What are the basics of buying a violin?

Before parting, it’s best to be familiar with the violin set up with violin cases

Tuning pegs: The tuning pegs must operate smoothly; they should be easy to turn and  shouldn’t slip easily as this will lead to an out-of-tune string. This is a nuisance for any player, but especially for a beginner who may become discouraged with the constant need to tune their instrument.

Are the pegs made from ebony? We recommend ebony fittings as they are hard wearing and turn smoothly. Boxwood is also an option but more for cosmetic reasons. We seldom use Rosewood as it is a protected species.

Bridge and fingerboard: The bridge and fingerboard must be properly fitted. If you look at the violin from the side, the strings should be a reasonable height from the fingerboard, making it easy to get the note. If they are too high it becomes difficult to press the strings down and move quickly from note to note. The bridge should be erect and the feet fitting closely to the body of the violin.

While checking this, take a look at the strings where they pass over the nut and bridge, they should be evenly spaced.

Another recommendation is to ensure that it doesn’t have a soft wood fingerboard that has been painted black such as on lower quality instruments.

If buying an older violin, look out for any cracks or warping on the body, and steer clear of any violin that buzzes or sounds muffled

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Why is the construction important?

A good quality student instrument is generally well constructed, which sets it apart from the ‘el cheapo’ models offered online. A poorly constructed violin with inherent faults will be difficult to play, difficult to keep in tune, and impossible to produce a pleasant tone – which is sure to put any beginner off.

If you are a parent and considering the purchase of a violin for your child, ask yourself “What sort of sound am I prepared to hear being practised?” Equally, your player will quickly outgrow the poor quality instrument and you will be faced with purchasing another. With due regard to your budget – get the best you can afford.

Ensure that you have a quality full sized violin case, as they are sensitive and can get broken or chipped in the event that they are not very much secure. There are different types of violin cases such as Fibre Glass Violin Cases, Hard Shell Violin and Reinforced Violin Cases in UK