25k Violin vs $6 million Violin: Can YOU hear the difference?

Which sound do you prefer?
One is a moderately priced modern instrument at $25,000 USD and another is a Stradivarius made in 1717 priced at $6 million USD. Which violin do you prefer?
#shorts

[@otherryan]

They both sound fantastic, but both are a tad out of my budget 😩😩

[@timmychooi]

😂 the insurance is somewhat affordable at least

[@kaiyalovescostcohotdogs3119]

Am I the only who got their violin on Amazon

[@opalguy]

@@kaiyalovescostcohotdogs3119 maybe...

[@earlyflower829]

Just a tad

[@SimplyComi]

@@kaiyalovescostcohotdogs3119 if it works then respect ✊

[@justiceperhay8328]

Twoset has trained me well! As soon as you started playing the second one, I knew the first one was the 6 mil violin.

[@unijade]

How?

[@Pikachu-wy2rq]

@@unijade the tone and sound of the first one is sweeter, which was a typical thing of Baroque violins, it also sounded mellow and it is smaller as Stradivari was known to make violin smaller than a standard 4/4. The song violin is good but a little bit too loud for my taste, it is also more sharp than sweet and it is bigger than the Strad. I am a violinist so I know how they are different and a Stradivarius is definitely worth it’s money.

[@cake1672]

the power of ling ling

[@poornasianparapio2401]

Lmao same 😂 I don’t even play an instrument

[@ireisparks3598]

Me too lmao. The power of Ling Ling.

[@abigail40]

Sheeeesh I thought the modern one had a richer sound-

[@timmychooi]

In some way it does!

[@jujus5614]

me too

[@twinicebear775]

to me the new one has a more open and bright sound while the strad is refined and more full tone with more overtones

[@Batboy-oc5rz]

Actually it’s the opposite

[@awheikkila]

The strad had more high end from what I could tell. Probably projects further because more overtones? Trumpet player here.

[@nightblizzard3160]

Ok. I’m just impressed that he can hold 6 million in his hand and not break a sweat. 👍

[@linstarflight7344]

Man I was sweating holding my teacher’s 50k violin. Probably be down-pouring if I’m holding a strad

[@Hollowed_Wanderer]

Im pretty sure its because that isnt a 6m strad violin.

[@MyTruckNuts]

@@Hollowed_Wanderer😂

[@nickcarroll8565]

When I was 15 a luthier just hand me a 100k violin to try, I was shocked he’d hand a kid something like that haha.

[@gracesviolin]

Wait I liked the modern $25k one more. 😱

[@timmychooi]

It’s really not bad

[@Raidenofficial]

@@timmychooi yeah, for 25k I'd expect it to be perfect Edit: 25k is a lot for a violin, right? *Right?* Dear God, classical instruments are so expensive...

[@kacemchawqi5787]

Same, it’s more voluminous I guess

[@user-lf7hp7xq8k]

Yoooo same hahaa

[@davidsimmons654]

Me too!

[@KevintheScienceNerd]

Honestly I spotted the Stradivarius immediately. It was the depth of the tone

[@angerkitten9931]

So u just be having 6.25 million dollars worth of violin in your living room.

[@timmychooi]

Kind of 😂

[@iksooyout6129]

$6.025 mil...

[@Voidi-Void]

@@iksooyout6129 🤓

[@godishere4]

​@@timmychooican I 'pay' you a visit 😂

[@RAFITAESTRADITA]

Hopefully kidnappers don't watch this channel.

[@theMusicNotes5]

The brief squeak in the second one gave it away...

[@ladydoom5622]

I prefer 1st one , it sounds so fine and soulful 💖✨

[@WSH3TM]

same

[@gbvoul]

yeah its way more expressive. the 2nd just stays within it's range

[@jsot1988]

Give that 25 grand violin some 300 years of good playing and then we'll talk. 😁 It actually sounds amazing!

[@marcuspacheco3815]

Stradivarius's instruments aren't special because they're 300 years old. Although that would make anything pretty special. There's special because wood was more dense 300 years ago. I know that sounds crazy but the eruption of the island of Krakatoa stunted the growth of trees and cause a change in the grain structure. Something to do with having more rings on the tree but less space in between them. And then add to that Stradivarius was a genius that basically made modern violins the modern violin. Modern companies try to duplicate this either with synthetic material or by literally fishing old logs out of lakes to basically find old wood. So even perfectly copying a Stradivarius wouldn't quite make Stradivarius noises.

