Can someone (maybe Liz) help me choosing between a Genial 1 and a Gem 2 Gliga violin? I`m a total beginnner and would like a good student violin (thus why I`m going with Gliga and not Skylark or Stentor, etc) but I don`t want to go too much.

this is also because I`m upgrading my wife`s piano to a new one at the moment as well, so my funds aren`t unlimited! i want a nice student violin that will keep me in good stead for a year or two at least.

the genial 1 looks great to me (can`t really tell the difference though). It`s almost $100 cheaper than the Gems 2, so i guess there`s some differences.

I`m going to get the outfit (whichever of the two) with the fine adjusters fitted and with Dominant strings also put on.

Any advice on which one to go for?
Thanks.

Hi Nathan,

The Gems 2 is noticeably better quality and sounds better so if you can, I`d go for that one. Having said that, the Genial 1 is more than adequate for an adult beginner: we have sold two to advanced players as a back up instrument, one was taking it to Guatemala on a mission trip and the other wanted a violin she felt able to take into school (she is a teacher). Both liked the instruments. We have never yet had either a Gems or a Genial 1 returned.

liz

You might want to consider an Evah Pirazzi E string to replace the Dominant E, whichever Gliga you go for. The difference in cost is pennies, and many people say the Evah is a good match but a better string.

I`m trying one on my Gliga, it does seem better then the Dominant I had on, but that may be wishful thinking, it`ll take a couple of weeks to settle down.

I tried Helicore strings on the Gliga Gama 2 for a short while, but they came out so loud they were hurting my ears, and the tone was maybe a little bland. I switched back to Dominant + Evah E.

i think for the majority of my beginning time i wouldn`t be able to notice a difference between high quality strings!! maybe between cheap crappy ones and good ones, but that`s about all!

Liz,

you`re an imported of Gliga, so you should know this question. on their web site Gliga show detailed photos of each violin they sell and say that `the violin shown is the one you get.`

the Genial 1 violins show all 4 fine adjusters fitted on the photos, however Chris at violinslover.com said it`ll cost me an extra US$15 to get them fitted.

isn`t that contradictory? the photo show i get them with the violin, so why should i be paying extra for them?

any comments? do you know if they come with them?

Hi Nathan,

I am still not sure exactly how Cristian Gliga works. I am 99% sure that the photos on his website are taken at Gliga`s workshop in Romania, because sometimes we have been offered a violin that is listed on his website therefore it obviously the violin is not in the US but still in Romania. Whether he keeps a stock of violins in the US as well, I really don`t know. The fact that he charges less shipping within the US would suggest that he does keep violins there as well.

The default position on violins we receive from Romania is that they do not have adjusters. Gliga will fit adjusters for us if we ask, but routinely we do all that ourselves.

So in short, I don`t know, sorry! $15 does not sound unreasonable for four adjusters fitted, though.

lzi

okay, i understand that. but advertising that the violin in the photos is what you get and then say that it`s not is false advertising.

interesting thing iss that chris was really helpful and quick to respond to emails until i asked him that... now i haven`t had a reply in a few days...

was it something i said??

Could be a genuine error.

liz

is chris generally reliable and responsive on emails? i`ve emailed him a few times and gotten no response for about a week now.

i really want to order my new violin now!!!

I could be incredibly wrong...but I think I read somewhere that he`s on vacation????

really? any way to prove it (without calling internationally?).

i got an email from him last tuesday, but nothing since. i`m ready to order now.... it`s killing me!

It`s possible he`s in Romania, he does go over a couple of times a year.

If you just buy it online, i`m sure you get it quickly as soonas he gets back.

Liz

problem is i can`t buy it online since i`m getting him to fit dominant strings (and maybe if needed) the fine adjusters.

plus shipping to Australia.

he said when i`ve finalised my order to email it to him, then he`ll send me a full invoice.

it`s no big deal as long as that`s the reason, i`m just impatient to get it!!

woot! chris finally got back to me, all sorted out (genial DO come with all four adjusters) and now it`s on it`s way!!

finally, after too many years of putting it off i`ll be able to start learing the violin!!

Don`t forget to come back and give us the details once it arrives...