Doctoring up a cheaper Violin.....

[Guest]

Hi,

Does anyone know if there is a way to Doctor up a

cheaper violin to make it into a normal above average sounding violin?

I recently bought one and it appears to be a really

good violin. (by looking a the wood and the structure)

But while playing it I notice that it is not a very

good sounding violin in comparison to other ones that

I have heard. (From tapes etc.)

The E and A strings don't seem to put out a very good sound in comparison to the D and G strings. They seem to vibrate too much, and to me they seem to be too fine of(diameter) of strings.

I guess what I am trying to ask is:

Is there better qualities of bows that can be bought

that will produce a better sound?

Is there better quality strings that produce better

quality sound?

Is it the strings and the bow what makes up a good

violin or is it the wood and the structure?

Fred L.

[Paul]

: Hi,

: Does anyone know if there is a way to Doctor up a

: cheaper violin to make it into a normal above average sounding violin?

: I recently bought one and it appears to be a really

: good violin. (by looking a the wood and the structure)

: But while playing it I notice that it is not a very

: good sounding violin in comparison to other ones that

: I have heard. (From tapes etc.)

: The E and A strings don't seem to put out a very good sound in comparison to the D and G strings. They seem to vibrate too much, and to me they seem to be too fine of(diameter) of strings.

: I guess what I am trying to ask is:

: Is there better qualities of bows that can be bought

: that will produce a better sound?

: Is there better quality strings that produce better

: quality sound?

: Is it the strings and the bow what makes up a good

: violin or is it the wood and the structure?

:

: Fred L.

Fred

I don't lnow what you mean by "normal above average" cause that there done look like a contradiction in words.

My answer to all your questions is "Yes"

Remember that the quality of sound etc is all relative and subjective. If YOU are satisfied with the instrument's response - that is what matters.

Good luck,

Paul

[Andrew Victor]

: Hi,

: Does anyone know if there is a way to Doctor up a

: cheaper violin to make it into a normal above average sounding violin?

: I recently bought one and it appears to be a really

: good violin. (by looking a the wood and the structure)

: But while playing it I notice that it is not a very

: good sounding violin in comparison to other ones that

: I have heard. (From tapes etc.)

: The E and A strings don't seem to put out a very good sound in comparison to the D and G strings. They seem to vibrate too much, and to me they seem to be too fine of(diameter) of strings.

: I guess what I am trying to ask is:

: Is there better qualities of bows that can be bought

: that will produce a better sound?

: Is there better quality strings that produce better

: quality sound?

: Is it the strings and the bow what makes up a good

: violin or is it the wood and the structure?

: Fred L.

First of all: The sound you hear when playing a violin is not anything like the sound you har when listening to one. Second, the sound you hear when listening to a violin seems to be at least 95% the sound of the player and probably no more than 5% the sound of that particular violin. (There are outstanding exceptions.) A good player will adjust his/her playing to make the instrument sound typical of that player (sometimes it is very hard work to do this, whereas for a responsive instrument it is "no work"). When I record different violins, I can hardly tell any difference. You will also notice this phenomenon if you listen to some of the recordings made to compare the sound of some of the great Stradivarius, Guarneri, Amati, Bergonzi, etc. instruments. As a player, however, one would notice significant differences between the instruments.

To judge the sound of this violin by the criteria you are using, you must record it in comparison with several other violins that are judged to be of good quality.

I would not be surprised if your violin lacks some sound quality, many cheaper ones do. These days, Henry and Fred Meissner of Carpenteria California are specializing in regraduating less expensive instruments and reselling them for a higher price (although still below many comparable student instruments). This will probably cost more than you payed for the instrument (even if it is worth doing).

Andy

[Uncle Vern]

: Hi,

: Does anyone know if there is a way to Doctor up a

: cheaper violin to make it into a normal above average sounding violin?

: I recently bought one and it appears to be a really

: good violin. (by looking a the wood and the structure)

: But while playing it I notice that it is not a very

: good sounding violin in comparison to other ones that

: I have heard. (From tapes etc.)

: The E and A strings don't seem to put out a very good sound in comparison to the D and G strings. They seem to vibrate too much, and to me they seem to be too fine of(diameter) of strings.

: I guess what I am trying to ask is:

: Is there better qualities of bows that can be bought

: that will produce a better sound?

: Is there better quality strings that produce better

: quality sound?

: Is it the strings and the bow what makes up a good

: violin or is it the wood and the structure?

:

: Fred L.

Fred, I sounds like you might have some basic setup problems. Have a violin repairman look at the sound post- if it is shrunken or set incorrectly, it can have a huge effect on string tonal balance and overall tone. If the bridge doesn't fit well, or is warped or otherwise bad, the same is true. Some T.L.C. from a good repair tech, and a new set of strings could make your violin sound completley different( and much better). Al Billings

[Keith]

: Hi,

: Does anyone know if there is a way to Doctor up a

: cheaper violin to make it into a normal above average sounding violin? ...