[@Hexensohn]

​@@marcuspacheco3815 they're special because they're historical pieces. Modern violins are consistently ranked higher than Strads in blind tests. There's nothing magic about the wood or varnish or maker, the classical music world is just especially horny for tradition and pedigree.

[@marcuspacheco3815]

@@Hexensohn while I have no doubt that there are modern violins that can match the density and sound quality of a strat, it's due to creating either a synthetic compound or finding an alternative source of very dense wood. Such as those found by hauling logs up from the bottom of lakes. Or by artificially creating denser would by pressing and essentially laminating it under heat and excessive pressure.. modern violin makers aren't stupid. They're some of the smartest violin makers that have ever lived. So of course once the science was out they have made movements toward reproducing the sound quality everyone has been chasing. You are of course correct that what makes the Stradivarius King is its Pedigree. It has the advantage of being both a historical peace and sounding comparablely amazing. Which is a difficult thing to accomplish with almost any other instrument on the planet. Of course there is some horns and such but generally speaking a 300 year old guitar does not sound as good as a new one. That kind of makes the Stradivarius really uniquely special in the string instrument world.

[@TheChrisBreyShow]

Your eyes gave it away, you looked at the first one with love and the second with disappointment

[@OysterTran]

I prefer the second one. I think i sounds somehow warmer.

[@AutumnElaine]

In the beginning, huh?! Toward the end I was like.. the high tones sound shrill to me. But they are very clear!

[@musiclessons4u725]

In case you didn’t hear, the second one had a slight screech to it when he played the high notes. Also, the first one had a VERY crisp and clear sound with BEAUTIFUL transitions, while the second one was more soft and modern

[@degou3438]

In fact, the Stradvarius had a richer, sweeter and more pleasant sound, it has more soul

[@nb7524]

I am absolutely no expert, not even close. The difference I can hear is that the Strad’s sound is totally open, with a very clear brighter tone and excellent projection which can easily rise above an orchestra during a performance. With that said, I’m VERY impressed with the modern 25K violin. While it is not quite as clear as the Strad and is a bit nasally on the low strings, it has really wonderful projection and a very warm sweet tone; I really like it. Being that it is a new 25k violin against a grand Strad, I think it held up very well. The modern violin maker has serious skills, who is it? The modern violin is still new and will open up more (slight nasal tone will disappear) over time as it is played. I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to purchase it. Tim you’re a fantastic Violinist and you did justice to both violins, thanks for this video😀

[@timmychooi]

Wow. Incredible observation. Thank you so much for sharing with me your thoughts! Well, if you want to know please message me on Instagram.

[@nb7524]

@@timmychooi thanks!🙂

[@phantomsinthemist]

"No expert" *Proceeds to be an expert*

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

Also, the mic isn't picking up everything. Please place the microphone in the middle row of a concert hall of your choosing, and with a full orchestra behind you ;)

[@chrisma3256]

I was thinking I don't think the recording does them justice. Would love to hear that in person in a concert hall or church

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

​@@chrisma3256 Spot on. You can have a beautiful and "loud" violin that sounds great in a cafe.... or you can have a metallic and "soft-sounding" violin that in fact fills a concert hall... Microphones don't capture the best of the instruments. Even on my channel: I play the same viola in my home study room and also my university's auditorium... and the sound is totally different!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKuZkHmDeMajn5Y

[@belmon38]

Exactly what they did in the París blind test, with soloist picking up the modern above the strads.

[@GourSmith]

I knew right away when I heard the first one that it was the 6 mil strad. Such a warm, smooth sound.

[@redcarnation1341]

The modern one had a more warm and juicy sound

[@cristianjuarez1086]

Yes it sounds warm and beautiful

[@jamescairns515]

in the lower registers maybe, but the high notes sing on the first one

[@LeroyAkanno-mb6jw]

Yes

[@loshisad3889]

The second one sounds more refine and it’s richer in sound

[@carolwilliams5337]

Nope

[@ccliviolin]

@@carolwilliams5337guess people cant have opinions nowadays

[@adifferentangle7064]

​@@ccliviolin For me the differences are clearly defined. It is literally my job to make violins sound like the first one, not the second. So I know what the difference is even though only part of it shows through the recording. The second does actually have a deeper tone, mostly due to the model of the instrument. If he had a model based off the same mold pattern as the Strad the tone wouldn't be so obviously contrasted. However there is a hollowness and lack of projection which might seem subtle or not even audible to the average listener in the new violin. This is often explained away as "the violin needs to settle" or some BS, but it is honestly more to do with wood choice and thickness, and varnish choice. If you had both for two weeks you would slowly find yourself wanting to play the Strad more as it draws you in with its complex character, where the new make will be good to play at first but that is where the character begins and ends.

