In the violin shop, I see so many people who have purchased a very cheap violin for themselves or their children. I can't even keep track of how many of these instruments I've seen. People think they got a great deal in buying a violin (with a case and bow) for 50 bucks. These "great deals" start to turn sour when the instrument will not stay in tune, the bow doesn't tighten, or something flat out breaks.
One of the biggest issues with cheap violin outfits is the bow. The bows that come in these packages are trouble waiting to happen, They usually have minimal camber (the inward curve the stick), and therefore don't have the strength to make a string vibrate. The hair is the cheapest available, and the craftsmanship is usually substandard. At minimum, a rehair will be necessary to make such a bow playable.
Cheap violins use the cheapest accessories and fittings known to the industry. The biggest problem lies in the pegs and scroll. Cheap pegs made of maple or another common hardwood never hold the string tension on account of their softness. The scroll and pegbox are usually also comprised of some other substandard wood. The pegs are tapered in matching holes, and when they are pushed in, cheap wood just compresses and you don't get the presure necessary to hold the string.
The tailpiece and its fine tuners commonly vex the buyers of cheap violins. The fine tuning mechanism is comprised of a pivoting arm which holds the string, and a screw that moves the arm. Sometimes, the arm comes out of alignment, and the screw no longer hits it. If you notice that the screw is stiff, and turning it doesn't do anything, the arm probably has slipped out from under the screw. High quality tailpieces don't usually have this issue.
Another big problem with cheap violins is the bridge. Sometimes, the bridge isn't even set up. The manufacturer leaves this step up to a novice player who probably doesn't know how to handle a violin yet. Worse still, the bridge feet may not fit the top of the instrument at all, which hinders sound, and might break something if it is bad enough. Yet another problem I see with bridges on cheap violins is that there are no proper string grooves. Many of these instruments have the strings unevenly spaced across the top of the bridge, which results in major playability issues. I still haven't mentioned that cheap bridges are made out of the worst wood, and will definitely warp or break at some point.
The strings that come with most cheap outfits can do no justice to any instrument. They will sound metallic and squeaky, and they will probably break. I bought a cheap outfit for myself (if it gets damaged at an outdoor gig, it's not a big deal) and all the strings broke within a year. I replaced them with strings that I burned up on my concert instrument, and they sound better than the originals!
Before you buy a cheap violin, consider the extra cost associated with getting it fixed to make it playable. You will be well served to spend a little more upfront and not have to deal with the hassle and cost later. It can be frustrating for a new violinist to deal with an instrument that plays horribly and doesn't hold pitch at all. As a violin technician and an experienced player, I can deal with pretty much anything one of these cheap violins can throw at me, but someone with no experience will have a lot of trouble.
On the bright side, the case is usually servicable.
When purchasing a violin, it is well to go to a specialized string shop. There are many different shops around the United States, so most people will have one within a reasonable distance. It is great to talk to someone face to face who has knowledge of the field. If you must buy online, buy from a reputable violin retailer such as Shar Music. Chances are, the lowest price you find on Amazon or Ebay is simply not a good deal.
The tailpiece and its fine tuners commonly vex the buyers of cheap violins. The fine tuning mechanism is comprised of a pivoting arm which holds the string, and a screw that moves the arm. Sometimes, the arm comes out of alignment, and the screw no longer hits it. If you notice that the screw is stiff, and turning it doesn't do anything, the arm probably has slipped out from under the screw. High quality tailpieces don't usually have this issue.
Another big problem with cheap violins is the bridge. Sometimes, the bridge isn't even set up. The manufacturer leaves this step up to a novice player who probably doesn't know how to handle a violin yet. Worse still, the bridge feet may not fit the top of the instrument at all, which hinders sound, and might break something if it is bad enough. Yet another problem I see with bridges on cheap violins is that there are no proper string grooves. Many of these instruments have the strings unevenly spaced across the top of the bridge, which results in major playability issues. I still haven't mentioned that cheap bridges are made out of the worst wood, and will definitely warp or break at some point.
The strings that come with most cheap outfits can do no justice to any instrument. They will sound metallic and squeaky, and they will probably break. I bought a cheap outfit for myself (if it gets damaged at an outdoor gig, it's not a big deal) and all the strings broke within a year. I replaced them with strings that I burned up on my concert instrument, and they sound better than the originals!
Before you buy a cheap violin, consider the extra cost associated with getting it fixed to make it playable. You will be well served to spend a little more upfront and not have to deal with the hassle and cost later. It can be frustrating for a new violinist to deal with an instrument that plays horribly and doesn't hold pitch at all. As a violin technician and an experienced player, I can deal with pretty much anything one of these cheap violins can throw at me, but someone with no experience will have a lot of trouble.
On the bright side, the case is usually servicable.
When purchasing a violin, it is well to go to a specialized string shop. There are many different shops around the United States, so most people will have one within a reasonable distance. It is great to talk to someone face to face who has knowledge of the field. If you must buy online, buy from a reputable violin retailer such as Shar Music. Chances are, the lowest price you find on Amazon or Ebay is simply not a good deal.
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