Where to buy an instrument
I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Fiddlershop.com over the years, and am very familiar with their line of instruments as well as many of the brands they carry.
While you can surely find cheaper options on Amazon/eBay and other sellers online, you usually get what you pay for. Why I recommend Fiddlershop is because every violin is set up, tested, and ready to play as soon as you receive it.
Cheapest Option
The Tower Strings Entertainer Outfit is the cheapest option I recommend. The outfit includes a case, bow, shoulder rest, rosin, mute, cloth, and tuner. It’s everything you need to get started. Starts around $299.00.
Fiddlerman OB1
The “Orchestra Beginner 1” has some higher quality tonewoods and accessories including a nicer case, synthetic core strings, and a carbon fiber bow. Currently $419.00
A Step Up
The Fiddlerman Concert Violin is a noticeable improvement from the world of “Beginner Violins.” Made from higher quality Spruce and Maple, it has a powerful and clear sound. Complete outfit is included. Currently $599
Now that’s Nice
For something really nice, I recommend the Ming Jiang Zhu 905. It has a gorgeous warm and resonant tone, and super easy to play. It’s priced for more serious players, currently $1,875.00
Improve the Instrument you Already Have
The violin you already have may be just fine. But there are many things you can do to improve the playing experience. Here are a few things I recommend.
1) Change Your Strings
If your violin has steel-core strings, you’ll enjoy a much softer playing experience and warmer sound by switching to a synthetic core strings. Yes, they’re more expensive than steel-core, and don’t last as long, but they feel so much springier and easier to press down than steel-core, and offer much more color to the sound.
Cheapest Option
The Fiddlerman Synthetic Strings are a solid choice. They’re a clean, and responsive sound, and generally sound good on any instrument. If you have no idea how old your current strings are, do yourself a favor and grab a set of these. Currently $32.99
The Reference String
Thomastik Dominant Strings have been around since the dawn of the modern age, and virtually every violinist has played these strings. For that reason, it’s a good set to try and see if you like them, and if not, you can ask for something that’s “brighter, or darker than Dominants” Currently $79.50
My Favorite Set?
The string set that I currently love, is the Thomastik Dynamo set (with a higher tension E). Look, I know they’re expensive, and therefore don’t make sense for beginners, but if you want to know what I think the best of the best is…it’s these. Currently $180.95
2) Get a New Bridge
If your strings also feel like you have to push them down really far to touch the fingerboard. Most likely your fingerboard has “drooped” or has descended (this happens naturally over time-there’s a lot of tension from the strings pulling the neck forwards and down).
A luthier will be able to guide you best as to what you need. A new bridge typically costs $75-120. But if the string height is too low, you may also require a neck alignment to “raise the projection” and bring your string height back up to the proper height.
3) Rehair your Bow (or buy a new one)
Over time, your bow hair will get kinda grimey, and stop holding onto rosin as well as it used to. Also, hairs will break and fall out. All these things make the bow harder to control and harder to produce sound.
Rehairing is a service that most instrument shops offer (not a same-day repair unless you set it up). And usually cost around $70-100.
If your bow isn’t really worth rehairing, you can also just buy a new bow for about the same price.
A Solid Choice
The Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber really can’t be beat. It’s an incredibly strong stick that is also light and easy to control. No, it’s not the cleanest sound you can get from a bow, but for around $70, it’s worth every penny.
The Next Step
Pernambuco is the “Gold Standard” of bow materials. It’s strong, it’s springy, and it’s resonant. In recent years, exporting pernambuco from Brazil has become all but impossible, leaving workshops to rely on their existing inventory, or switch to alternatives like ipe wood, or Brazilwood. The Holstein Pernambuco delivers a cleaner sound with good sturdiness and response. Currently $199