[@ccliviolin]

@@adifferentangle7064 modern day violinists who have strads (ray chen, richard lin, etc) perform on zygmuntowicz violins despite having strads.

[@nickcarroll8565]

@@adifferentangle7064the difference between the g strings was what struck me right away. And yes, I agree the second has a more hollow sound.

[@jonhh6918]

I like the sweet, mellow and singing tone of the first one. I like the focus, depth and clarity of the second one. Great playing Timothy !

[@holgerdanske2376]

I actually prefer the $25.000 violin! I have listened several times to be sure of my judgement... It has a very beautifull sound on the G string... However $25.000 is not a cheap violin! When you buy a Strad you also buy a myth, a signature...

[@norman783]

Cheapest no brand in my country cost 25$ cheapest branded in my country is 120$

[@flav2689]

@@norman783 Well that is not a violin. It’s a wooden box.

[@norman783]

@@flav2689 if my violin is a small box then ur house is a big box. There's nothing wrong with it

[@flav2689]

@@norman783 Sure. But I think you missed my point. I’m a violinist myself and even as an amateur (advanced and determined but still) and my violin is about 6000€. All the professionals I know nearby have an instrument worth of 10 000-30 000 €. Not to mention the famous ones. I’m not saying that you cannot have a nice violin with less - I’ve heard pretty good ones at 1500-2000€. But 150€? I severely doubt that the quality of a violin that cheap can be good or have even a mediocre sound. Because even though the material can be the same than in wooden boxes, it’s a whole different story with string instruments. It’s one hell of a job. And even the valid ”factory made” violins cost a few hundred. So 150€ just sounds suspicious to me. That’s all 😁

[@norman783]

@@flav2689 i know but why are being rude telling me I just have a box and flexing your fancy violin, should I need a hundreds of money to not call my violin a wooden box? Also im from asia so im using a begginer violin I cant afford real violin, i cant find real violin in my country also shipping is expensive my country only likes common band instruments like guitar, drums, etc. Also singing but I influenced myself to things that is outside my country I cant just take it I love piano and violin and also lovez jazz, classical musics and lil bit rock. I dont care of you flexing your fancy violin what I find disrespect here is that you havent even apologized (sorry for bad english and humor im not being offensive on my previous replies)

[@brainoutanswers7890]

As a violin player, i could tell straight away the first was $6 mil

[@zoldyck4461]

Do you know the name of the song he played in the first voilin?

[@CL72345]

@@zoldyck4461 Tchaikovsky violin concerto

[@Revansstuntdouble]

This is why I play guitar. The most dear guitars don't come close to the price of an intermediate classical instrument.

[@cristianeric5933]

Well, add some Steve Vai's blood to the paint and you still have enough for a car with a 25k budget

[@Revansstuntdouble]

@@cristianeric5933 yeah, no joke.

[@timschuit2057]

Imagine winning the lottery and spending 6 million dollars on a violin...

[@DanteHanma]

I would definitely do that. Definitely

[@vetzrah4437]

Same

[@samdajellybeenie14]

Most of these violins are well out of financial reach of most soloists, so businesspeople or orgs like Nippon Foundation usually buy them and loan them out for decades. Pretty cool.

[@10stephenrose]

The dream.

[@shravan7312]

Piano: I’m the most expensive instrument 😎 Violin: allow me to introduce myself…

[@joshuamartin6457]

Its actually my first time seing a left handed violinist

[@shrankai7285]

Might be a reflected video.

[@ianhuangncubed]

Def reflected, no one is making left handed violins

[@HaileyHart-kh9jx]

@@ianhuangncubed I'm a left-handed violinist, but I play just like right-handed people do because of that. it's quite sad, because I'm sure I could play better with my dominant hand.

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

Can I please ask, is the second one made by Widehouse? He has a very close style to that of Strad/Guarneri: having depth of sonority almost straight away!!! The same can be said of Zygmuntowicz. I preferred the second, even after you telling me the first was the antique. I am a violin/viola dealer, analyser, player and luthier. Sometimes the older "masters" made only decent violins whereas modern luthiers give it their all to match the *best* of masters from years gone by...

