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Post by julesd68 on Aug 17, 2017 21:44:29 GMT
Here's a bit of fun - a YouTube vid where you get a quick blast of differently priced violins from $62 to $285,000.
I'm on holiday and was listening on my phone - all I could really tell was that the cheap one had a slightly weird 'oriental' tone and all the others sounded like decent instruments with subtle variations in tone. I'd be interested to know your thoughts if you can listen on decent equipment ...
For me though, the real news from this vid is that although the cheap Amazon one isn't great - it's wonderful that a beginner on a tight budget can get going without having to shell out too much ...
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Post by jandl100 on Aug 18, 2017 18:57:51 GMT
I'll have a listen later. But a comment for now .... I recall seeing a video clip of a Master Class given by Heifetz. The Maestro plays a short piece on his own violin (probably a Strad) and it sounds lush and fabulous. Young female student then plays the same music on her own (serviceable but commonplace) violin - scrawny and thin sounds emerge. Heifetz tut-tuts - young female student indicates (boldly!) what do you expect with the difference in violins? Heifetz reaches out to take student's commonplace violin - "no no, maestro - you cannot lower yourself to play on this awful instrument" she says, horrified. Heifetz takes it anyway and plays the same music again, this time on the naff violin - it sounds lush and fabulous. Young violinist looks utterly devastated, Heifetz passes the 'naff' violin back with a bit of a sneer --- I think she must have given up all hope at that point. So, it seems that it ain't what you got, it's the way that you use it.
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 18, 2017 19:32:03 GMT
On my iPad, so nasty little speaker.
They get better for sure. The price difference is huge thiugh. What might a good VFM violin cost ?
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Post by MartinT on Aug 18, 2017 21:09:12 GMT
Very obvious differences. All of the properly expensive ones are SO much richer than the Amazon cheapie that it's laughable. No wonder performers want to play a decent sponsored instrument.
I don't think even Heifetz could make that Amazon violin sound good!
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 18, 2017 21:19:38 GMT
Good question Mike.
For 'serious' beginners who want a decent sound you can now get very good quality Chinese violins by the likes of Stentor for not much more than 100 quid. My son started on one of these - they are incredibly popular.
For his full-size violin I bought a French violin, roughly 1920's for about £900. It's a wonderful sounding instrument that should see him through the rest of his exams.
If you buy an old instrument with care you can see its value increase unlike the brand new instruments.
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Post by MartinT on Aug 18, 2017 21:33:20 GMT
I wonder how a modern good quality instrument like a Yamaha compares?
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 19, 2017 12:35:50 GMT
Yamaha violins don't have much of a rep surprisingly - I believe the cheaper ones are overpriced and the pro ones not good enough but I do know that in recent years they have attempted to up their game with their pro market violins.
I would be interested to hear the vintage violins compared to some of the best of the high end Chinese violins.
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 19, 2017 13:59:17 GMT
Keep thinking about hifi.
$62 will buy a cheap one box with inbuilt speakers
The others are more than all of us together paid for our kit.
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Post by Mr Whippy on Aug 19, 2017 14:33:01 GMT
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 19, 2017 22:12:47 GMT
That looks like a fascinating programme. Thanks for posting...
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Post by Mr Whippy on Aug 19, 2017 22:44:01 GMT
I thought it was more recent than May.
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 20, 2017 10:38:29 GMT
Thanks New violins are better then.... oh maybe, maybe not Getting more like hifi now
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Post by Stratmangler on Aug 20, 2017 20:13:37 GMT
New violins are better then.... oh maybe, maybe not Getting more like hifi now HiFi is about making the recording sound better than it sounded in the room when it was recorded - enny fule no that. Better instruments is about making one's playing sound betterer than wot you can play. One is unobtainable, the other requires a great deal of dedication and practise.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2017 20:27:35 GMT
Um i could never hear the difference between a Yamaha 'CP-70M' & a standard piano. however i aint a saddo.
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Post by Stratmangler on Aug 20, 2017 20:59:56 GMT
I did get the BBC article's new versus old violins instruments correct, and this was over the very shitty speakers in my laptop. On top of that, my ears are fooked, so there's something else at play here.
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Post by Stratmangler on Aug 20, 2017 21:00:42 GMT
Um i could never hear the difference between a Yamaha 'YP-70M' & a standard piano. however i aint a saddo. What is a YP-70M?
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Post by MartinT on Aug 21, 2017 8:13:42 GMT
HiFi is about making the recording sound better the same as it sounded in the room when it was recorded That's better. Still impossible, but a little more approachable!
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Post by Stratmangler on Aug 21, 2017 10:18:21 GMT
HiFi is about making the recording sound better the same as it sounded in the room when it was recorded That's better. Still impossible, but a little more approachable! With the continual "upgrading" that some folk get engaged in, the comments are nearly always of the "betterer" variety. I just prefer to to listen to the music
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Post by MartinT on Aug 21, 2017 10:58:53 GMT
Better = closer to the truth, not better than the original! Sarcasm noted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2017 15:43:42 GMT
Um i could never hear the difference between a Yamaha 'YP-70M' & a standard piano. however i aint a saddo. What is a YP-70M? My mistake i meant CP-70.. Peter Banks used one of the original ones on stage.
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