Buying the CHEAPEST violin on AMAZON for $30 - is it any good??

[@TheOnlineViolinTutor]

If you dont believe how truly rubbish this violin is, check out TwoSetViolin who did the same thing in Nov 19: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5-xfYeBlpKJfNk

[@stephaniesoheartlessakasug6497]

I just bought a violin for 24.99 and your saying 30 is the cheapest but it's black and. It looks good

[@JiaKee99]

Lols it's funny because I came here because of the TwoSet channel thinking maybe it would be the seem horrible product haha!

[@softia9]

I was watching them and then I saw this video haha

[@AnneTranAnneTran]

Yes twoset

[@jw-piano2663]

It might sound good if you practice 40 hours a day

[@seasaltVC]

I think the case is worth 30$ and the violin is included as a freebie

[@CamcamTv]

Lol🤣

[@JohnAMain]

I agree

[@jo.a7189]

😂😂😂

[@mickelangeloogdoc4444]

Hahaha 😂

[@antonioluciovivaldi_4317]

That case is not even worth £1

[@julianjoseph5033]

Ling ling would use his powers to make it into a Stradivarius

[@nori8123]

Julian Joseph 🤣😂

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

Every music video I go to, there are idiots making the same trite comments about Ling Ling. It was funny the first time and maybe the second, but not the millionth. Get over it!

[@zarifhossain9871]

I am obsessed with Ling Ling. I'm sorry. Get on with it.

[@flowvintagegaming6558]

You are correct!!

[@googleuser3163]

@@PreservationEnthusiast Someone's only been practicing 30 hrs a day...

[@abaldpersonlookingatthesky1605]

I have this violin I felt so poor while watching this

[@mangospin7897]

Same

[@7761-x4b]

Same omg

[@Everettescottortiz]

If it makes you feel any better I don’t have this violin and that makes me feel even poorer hehe 😁😁😂😂🤣🤣

[@aeroaka110]

same:)

[@PleasantlyDisturbing]

I wouldn't worry about it too much....this whole video is literally 10 mins of this lady whining and complaining and making faces for nothing. Like goddamn just play the thing get it over with...

[@galaxyvulture6649]

Ling Ling could make that violin sound like the most expensive violin

[@mariapazgiannetti2461]

Galaxy Vulture interesting

[@joana9499]

Galaxy Vulture amazzziiiinnnggg

[@Losernoname]

Galaxy Vulture yes thank you i am not the only one here

[@likeworldlikeworld2485]

No he can't. His friend who's a famous violinist maybe can. I mean Ray Chen. See in vids with them together.

[@geometricart7851]

Tuning this was the Ling Ling challenge!!

[@repaks00]

I started using the cheapest violin. My teacher don't mind, he told me to look at the bright side instead. His words was "If you can make a good tone out of that violin, how much more if you get an expensive one someday"

[@chonghwang8028]

Your teacher is the best

[@nandinibehl1887]

Right 👍😊

[@deadmanswife3625]

Great teacher.

[@gireeshchandraprasad]

Very valid point.

[@leannalo2415]

Well, if Ling Ling was playing it, it would sound as good as a Stradivarius. Any TwoSetters here?

[@kuromi_138]

Hi

[@yeldayavuz5343]

Hilary Hahn would have done well too

[@nairchaparro9764]

why you not practice?

[@samskibob2154]

He would have honestly Ling Ling is just a god

[@MissDelenaXO]

Here fam 🙋🏽‍♀️

[@brucedockery5677]

That isn't a $30 violin; it is a really nice case for $30, with a free violin

[@jpn_119]

This made me chuckle out loud 😆

[@GoodStuffForeverMore]

Lol😅

[@margaritakatzav2465]

Lol 😅😅

[@cartapax5077]

I want to hear a symphony with the cheapest instruments.

[@ChrisTian-rm7zm]

Played by cats.

[@cartapax5077]

Cheapest cats.

[@Pedrooko]

You don't lol

[@nunyabidness117]

Played by long-tailed cats on rocking chairs.

[@cartapax5077]

Cheapest rocking chairs.

[@bertcohen6574]

You bought a violin case and they threw in a violin.

[@PalmdaleGal]

Hahahaha! You're probably more right than you know!

[@likeworldlikeworld2485]

You took the words out of my mouth! They threw in 4 strings, a rosin, and a bow. Oh yes! And a violin!