[@blitzr8616]

It can't be Widenhouse. He charges more. Plus, he said his next two violins are going to players in the Atlanta symphony orchestra.

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

@@blitzr8616 He charges 'around' $22k . He might sell three violins at $19k each to one customer, he might sell ONE violin that came out great for $29k to another customer. His average is $22k. It could easily be a Widenhouse. I'm in the luthier market, so I DO know a little bit about pricing all over the world... Have a good day.

[@lueci7916]

The first one is the one I picked because from dancing classical ballet for so many years when you played the first one, it gave me chills ❤

[@austencox5388]

The new one was louder and still sounded great but the strad had literally no crunchy sounds at all it was so cool

[@arktos3095]

This Sounds like A violin to me.

[@SalamanderMagic]

*me feeling like a god for getting it correct although it was literally a 50/50 chance*

[@dasandbox2555]

The 1st. I know absolutely nothing about violin but the first hit that high note effortlessly. Both are wonderful and I could not afford either one.😢

[@HaydenCarter-jh5wp]

You can always tell that the more expensive or nicer violins sound more full and smooth.

[@rie.k]

Whichever violins you play, your violin sound is the most favorite of mine always.😉💖

[@kaunas888]

The first is clearly better, smoother and sweeter.

[@nicochan6167]

My 40 dollar violin 👁️👄👁️💧

[@MrLandale]

I guessed right. The first has a bigger sound, the second has a "hollow" sound.

[@TwinsTry]

Wait even as a non expert, I can actually hear the diff this time?! :O

[@suckensteincumsalotmilfimu3279]

I swear to god that's the piece that every violinist use when testing out a new instrument, I'm hearing it too much. The expensive one have deeper and richer tones, probably Stradivarius

[@bawang3452]

At least it made Tchaikovsky happy lol

[@suckensteincumsalotmilfimu3279]

@@bawang3452 bro it's annoying, even twoset use this piece now and then in their videos

[@sceu25]

@@suckensteincumsalotmilfimu3279 I’ve just gotten bored of TwoSet. They’ve gotten kinda… Toxic, I guess.

[@cwstars]

Yeah right

[@iamrosalindabb7408]

Wait what's the name of the piece?

[@NeelMarathe-wx1iq]

TwoSet Violin has taught me well. As soon as you played the second one I knew the first was the strad.

[@bilalpunjabi4022]

Your playing what made know the first is strad , they both sound amazing 👍🏼

[@AlexRiversMusic]

The Strad sounds much better. I knew it when I heard it.

[@lvb_op.61]

Second. Whos the maker?

[@Zelda01Fan]

I knew the second you played the first one ❤ there’s something about the smoothness of that sound, that is resounding yet full, it doesn’t feel empty for even a second

[@patton303]

I got it right. I could hear that the Strad was warmer. The 25k sounds great but it’s just a little more brittle in the higher octaves where the Strad retained the warmth all the way through the phrase.

[@isabelcortes1438]

The sound from the 1st one is so rich , deep and soulful. You can tell it has a lot to say. ❤️❤️❤️

[@cpagoals]

Obviously they are both amazing, honestly I think I prefer the $25k modern instrument's sound, especially because it sounds so good even compared to an instrument that costs 5,975,000 more lol 😂

[@brittanyneiswinger3561]

ha I was right. the second was gritty sounding while the other was super smooth and dainty sounding.

[@razbender1379]

Both sound great, but the first one was much warmer

[@christinabouey]

1st one of course! 😉

[@timmychooi]

Totally right?

[@user-tz1zv1ng5g]

The older ones always have a rougher and fuller sound and the more modern ones have a more silky and hollower sound

[@netritos7105]

The G string in the modern one sounds so strong

[@DrJoeyBean]

I initially thought the second one was the strad. The fist one does sound cleaner, but the second one more rich and woody, warmer sounding, and very clean and precise when you play it. Some of the issue is my relatively cheap speakers.

[@arcaakvira]

I think it was very obvious since the first one sounds more seamless and smooth like yk

[@jonella9262]

Lovin that Tchaikovsky lol

[@Ariber1]

Need to hear them in the hall. Up close they're both great.

[@clementnade972]

1st one sounds very clean

[@Misyeli]

I prefer the first one, sounds richer.

