft-varnish. Also recommend talking to an experienced player and getting them to check over the violin before you buy.
The Stewmac fiddle is excellent, Padraig. I have an Italian fiddle of uncertain origin (no name that I can find) which is lovely to look at, and sounds good. But the Stewmac is louder, has more character, and I made it without too much difficulty. The later version is better, I see, with an ebony fingerboard. Mine was mahogany, circa 2004. Since then I've bought the Stewmac neck and fingerboard seperately and used them to make an electric fiddle with a piece of alder from a tonewood supplier. Magic!
help for the fiddle
help for the fiddle
hi i always loved the sound of a fiddle and want to start playing just would like to know what the best fiddle for beginners?
# Posted on December 6th 2008 by jayo
Re: help for the fiddle
Hi Jayo,
You've left this pretty wide open, and you may want to let us where you live. Fiddles aren't like guitars where you can easily recommend one brand over the other. Maybe some would disagree. If you've never played before, you may want to think about renting one for a few months and make sure it's for you.
If you have a fiddle/violin shop nearby, go talk to them with a budget in mind. That's a good place to start and they will know more than any generic music shop. Some shops will give you the full price back when you trade up to a better fiddle later on.
In the US there are several reputable shops on the internet, Shar's, KC Strings, Gianna's, and so on, but I don't know if you live in the states, UK, Euope or Australia. Some people are comfortable with online purchases, but when it comes to fiddle, I'd like to hold it and play it.
I'm sure you'll get plenty of responses. Good luck. I hope you have time for a new addiction!
# Posted on December 6th 2008 by nofrets
Re: help for the fiddle
I'm glad I started out on a cheap piece of junk mass-produced one. It was basically disposable, so it taught me how NOT to take care of a violin without me ending up with a messed up valuable fiddle. Sure, they sound like crap, but you're going to sound like crap regardless for quite a while. Also, you'll have a much better idea of what your dream fiddle is like by the time you've completely outgrown the cheapie as opposed to now, so you'll be in better shape to shop for one instead of trying to find THE ONE right now.
# Posted on December 6th 2008 by Whiddler
Re: help for the fiddle
I started with a really cheap crappy one... and made myself practice till i could get a half decent sound out of it. It made getting the new one all the more worth while... as it wasn't as hard to get the sound out of the better instument.
# Posted on December 6th 2008 by davydd
Re: help for the fiddle
Get a cheap one. Learning fiddle is hard work and only
obsessive crazy people stay with it.
# Posted on December 6th 2008 by Hup
Re: help for the fiddle
I agree. I started with a Chinese thing that I eventually took apart out of curiosity. It served its purpose for little cost, and I got a case with it. If you have any woodworking ability, incidentally, Stewart McDonald's guitar supplies do an excellent violin kit that could keep you occupied while you learn to play.
# Posted on December 6th 2008 by gam
Re: help for the fiddle
1.Find an experienced fiddler whose sound you like.
2.Bring the fiddler with you when you go shopping.
3.Have the fiddler test the fiddles available in your price range.
As implied above by others, if the fiddler can get the sound you want out of the selected instrument, then, with proper technique, so will you eventually.
My first fiddle is still with me, I still have a long way to go with it, BUT I still recall how my teacher could pull the most amazing music from it with little effort.
Soooo...
It must not be the fiddle that has a problem.
# Posted on December 6th 2008 by Piece
Re: help for the fiddle
PS:
Good luck, jayo.
# Posted on December 6th 2008 by Piece
Re: help for the fiddle
It is definitely better to start on a cheap fiddle or rent one from a shop for a while, because you have to figure out if the fiddle is the right instrument for you. I also started on a cheap Chinese fiddle from Stentor, but it really was o.k. and had a nice sound. The bow was crap so when I got better I first replaced the bow and then the fiddle.
# Posted on December 6th 2008 by fiddlinsue
Re: help for the fiddle
I started on an ok beginners instrument made in the Czech republic(about$180 US). After a few months, I upgraded with better strings(Helicore) and a better bow(Arco Nouveau carbon fiber). This made the cheap instrument sould so much better and was an inspiration to keep going.
# Posted on December 6th 2008 by musicstudent
Re: help for the fiddle
I agree with musicstudent, people tend to focus on the violin alone but a good bow is so important !
# Posted on December 6th 2008 by Henk Bos
Re: help for the fiddle
stewmac has a violin kit that's pretty good? hows the tone?
