I know nothing about the brand. I'm not sure that is a good thing.
For that amount of money, I'm thinking it is a pretty low-range violin. Be prepared that the sound and timbre will be harsh. The E string will probably sound tinny (heck, my E string sounds tinny. And my violin cost a lot more!) and the G may be fuzzy.
Above all, no matter how well it is made (which, I admit, I have my reservations about) it is a brand new violin. So it will sound nothing like an older, better-made instrument.
Some of the "features" offered are not really features - 4 tuners, for example.
That said: it's really cheap. And a cheap violin is better than no violin in terms of practice. Just don't expect to sound your best on it. Oh, and be prepared to retune all 4 strings every practice! (Do you have a pitch pipe?)
Posts: 4393 | Registered: Aug 2003
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I don't think it will be as good as the rentals/school insturments you have played before, but if you don't really care about the quality, it's a violin, and you can practice. Since you're quitting your job right now, maybe it would be best to save money, but I don't know about your financial situation.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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Musical instruments are like anything else, you get what you pay for. A set of Casperi pegs, installed, is more than $50. If you are in a metro area, you can usually buy a better instrument by watching for used sales from persons who bought good quality student instruments, and who's kids no longer use them. Look in the paper and ask arround.
Posts: 1167 | Registered: Oct 2005
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Well, obviously it wasn't the right thing to do. I mean, come on! You have clearly messed up your life for the next ten years. Dogs will bark at you, cats will scratch, you'll find cockroaches in your breakfast cereal and be charged with fraud when you sue the company. No man will ever look at you again, whatever car you buy will break down the day after its warranty expires, your bicycle will have a flat tire every third day, you'll always be overcharged at restaurants, and you will burn every meal you make. Really, I'd have to say that buying a violin was the worst possible decision at this time. I feel sorry for you, but only so sorry - you brought it upon yourself.
Posts: 10645 | Registered: Jul 2004
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I bought a cheap, new violin on eBay a few years back.
I didn't play at all, and wanted to learn. I knew it was cheap, and knew it would probably sound horrible. But since I just wanted something to tinker around with, it was the right purchase for me.
I did have to replace the strings immediately, though, because I broke one when I was trying to tune it for the first time. I also have to retune everytime I play, since the pegs aren't very good. One peg in particular likes to slip. So, expect cheap strings and pegs.
I think cheap eBay violins are good for toys or someone who's not very serious about playing yet. But since you already know how to play and was second violin in your orchestra, I think you'll be very disappointed with the quality. Instead, I'd look at possibly leasing a better quality instrument, or seeing if you can buy one with an installment program. You'll end up with something much better and satisfying.
For the record, I'm hoping to take violin lessons this year, and when I do, I plan to lease one through the school, even though I already one a violin. I figure even the school's leased instruments will be better quality than my eBay deal.
Posts: 1805 | Registered: Jun 1999
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I'm pretty sure it's possible to get improvements in sound quality if you replace the strings with better ones and purchase a seperate bow that's made of wood and higher quality materials.
EDIT: After reading the description these berkeley peeps are certainly good at jazzing up the properties of the violin.
Posts: 1236 | Registered: Mar 2002
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She would still have to retune everytime she uses it unless she upgrades to caspari or other similar pegs. Also, that upgraded bow is going to cost more than the violin did to start with.
Posts: 1167 | Registered: Oct 2005
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Well, that's one way to get even with those annoying roommates! They will rue the day they ever crossed you! Posts: 10397 | Registered: Jun 2005
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That price is sending up all kinds of warning bells for me. Even decent quality violins usually cost in the hundreds at least, and good quality ones cost in the thousands. My viola ain't exactly amazing quality and it still cost around $600 - $800. So I'm thinking that if they're selling it for $50, its mass produced by machine with terrible materials. Meaning its going to sound like shite and play like shite.
If you don't care about how it sounds, then go for it. If you actually care about how your playing sounds then I'd hold up and wait for a better one. Either wait until you have the money to purchase a decent one new, lease one, buy it on an installment plan, or wait for a good quality used one for cheap. Stringed instruments often sound better with age as it is Posts: 3295 | Registered: Jun 2004
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I played a cello that I know cost $250, it was a pain, impossible to tune, and the strings all broke in a month. (this was a rental while my school cello was being repaired).
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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Many of these cheap violins are UNPLAYABLE in the condition they arrive in! You will have to take it to an instrument repair shop, have them remount the bridge, restring, re-align the sound post, re-fit the pegs, and check all sorts of fun stuff. Overall, you're looking at HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS of work!!
Do yourself a favor. Go to a reputable music store nearby -- perhaps the one that provides repairs and instruments for your local school music programs -- and have the salesperson help you find an appropriate instrument for you. Then, once he tells you what to buy, look for various sources online for that brand and model of violin! Or you can be nice and buy it from the music store, supporting your local economy. The local stores also often have financing options, including free or discounted repairs for the duration of the lease. It's a good thing.
Posts: 1099 | Registered: Apr 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion: I have just done it so I can still retract my decision should something come up.
What part of "You are agreeing to a contract -- You will enter into a legally binding contract to purchase the item from the seller if you're the winning bidder" (displayed whenever one places a bid on eBay) are you having trouble understanding? The time for research is before you place a bid, not after you've committed yourself.
Posts: 884 | Registered: Mar 2005
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Yeah, I forgot about that--mine came with the bridge loose (the auction said it would be) so I had to place it myself.
Posts: 1805 | Registered: Jun 1999
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quote:Originally posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion: I have just done it so I can still retract my decision should something come up.
What part of "You are agreeing to a contract -- You will enter into a legally binding contract to purchase the item from the seller if you're the winning bidder" (displayed whenever one places a bid on eBay) are you having trouble understanding? The time for research is before you place a bid, not after you've committed yourself.
They have a thirty day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with what you get. That and the fact that they have over 1000 happy customers helped me make the decision.
Posts: 3389 | Registered: Apr 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Tante Shvester: Well, that's one way to get even with those annoying roommates! They will rue the day they ever crossed you!
Aww, but I play good music! Posts: 3389 | Registered: Apr 2004
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I once bought a viola from a company called "Texas Instruments" or something like that. It was $100. I went with my Aunt to a instrument shop and they told me it was a very crappy viola. I sent it back, but never got refunded. I would take it to an instrument repair shop they could tell you how the quality is... maybe tell you how you can improve it, if it is possible.
Posts: 1417 | Registered: Aug 1999
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I wonder if the place I got Akemi, my guitar sells violins. They probably do. I reckon it is good as a started instrument to ease the desire to play. Then you can save up for something a bit better. What I want is an ESP electric guitar like Kaoru's.
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Texas Insturments is a calculator company, there could be two, but that's what the well known one is.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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I'll show it to my high school music teacher. I'll see if I can play with my high school orchestra sometime.
Posts: 3389 | Registered: Apr 2004
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I know that Texas Instruments is a calculator company.. I just remember the company I ordered the instrument from had "Texas" in it. :shrug:
Posts: 1417 | Registered: Aug 1999
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I imagine "Texas Instruments" would be a good spoof name for a musical instruments company. As long as Texas Instruments doesn't mind.
Posts: 3735 | Registered: Mar 2002
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I would take it to an instrument repair shop they could tell you how the quality is... maybe tell you how you can improve it, if it is possible.