[@AdamFerrari64]

I honestly liked the 1st one more before I knew which was which… the sound gets better with age

[@SirAdiv]

It doesn't matter how much your instrument cost...what matters is the practice and dedication you put on it and treating it with respect so much so that dropping it would also make your heart drop

[@L3GHO5T]

The first sound so much more Radiant. It’s hard to describe as I know absolutely nothing about music or instruments but when you go into the higher notes they almost come to life compared to the second. I listened about 15 times and I assume you’ve played the same thing. Though I listen to mostly rock music the violin has always completely fascinated me. Thanks for sharing!

[@Lexicoley1826]

IDK but as soon as you started playing the 2nd one, my cat jumped down from his perch, meowed at me and then jumped in my lap. 🤷‍♀️

[@ilsospetto4608]

Strads will always have that powerful and bright voice.

[@fallencourt5215]

Wow there is genuinely a difference, the first one was a different sound from the second

[@crowntotheundergroud]

The first one sounded fucking amazing. That was actually one of the best tones ive ever heard.

[@PepperWilliamsMusicBlend]

Sonny Stitt (great jazz saxophonist) said that “it’s not the instrument, but the musician that makes it sound great”. He could play a sax bought at Walmart and it would sound fantastic!

[@heyitsadri1917]

I do select the first, the sound its more soft and less squeaky

[@nicklerick]

on my fist watch, the second one, for lack of a better word, was like "smoother" like a smooth coin. I might be insane

[@RizwanJaganiViolist]

I knew number two was modern because it had a slightly edgier sound. I love both and wouldn’t complain if I had to play either one.

[@Darestrings]

They both sound amazingly GOOD... But I think the second one has a more unique tone

[@SuperLamarrio64DS]

I listened to both for a good while, playing one then going back to the other. I thought the first one sounded more pure and undiluted - it was very subtle though in my opinion :)

[@GamingTechReview]

I loved the second one a bit more, but both sounded amazing!

[@user-cm7sl9kw1k]

The strad sounds amazing

[@Jinglebells369]

as soon as i heard the second one i knew, the first one sounds so rich and full mmm

[@jackofalltrades2175]

The second one was so rich and bright I actually preferred the 2 one

[@yasinfatihah9283]

I think the second had a warmer tone and sounded slightly fuller

[@shawndejong6699]

The Stradivarius seemed to have a sharper more distinct tone, the second seemed warmer and more mellowed out.

[@lopesemanuel]

At first I already knew its value, it shows the quality of the 6 million

[@BLUE1spring]

Second one was kind of harsher...but the first was softer.

[@AnnaZoffoli]

i prefer the second one

[@teencammo8224]

The only reason I knew was because one sounded a little bit more raw than the other which if you have a 6 million dollar violin it would probably be a strad or a violin with a lot of history

[@user-rb8lk1fy8l]

The first one sounds amazing ❤❤

[@starboy79293]

i honestly liked the second one better, the deeper, richer sound just hypnotised me

[@wavetxnezz]

first one has a much more like a detailed sound but the second one is like normal

[@flyingduck87]

The first one sounds fuller amd the second one sounds brighter

[@pipermoonshine]

No I could not tell the difference at all. When you have a maker making a violin for $25, 000 and it sounds as sweet and as beautiful as the old beauty herself that is really saying something.

[@WhoWantsFood8]

The second one is cheaper as it’s not as cRiSp

[@benjamingarcia3668]

You better hold that thing with your kung fu grip

[@Anything_Equine]

I don’t understand how your can play a 6 million dollar violin and not be terrified to accidentally break it pure talent also I love your vidss

[@daisylola4123]

I was right 🤣 I personally heard especially that the first few intro notes had a really rich depth of tone on the 1st violin compared to the 2nd violin . Also the higher notes really sung with the 1st one . It sounds beautiful

[@jinmariano13]

Always listen to the sweet tune you can tell that is the strad. 😊

[@DevelonLP]

I prefered the second one more before even knowing the price.

[@mirceacioca6866]

The first of course but both sound fantastic

[@gazerjohnson1808]

The 1st is so beautiful

[@destinymaxwell3906]

Thanks twoset I knew it was the first one. I'm a beginner violinist and the 25,000 one is so expensive. I have a 500 dollar one. It's like more than 10 times out of my budget

[@gunanebare7173]

First one is super beautiful

[@yangshen1412]

The first one can sing by itself.

[@jennyjansen754]

My phone can't tell the difference.

[@marciahoward535]

You make them both sound magical! You are so wonderful!

[@anjobanjo1221]

The high end of the Strad is *much* sweeter. But you sound beautiful on both instruments.

[@latemporis5430]

I don't know anything about violin, but immediately recognized the first one is more expensive