[@jaycavanagh5937]

I’m quite shocked by some of the comments. A professional can’t in all good conscience advise people to purchase something that is limiting and will only complicate the life of a new student. Are people also forgetting that if the instrument is too difficult to tune and sounds pretty poor, it is likely to put a student off of continuing the instrument? I’m not a violinist but I’m a cellist and you just can’t get away with buying really cheap instrument unless, as she says, it’s to give it a try and see whether or not it’s your bag. But yeah, honestly, it’s her view and you can’t expect somebody to dress this up in a bow if they have any respect for new players. I’d much rather be guided honestly and know that it will be a little pricey straight up than to delude myself into thinking I could actually get away with something half decent for £30.

[@PsylomeAlpha]

Not to mention that rentals are an option, at least short-term. You get to try it out with a competently built instrument so you know when you're screwing up instead of the instrument.

[@yousefyousef495]

Her : ( Buying the cheapest violin in the world) My violin : am I a joke to you

[@yovaneska]

I did the same :-(

[@Ethan-zt7ky]

Me: "Surely this violin will sound worse than mine!" Her: *Makes it sound ten times better than mine* Me: WHAT HAVE I DONE?!?!?

[@metalman552]

To be fair, the violin case looked alright for $30.

[@moracomole8090]

Ling Ling could make that violin sound like a strad

[@leelandgarcia8919]

Moraco Mole facts

[@franzliszt9433]

And play Paganini 24 caprice backwards

[@samykenz]

FACTS

[@Ahrceon]

What's a strad dkm 🙏😰

[@franzliszt9433]

Stradivarius

[@MarijkeViolin]

The best thing to do with that is probably spraypaint and decorate it.

[@paperaviation147]

yes it is a VSO (violin shaped object)

[@TheOnlineViolinTutor]

Totally agreed!

[@abramabesamis23]

violin noobie did that

[@feltonkohl6106]

You could take it to a charity shop so a complete beginner could benefit

[@liamderosa2157]

Or put a set of Thomastik-Infeld Dominant strings on it!

[@王泰皓-x7d]

“If you can play cheaply, you can play expensively.”

[@bella7352]

Ling ling?

[@usetobethemagicpillownowit9130]

Ann Moonstone no it’s InTrEstInG

[@benjibean8431]

The fact that she can do vibrato without a shoulder rest blows my mind.

[@TheOnlineViolinTutor]

I have not used a shoulder rest for over 30 years.

[@benjibean8431]

@@TheOnlineViolinTutor :O

[@jayveeaurea9091]

It’s not that hard but it is painful. It is a literal hell on earth.

[@かわいいねこ-f9y]

I don’t think it’s that bad (compared to what twoset got)

[@QuanPham-tm6kj]

Ling Ling can play all violins regardless their prices

[@thithanhphuongnguyen6539]

Anyone can do it if they practice 40 hours!

[@ellainalk]

The violin's sound was bad, but her playing made it better

[@mrtreevis]

If you buy one of these you need to tap the tuning pegs with a rubber mallet or something similar as they aren't pushed far enough in to hold the tension of the strings once you do this it will hold tuning like a champ. If you have a access to a high grit sandpaper 120 + use that to slim down the bridge. Quite a significant difference in sound when done. You can use your phone to download a violin tuner that will do the job.

[@kerbalphysicist5909]

I'll admit, I am the "proud" owner of one of these violins. After about a week under tension, the cheap strings finally stop stretching out and hold a tune very nicely. That being said, when you get it, you basically have to destring it and coat the tuning pegs in bar soap or some other friction material, because more often than not, they will just spin back into place after you tighten up the strings. For a dirt poor beginner violinist, it certainly isn't the worst thing you could buy! Although I got a model off of ebay, which appears to have come with a nicer bridge and an incredibly meh but still usable shoulder rest.

[@alalobb3585]

Thanks that helps me a lot... Cuz i also have the same violin... I bought it just now so thanks for your tips. I am very grateful!😊

[@Lechugabeans]

I have the same violin because I’m poor but this made me feel more poor 💀

[@Kwantscupcakes]

You could make it work a bit better by taking it to a Luthier so they can shape the bridge properly, I used to have a cheap cello and that little adjust made a huge change with the sound.

