Paula Verdicchio Ailshie

What you need to know about purchasing a violin

December 30, 2006 at 7:41 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
Tags: Ailshie, bow, education string, purchasing, shifting

Note: This article was not written to endorse any shop, but rather to commend the effort and honesty of those in the luthier business willing to explain and help the average person to buy a quality instrument.

Many people ask me where to buy a violin, and how much they need to spend to get a quality violin. Unfortunately, ther is no magical website where you can find “the deal of the century” on a violin, and you cannot in many cases, go to the music store down the street with your credit card an buy “the perfect violin” right off the shelf.

On the other hand, it does not have to be an arduous process either. The time you invest in finding a violin for yourself or for your son or daughter should be exciting! You are finding your new voice! You are searching for a musical companion that will be yours for years to come! You are aquiring a tool to help you earn a living in the music business.

A quote from Reed Bernstein:

“What makes a bowed instrument work well cannot easily be compared by the inexperienced person. They all look alike to some extent, and you can’t compare features like you do with other purchases, such as computer, car, stereo, etc. In the end it comes down to trusting the shop that you work with, and unfortunately there are a lot of unscrupulous people selling instruments who are taking advantage of people, and these include many of the music stores where set-up is hardly addressed, most of the mail order companies where the low cost provider gets the business, and most definitely ebay which is where everything sold gets commoditized. Violins are not commodity items and when they are sold that way, the low cost providers can only provide you with junk.

People tell me that the player is “just a beginner” and I almost want to cry! The beginner needs a minimally well adjusted instrument to even have any idea of what the experience is going to be like. Giving a beginner one of these instruments is like giving them a pen to write with that has no ink in it!”

Please consider finding your violin at a reputable violin shop in your area. Go to a reputable violin shop not just to “support local business,” or “help the little guy.” Go to get the quality instrument you have been looking for set up by a professional who spends all his time doing just that. Go to get the one on one service owning a fine instrument demands.

For more onformation on exactly what to look for, please read this short article:
How to buy a violin, by Reed Bernstein