Instrument Buying Guide
Buying a string instrument can prove to be a real headache, especially when you're a first-time buyer with no prior experience. TheStringInstrumentShop.com realizes this and strives to make your purchasing decision easier and as fuss-free as possible. This guide offers a general insight of the key criterias to take note of when buying a string instrument. For more detail info on how to buy a violin, please check out this article.
How to Choose a String Instrument
It is a common belief that the more you pay for a string instrument, the better the tone. This is unfortunately untrue as there are buyers who pay a hefty sum for a sub-standard instrument.
The following are some things to look out for when looking out for a string instrument:
The Maker
Before deciding upon a purchase, it is important to take note of the maker of the instrument. Some makers of violins such as Bruno Leonora of Italy and Walter Mahr of Germany, are known to make instruments of superior quality.
Country of Origin
There are people who are of the opinion that only instruments made in Italy and Germany are the best. While no one will deny that instruments made in these countries are indeed of very high quality, you may want to seriously consider a violin that was made by a Chinese maker. In the past, instruments that came from China were horrible in a sense that they were nothing close to anything like a musical instrument. They were difficult to play, and even the construction was poor. The same cannot be said today however, as many Chinese-made instruments have clearly surpassed many of their European counterparts in terms of quality and craftsmanship. In fact, many instruments marketed as 'European' can trace their origins to a Chinese maker.
Condition
It is important to purchase an instrument that is in good condition. However, this does not mean that you cannot purchase an instrument that is in need of repairs and restoration. A restored instrument can provide many years of good playing, and more often than not, these instruments are actually of very good quality. Only have your instrument restored by a qualified instrument repair center.
Age
There is an old saying that the older the instrument, the better. The good news is that this is actually quite true, depending on the kind of instrument you are talking about. It is with age that the instrument's wood hardens, thus making it more resonant. In fact, many superior instruments in the market out there are actually made of wood that had been air-dried for more than 10 years! A new instrument may sometimes be a better purchase compared to an old instrument that has undergone many repairs and restoration. Also, only well-made instruments tend to 'mature' with age, so you should purchase an instrument from a reputable maker (see above segment on 'The Maker').
Physical Beauty
Beauty is only skin deep, so the old adage goes. But on a musical instrument, particularly a handmade one, it is the ultimate expression of the maker's skill and artistic prowess, and a testimony to the amount of effort that goes into making that one instrument. Usually, a buyer will zero in on the most attractive instrument. It is important to note that physical beauty has little to do with the tone, although the type of varnish used has some effect on the tonal quality of the instrument, according to another school of thought. Some instrument makers make instruments that look older than they really are, giving the instruments an 'antique' appearance, often for the sake of art.
Tone
The instrument's tone is the single most important characteristic to highlight when making a buying decision. The tonal quality of an instrument can be described as warm, mellow, rich, bright, and on and on. The most important of these is the power, or projection capability of the instrument. For example, a violin designed for a soloist must have a rich and projecting tone.
Handmade versus 'machine-made'
The decision to have an instrument that is handmade or 'machine-made' depends on the kind of instrument you intend to buy, and what you intend to do with that instrument. Instruments that are mass-produced, or 'machine-made' are actually partially made by machine, and are therefore cheaper than instruments made entirely by hand, thus making it more affordable for students to own their own musical instrument. What then is the difference between one that is handmade from one that is machine-made? Instruments that are machine-made are usually mass-produced, and the large number of instruments produced per batch makes it somewhat challenging to personally assess the quality of every instrument, down to the minutest details. On the other hand, handmade instruments are usually made entirely by hand, with the help of hand tools like wood planes and files. As these instruments are handmade, more care and attention is given during the making process, thus allowing the maker to 'fine tune' the wood to perfection, even to the finest detail, guaranteeing a wooden resonating body that is properly graduated, resulting in superb tonal quality. There is no substitute for a handmade instrument. Comparing a machine-made instrument to one that has been made by hand is like pairing a Volkswagen to a Ferrari. Handmade instruments usually cost more than machine-made ones. Students who are just starting out with a new instrument should always begin with a beginner machine-made instrument.