Please help a rookie

    
Please help a rookie    11:50 on Friday, May 29, 2009          

rnapiera
(5 points)
Posted by rnapiera

I am in the market for a good student viola on a $500 budget. I do not want to buy Chinese. Here are the instruments I have been looking at to date:

From Internet:
Gliga Gems 2 with update to Thomastik Dominant 16.5" Viola Strings.

Stringworks Crescendo 16.5" as shown on website.

From local Strings store:
Used Schroetter V-132 16.25". Slightly nicked up but nice. Comes with fiberglass bow and hard (dart) case.

Can anyone give advice on these or recommend others I may look at?

Thank you!


Re: Please help a rookie    13:08 on Wednesday, June 17, 2009          

VlaDub
(53 points)
Posted by VlaDub

If you are shopping on a budget, the best thing I can recomend is for you to go with what sounds good to your ear; if you are so much of a rookie that you can't play the instrument yet, I suggest having someone who is at least familiar with violas to play/listen.

If your going for 'best quality' and you can't tell the difference in what you hear, then they are all of equal quality to your ear. Sound and fit are the most important.


Re: Please help a rookie    21:38 on Saturday, June 20, 2009          

viola117
(55 points)
Posted by viola117

If you really are a real rookie, then I suggest renting first. As you pay some places put that money as credit towards buying the actual instrument. If you want to quit playing you haven't payed the full cost, and the instrument will sound better than most $500 Violas.


Re: Please help a rookie    19:59 on Wednesday, October 28, 2009          

Ace642
(1 point)
Posted by Ace642

Well, I bought my viola on my secound year of playing and i personally LOVE this viola even if its chinese. If you search it up its name is Cecilo its not a budget breaker i bought mine from K and K music http://www.kkmusicstore.com/ I love the tone of this instrument its not a budget breaker and normally the instrument goes for 1000+ i even have asked a retailer!!!


Re: Please help a rookie    22:42 on Wednesday, December 2, 2009          

Stefferdoos
(2 points)
Posted by Stefferdoos

I certainly wouldn't discount Chinese instruments. I know of a good luthier in Syracuse (Tom Hosmer) that buys the better quality Chinese instruments out there, fixes them up and resells them at really good prices for the incredible quality he shapes them up into.

Some of his instruments that I had tried when I was looking to buy about 5 years ago were very similar in sound to the violas I had sampled from Johnson Strings that were in the $5000 range (the ones of his I was comparing were about $900 - but he did have many at much lower price points that were still good instruments).


Re: Please help a rookie    22:45 on Wednesday, December 2, 2009          
Re: Please help a rookie    20:59 on Friday, February 5, 2010          
Re: Please help a rookie    18:03 on Saturday, February 20, 2010          

rnapiera
(5 points)
Posted by rnapiera

I ended up getting a viola off Craig's List. I picked up a mint condition Gliga Gems I with new Helicore strings and fiberglass bow. Sounds fantastic to me and my instructor is pleased as well. Having a great time with it.


   




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