Where did you start?

[BigFryMan]

Hi guys,

 

I am about to embark on my 2nd violin build after a relatively successful first build (see

).

I really enjoyed my first and plan to work hard on making my second instrument one that I am proud enough to stamp with my name and put it up for sale.

If you have sold an instrument, where did you sell your first? A violin trader or classifieds ad? Music shop?

 

Realistically I am not looking to make a profit, but if I can sell it for enough to cover costs, I can continue to make them as I have time and keep this hobby going. This way I can keep improving my craft.

I figure for myself as a player, I'd much rather take a well built hand-crafted instrument than a chinese CNC'd template that someone varnished for similar money. Surely there are some players out there with the same mindset? 

 

Appreciate any wisdom, you've all been doing this for a lot longer than I!

[Rue]

Are you all settled in?

I suggest going to local fiddle events...maybe check out the local community orchestra and put the word out. Word of mouth works wonders...

I think interested adult amateurs might be your best market. ..versus parents buying for kids. That is still also a possibility though. ..

[Craig Tucker]

I've sold violins to students before, that were moving beyond "student quality" violins.

But then again, I have been involved with student/school string repairs, for the school system, for almost twenty years, so for me, it was almost an automatic thing. All of the "string" teachers knew me, and all of their students  pretty well got to know me also as the years went by.

 

Other than this, I used to bring violins (two or three at a time) to all of the fiddle contests around here, in this area, and there are quite a few of them, within a two or three hour radius.

It was actually doing this - going to the fiddle contests and bringing some of my violins with me, that they could try out themselves, that got me my real buyers and where my greatest market wound up being, a result...

 

But I have always done this as a sort of 'side business', as, I would always have dialysis every other day for the last thirty years - which has sort of stopped me from really putting the stone to the metal.

 

But yes, I have had quite a bit of success - selling in these arenas.

Fiddlers in particular, have provided me with a good market. For both sales and repairs.

 

You do have a regular job, am I right BFM?

[Craig Tucker]

BTW BigFryMan... nice fiddle!

 

You done good.

[BigFryMan]

Are you all settled in?

I suggest going to local fiddle events...maybe check out the local community orchestra and put the word out. Word of mouth works wonders...

I think interested adult amateurs might be your best market. ..versus parents buying for kids. That is still also a possibility though. ..

That's a great suggestion, will see what I can do, but I'm currently a little remote living in Whistler. I'll have a look and see what's around

[BigFryMan]

I've sold violins to students before, that were moving beyond "student quality" violins.

But then again, I have been involved with student/school string repairs, for the school system, for almost twenty years, so for me, it was almost an automatic thing. All of the "string" teachers knew me, and all of their students  pretty well got to know me also as the years went by.

 

Other than this, I used to bring violins (two or three at a time) to all of the fiddle contests around here, in this area, and there are quite a few of them, within a two or three hour radius.

It was actually doing this - going to the fiddle contests and bringing some of my violins with me, that they could try out themselves, that got me my real buyers and where my greatest market wound up being, a result...

 

But I have always done this as a sort of 'side business', as, I would always have dialysis every other day for the last thirty years - which has sort of stopped me from really putting the stone to the metal.

 

But yes, I have had quite a bit of success - selling in these arenas.

Fiddlers in particular, have provided me with a good market. For both sales and repairs.

 

You do have a regular job, am I right BFM?

Thanks CT, that's some great advise there!

Might prove worthwhile traipsing around some of the events I can get to. I'm about an hour and a half out of Vancouver these days, but it'll probably worth the investment to go into town a few times.

hahaha, I no longer have a real job. My wife and I turned up in whistler about 5 days ago and are just starting to look for work. Hopefully not too much work though, I want to make fiddles and go skiing 

[Rue]

Whistler has a tiny community band that I know of. If there is no orchestra...the band folks might still be able to point you to local string ensembles...

[Rue]

I was just looking and I see there is a woman starting? a string ensemble... "Sea to Sky String Orchestra"...

[BigFryMan]

I was just looking and I see there is a woman starting? a string ensemble... "Sea to Sky String Orchestra"...

Oh thanks, I'll give that a google, I didn't see it. Probably good for me to keep my practice up too haha.

[BigFryMan]

The string orchestra that Yuko Iwanaga wants to start sounds like a great place for me to be! Will keep me in practice. Except now I need to build a violin to play! Might have to get my parents to post my up the violin I just made.

 

http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler/top-violinist-seeks-skilled-performers-for-a-sea-to-sky-string-orchestra/Content?oid=2551374

[Rue]

Ha! I told you so!

You just made me very happy ***smugsmile***

[BigFryMan]

Ha! I told you so!

You just made me very happy ***smugsmile***

Hahahaha yes you are right  But we still couldn't fit it in our luggage whether I wanted to bring it or not 

[martin swan]

That's a very decent sound for your first violin. It's got good resistance up the G and sustains nicely low down on the G. The A string is lovely, sounds like you can play into the instrument and find some nice singing tone. The E is strong and pleasant, perhaps a bit overly focused but that might be down to bridge position.