All of the things you mention have an effect. You should probably invest in a good set of strings, and have the instrument professionally set-up. If you've got a piece of junk for a bow, a better bow can make a big difference, too.

After that, as another poster pointed out, it's largely the player. When I was trying out some new fiddles, I had my teacher along to play and give his opinion. They all sounded great! In fact, if I could have made my own, old fiddle sound the way it did when he played it, I wouldn't have had to buy a new one.

[Guest]

:

: : Hi,

: : Does anyone know if there is a way to Doctor up a

: : cheaper violin to make it into a normal above average sounding violin?

: : I recently bought one and it appears to be a really

: : good violin. (by looking a the wood and the structure)

: : But while playing it I notice that it is not a very

: : good sounding violin in comparison to other ones that

: : I have heard. (From tapes etc.)

: : The E and A strings don't seem to put out a very good sound in comparison to the D and G strings. They seem to vibrate too much, and to me they seem to be too fine of(diameter) of strings.

: : I guess what I am trying to ask is:

: : Is there better qualities of bows that can be bought

: : that will produce a better sound?

: : Is there better quality strings that produce better

: : quality sound?

: : Is it the strings and the bow what makes up a good

: : violin or is it the wood and the structure?

: :

: : Fred L.

: Fred

: I don't lnow what you mean by "normal above average" cause that there done look like a contradiction in words.

: My answer to all your questions is "Yes"

: Remember that the quality of sound etc is all relative and subjective. If YOU are satisfied with the instrument's response - that is what matters.

: Good luck,

: Paul

Hi Paul,

What I mean about looks like a normal above

average violin is the structure of it.. The

structure of it itself (The wood) and the way

it was made looks to be normal and above average.

What I am wondering about is, whether it can be

made to sound like a better violin by putting

better quality strings on it and by buying a

better bow.

Me myself, even though I do not have much

experience with violins, I find that this violin

could possibly have better sounds coming out of it.

I do have a little experience with other instruments, I have been playing the bagpipes now

for about 15 years and have grown up learning the

piano and trumpet.

Does the sound of a violin depend alot on the quality of strings and bow?

Does the type of wood used and the structure

have much bearing on the sound quality?

Fred.

[Guest]

:

: : Hi,

: : Does anyone know if there is a way to Doctor up a

: : cheaper violin to make it into a normal above average sounding violin?

: : I recently bought one and it appears to be a really

: : good violin. (by looking a the wood and the structure)

: : But while playing it I notice that it is not a very

: : good sounding violin in comparison to other ones that

: : I have heard. (From tapes etc.)

: : The E and A strings don't seem to put out a very good sound in comparison to the D and G strings. They seem to vibrate too much, and to me they seem to be too fine of(diameter) of strings.

: : I guess what I am trying to ask is:

: : Is there better qualities of bows that can be bought

: : that will produce a better sound?

: : Is there better quality strings that produce better

: : quality sound?

: : Is it the strings and the bow what makes up a good

: : violin or is it the wood and the structure?

: :

: : Fred L.

: Fred

: I don't lnow what you mean by "normal above average" cause that there done look like a contradiction in words.

: My answer to all your questions is "Yes"

: Remember that the quality of sound etc is all relative and subjective. If YOU are satisfied with the instrument's response - that is what matters.

: Good luck,

: Paul

Hi Paul,

What I mean about looks like a normal above

average violin is the structure of it.. The

structure of it itself (The wood) and the way

it was made looks to be normal and above average.

What I am wondering about is, whether it can be

made to sound like a better violin by putting

better quality strings on it and by buying a

better bow.

Me myself, even though I do not have much

experience with violins, I find that this violin

could possibly have better sounds coming out of it.

I do have a little experience with other instruments, I have been playing the bagpipes now

for about 15 years and have grown up learning the

piano and trumpet.

Does the sound of a violin depend alot on the quality of strings and bow?

Does the type of wood used and the structure

have much bearing on the sound quality?

Fred.

[Per Herholdt]

One of the things that is not put into a cheap violin is time. The time it takes to make the right thicknes of the plates for instance, and you may also sometimes find that they are made without the propper expertice. If your violin is only half finished, a skilled violinbuilder will be abel to improve it. but if it is "owerdone" noone can help you.

: : Hi,

: : Does anyone know if there is a way to Doctor up a

: : cheaper violin to make it into a normal above average sounding violin? ...

: All of the things you mention have an effect. You should probably invest in a good set of strings, and have the instrument professionally set-up. If you've got a piece of junk for a bow, a better bow can make a big difference, too.

: After that, as another poster pointed out, it's largely the player. When I was trying out some new fiddles, I had my teacher along to play and give his opinion. They all sounded great! In fact, if I could have made my own, old fiddle sound the way it did when he played it, I wouldn't have had to buy a new one.