Don’t Get The Violin if You See This

Recently, I wrote a blog entry about what to look for in a violin. I would like to continue my thoughts on this and discuss some “red flags” to look for. These red flags should serve as warning signs that the violin is of low workmanship quality. 

Check to see if the purfling (the black lines around the front and back edges) is painted on or is inlaid. If it is a very cheap violin, it is probably painted on, and I would avoid using this instrument. The purfling serves two purposes. The first is to prevent cracks in the edges of the wood from spreading further. The other purpose is to make it look nice by adding some more detail.

Another thing you should check is to see if the violin (or bow) has any cracks. Follow the grain of the wood to check for inconsistencies. Look at the scroll for signs of cracks. Also, check both underneath the fingerboard and the tailpiece of the instrument for any cracks or scratches. Scratches can be easily repaired and come with time for any instrument, but cracks can be very problematic, depending on the location and the quality of the repair.

If you find a violin that has varnish on the neck that is the same color as the body and the scroll, that is also an indication of an extremely cheap instrument, although you can certainly have cheap instruments that do not have this.

Look at the wood on the fingerboard. Are there signs that it has been painted black, or does it look like it was made of ebony wood? (You don’t want it to just be painted black.) 

There are also some more obvious things to look for. Four pegs, four strings, and a bridge that is not broken are a few things to check. The strings should also not be off-center on the fingerboard. 

If a string is broken, missing, or unravelling, do not worry. Strings can be easily replaced and should be replaced at least twice a year for most violinists, and I would say even more often if you are playing more than 2 hours continuously per day. A bridge can also be easily replaced by a luthier (string instrument maker).

Another tip is to look for tight grains of wood on the upper surface of the violin. This is a good thing, and indicates that a higher quality of wood was used; usually an older tree. Occasionally, wider grains are used intentionally in order to create a warmer sound, but these violins are usually above the $5000 price range (Fiddlershop.com).

If you are looking for a violin in the upper price range of the beginner level, you may also consider a few other things. Have an experienced violinist come with you to try out the violins. By experienced, I would say the equivalent of easily performing at the level of Suzuki Volume 5 at a minimum. He or she will be able to determine many things, including the ease of making a good sound, how well the instrument speaks, the different “colors” of the tone, and the projectability of the sound (provided another person can stand far away to listen for this). Have them play on different pitch ranges of the instrument, at different volumes, and at different speeds in order to determine what each instrument can do. You also want to repeat the same process for each instrument in order to have some consistency. 

For more information, check out this great YouTube video by the Fiddlershop.com: What to Look for When Buying a Violin (Accessed November 22, 2020).

Bibliography

Fiddlershop.com. “What to Look for When Buying a Violin.” YouTube, 22 September 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POYypcs7YJA&list=PLfR2Qz6NTrZE2OYlIw65ZQqlEzm8zZDZu. Accessed 22 November 2020.