I have played many instruments by experienced new makers that don't respond as well. 

You have obviously had the nerve to thin out the plates properly.

I wonder if you could afford a tiny bit more string angle. This might make the tone a bit more muscular, but you could also lose a bit of harmonic complexity if the top is quite thin. Anyway, that's an easy thing to test just by trying an overly high bridge on your no.1. If you can overlook the action problems, it would give you a good idea of how "dropping the nut" would affect the sound.

All in all, very impressed.

[Don Noon]

Word of mouth works wonders...

 

Agreed.

 

That is how my first couple of sales went... to locals who knew about me.  

 

If you think your work is reasonably respectable, and you have too many of your fiddles sitting around, you could try consigning some at local shops.  Of course, the shop owner has to agree that your work is respectable, too.

[BigFryMan]

That's a very decent sound for your first violin. It's got good resistance up the G and sustains nicely low down on the G. The A string is lovely, sounds like you can play into the instrument and find some nice singing tone. The E is strong and pleasant, perhaps a bit overly focused but that might be down to bridge position.

I have played many instruments by experienced new makers that don't respond as well. 

You have obviously had the nerve to thin out the plates properly.

I wonder if you could afford a tiny bit more string angle. This might make the tone a bit more muscular, but you could also lose a bit of harmonic complexity if the top is quite thin. Anyway, that's an easy thing to test just by trying an overly high bridge on your no.1. If you can overlook the action problems, it would give you a good idea of how "dropping the nut" would affect the sound.

All in all, very impressed.

 

Can I say a massive thank you for the feedback Martin, really appreciate it! I was hoping I could find someone to give me some feedback on tone as that is the most important thing to me. The visual aspects that are a little rough I can see much of it myself, but tonally another set of ears is always welcome.

 

As for more string angle, the bridge is currently about 1.5mm higher than it should be as the neck set was not quite perfect so it might be a little tricky. Would like to give it a go however.

[Christopher Jacoby]

Sounds very good!

Where to start is a question of what your target client is; how much you enjoy (or have time for) the time away from bench and life that selling directly requires; and how fast you're planning to make them. If you can sell direct to players, and like showing and wheelin, the full retail beats wholesale price from a shop. I like people, but find myself more and more just interested in sitting in my cave and making fiddles, and the phone calls, emails, returned instruments and shipping for things like 'I'd like to try a different e string' with direct-client sales wear me down.

Not that I don't do my professional best. Bad rumors travel faster than the wind in this business. You don't even have to have participated in the supposed shortcoming for a few to crop up eventually.

If you can get a shop interested in coaching you through what they need to move your instruments, it's a really valuable relationship to have. Just remember that cities an hour or two apart will want completely different things vis-a-vis varnish, model, level of polish, etc. Perhaps even from shop to shop in a city, but shops don't like it when you compete with them on their home ground, natch.

[MANFIO]

Selling is an art by itself

 

As Christopher mentioned, the idea of target client is very important, I think.

[Craig Tucker]

 As Christopher mentioned, the idea of target client is very important, I think.

 

Yes, absolutely.

 

'fiddlers'...

[MANFIO]

My players are in general over 40 years old, professionals, already have a good instruments.

 

I rarely sell to students and young players, and I don't know why....

[Rue]

My guess is that students and young players (and/or their parents) don't think to look for modern maker instruments?

 

I am guessing that they would be looking for 'antiques' based on assumptions about resale value?

 

But that's just a guess...

 

Mature adults have gone through that phase, have learned more, and are more interested in modern makers?

[MANFIO]

Perhaps seasoned players know what they are looking for.

[Rue]

That too. 

 

For what it's worth (if anyone is wondering who the market is composed of) - as a returning adult student I didn't think I was 'good enough' to qualify for a bench made instrument.

 

Then I decided I deserved one regardless.  Maybe I am not an ideal customer - I get the feeling most makers want a Big Name (even a minor Big Name) to purchase their instruments...but I am a very appreciative buyer - I love every note I draw out of my violin and I admire the beauty of the craftsmanship ....so I hope I still count!

[DGV]

That too. 

 

For what it's worth (if anyone is wondering who the market is composed of) - as a returning adult student I didn't think I was 'good enough' to qualify for a bench made instrument.

 

Then I decided I deserved one regardless.  Maybe I am not an ideal customer - I get the feeling most makers want a Big Name (even a minor Big Name) to purchase their instruments...but I am a very appreciative buyer - I love every note I draw out of my violin and I admire the beauty of the craftsmanship ....so I hope I still count!

 

If you ever want a two-cornered violin, pm me.

[Rue]

Your name is first on my list!

And here is my violin resting on my newly finished knitting projects!

[DGV]

Your name is first on my list!

And here is my violin resting on my newly finished knitting projects!

 

Nice work! Both the violin and the knitting projects.