# Posted on December 6th 2008 by Pádraig
Re: help for the fiddle
I've just started playing fiddle (teaching myself although I might try to find some classes soon). I'm at the stage where I can play a couple of tunes off by heart and am starting to get a real feel for it, getting better every day. So I'm kind of inbetween yourself and the people who've replied above right now. I've started on a cheap ex-rental student fiddle which I got for about £50. Yes, it sounds REALLY rubbish! And I've been thinking about upgrading, so I went recently to a proper violin shop to look at upgrading to a much better one I can keep for the rest of my life and which will sound a lot better when I'm playing it. But this is my advice - like everyones saying, get a cheap as dirt one to start with until you have a proper hang of it. It doesn't really matter what make, as long as it makes a sound. Because when I went to the shop, they gave me the chance to play a couple of different ones, to compare what they sound like, then you pick the one you really want, and what you're supposed to do is listen to someone else playing it first ( someone you bring with you to the shop or the shop assistant) , then have a go at playing it yourself to see what it sounds like when you're playing it, because they both sound slightly different - because of the way sound travels etc when you have it up close to your face. That way you compare them all and pick the one you like the sound of the best. Because believe it or not, there can be quite a difference in the way different violins sound (and the most expensive are not always the best by the way as I heard with my own ears today). You can also try out different bows, and I now know 1st hand what a difference the bow can make. The shop assistant let me try a bow which costs £1300, and believe me what a difference! Not that I'll ever have one of those in my lifetime but it was nice to try! But - before you get to that stage, you really need to have a bit of experience to be able to know what sounds good + what doesn't, and at least know a tune or 2 to be able to try out on them, to see what you think of the sound it's making. There probably wouldn't be any point in going to try out different ones until you know exactly what it is you're looking for. The shop assistant also said that as you get more experienced, your tastes normally change, so if you spend a lot on a really good violin right now, you might not like what you have this time in a year or two. So honestly a really cheap one is fine to start with.
# Posted on December 6th 2008 by eenymo
Re: help for the fiddle
It's odd, but almost nobody I know has done the "cheap then upgrade" route. If you know you'll be with it for a while, buy something nice, and you'll find that as you get better, your instrument will sort of grow into you and you into it - I got a $1200 fiddle maybe a year into playing, and over the last three years its tone and mine have completely changed. If you know you're in for the long haul, consider getting something good you can age with.
--DtM
# Posted on December 7th 2008 by Dan the Man
Re: help for the fiddle
The important point to remember with the cheaper fiddles from non-specialist suppliers is that they're not necessarily set up properly. In particular, the action (the height of the strings above the fingerboard) is almost certain to be too high for comfort or even playability, and the bridge and soundpost (a VERY important component inside, almost under the bridge) also may not be set up properly. A millimetre or so out of position for bridge/soundpost will have a bad effect on resonance and tone.
Other things that could be out of kilter are ill-fitting pegs and simple (but not obvious to a beginner) things like the shaping of the string grooves in the nut at the end of the fingerboard and the bridge. And the strings themselves may be so cheap and nasty as to be unpleasant to play on.
If a beginner does come by a cheap instrument from a non-specialist source the advice I'd give is to ask an experienced player to look it over. He/she will immediately spot any of the things I've mentioned, if present, and then the next port of call will be to a luthier who will be able to rectify the problems at a modest cost.
A "cheap" instrument isn't necessarily bad news; I've seen and heard Stentors that a violin dealer has taken the trouble to set up properly before offering for sale, and they've proved to be excellent choices for beginners and those quite more advanced.
# Posted on December 7th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: help for the fiddle
A decent is at least as important as a decent fiddle. Do not skimp on that, either.
A ten-dollar horse with a forty-dollar saddle, at least you ride in comfort.
# Posted on December 7th 2008 by Piece
Re: help for the fiddle
A decent BOW.
(sheesh, where's my coffee?)
# Posted on December 7th 2008 by Piece
Re: help for the fiddle
I started a year ago on an ultra-cheap chinese fiddle. Things have gone well and I'll definitely be sticking with the fiddle - love it. Looking back I find myself thinking...gosh I wish I'd put more cash into a good first fiddle...but you know... I didn't have the cash. And now that I know I love this and it was meant to be I am saving up for something really decent. I will be upgrading as soon as I can muster the cash. Which in this economy could be a while.
I do wish I'd been able to score a fiddle with soft varnish (as opposed to the hard varnish on my mass-produced fiddle)...but again..cash was the issue. I did have it set up with a better bridge and that made a load of difference. Even so, the sound is petty rough.
I'd set a budget and just get the best you can for the money you have and if at all possible....get a fiddle with soft-varnish. Also recommend talking to an experienced player and getting them to check over the violin before you buy.
# Posted on December 7th 2008 by Odee
Re: help for the fiddle
The Stewmac fiddle is excellent, Padraig. I have an Italian fiddle of uncertain origin (no name that I can find) which is lovely to look at, and sounds good. But the Stewmac is louder, has more character, and I made it without too much difficulty. The later version is better, I see, with an ebony fingerboard. Mine was mahogany, circa 2004. Since then I've bought the Stewmac neck and fingerboard seperately and used them to make an electric fiddle with a piece of alder from a tonewood supplier. Magic!
# Posted on December 7th 2008 by gam