[@yikes7607]

I don't think you kept that much of an open mind... I had bought a 100€ violin which looks of comparable quality and I'm glad I did because it allowed me to own an instrument which otherwise I couldn't afford then. As an absolute beginner I was not over critical of the sound quality, in fact I was so happy to have a violin and so in love with the sound that I couldn't focus on flaws if I wanted - I played for hours back then, had so much fun. Tuning was only a problem at first, over time and with regular playing things settled more. The bridge, strings and rosin are all easily replaced and that alone makes a positive difference. But even as it is, overall for an absolute beginner or for a kid this is a great investment to find out if violin is their instrument; I strongly disagree that this violin is so bad that it will discourage learning, I rather think it's good enough to find out if playing the violin is something you might enjoy and also if you are really willing to commit the time and effort to learning how to play. By the time someone knows those answers and learned some basics this violin will have served its purpose, and then it makes sense to consider an upgrade to a more expensive instrument. At this price, this can make for a special and surprising gift for a kid, they might even quite casually discover a passion for violin.

[@SparkieGoth]

This is my A-ha! moment. I now understand why I wasn't making much progress with the violin - the one I had was too cheap. In my defence, I did take it to a luthier to have a better bridge put on there and I did use some of the better strings that you recommended. However, tuning it made me want to cry, every time. I'll take a break from violin playin until I can afford one of the better ones that you recommend. On the plus side, my piano, guitar and ukulele skills are definitely improving (I wasn't allowed to learn music as a child because my parents can't stand noise. Consequently, as an adult, I'm into playing everything I can lay my hands on!). Thank you for doing this. It's been a real revelation. I actually understand why I wasn't doing it right now.

[@qltygrl3187]

I rented one from a local shop until I decided that I wanted to keep it. Their rental prices were $22-30 a month depending on the level of violin. Maybe that’s an option for you?

[@SparkieGoth]

@@qltygrl3187 Oh that's a good idea. I never thought of that. Thank you! 👍

[@giacarrere2042]

Lucy Gillespie yea but a good bridge is like 50 after installed at a lutherie and this violin was only 30 so it would be sad to pay more for the bridge in a way

[@rintojoyt]

me tooo.... I'm very happy to see this... otherwise i'll stop the classes :D

[@lordofentropy]

lol "...it does make a sound." That's a glowing recommendation for an instrument.

[@dqpfjggisjgIdksorp]

Ling Ling could make the out of tuning sound like a Stradivarius.

[@alpacanerdyt6879]

d3p68S73Mqp3 l9k6a1 Ling Ling can also play it just by looking at it

[@dqpfjggisjgIdksorp]

@@alpacanerdyt6879 ofcourse he can! How could I have underestimated Ling Lings skills?!

[@Kovsky2504]

Please tell meee who this ling ling is I've been seeing this name everywhere and when I search for this name in google or youtube nothing comes related to him/her

[@dqpfjggisjgIdksorp]

@@Kovsky2504 it's from this KZbin channel called TwoSetViolin. He's a fictorary character who practices 40 hours a Day and can do pretty much anything with a violin. Check their channel out. They're awesome!

[@CuracaoChic]

@@Kovsky2504 Ling Ling is awesome. They are that person who your parents always compare you to and who can do nothing wrong! If you practice 40 hours a day, you can bet that Ling Ling practiced 60 hours while studying to become a surgeon. Ling Ling is the master of all and the perfectionist we all strive to be (or our parents want us to be). - Love to TwoSet Violin understanding the struggle.

[@table5292]

$30 violin *still sounds better than I do*

[@martymcgill1312]

It would be worth $30 for decor to hang on the wall.

[@luzhang3091]

Lingling can make that violin sound like a strad

[@Lyre206]

Lu Zhang sure can lmao😂😂

[@jrstf]

Put the Stradivarius in my hands, then her playing the cheap one will sound far better than me playing the Strad.

[@andrea-fe9is]

she actually starts at 11:30

[@CuracaoChic]

time saver! Thanks!

[@yikes7607]

*FOR TUNING PROBLEMS*: using a tip from an old fiddle player, if you moisten the pegs just a bit the violin will hold the tune better because the wood will absorb the water and expand just a bit as it dries and adjusts around the shape of the peg. And it dries, don't worry. Anyway I tried this once on the cheap violin and it held the tune longer; I didn't have to do it a second time, and over time the violin just held the tune simply because regular playing makes the instrument settle. In the meantime, especially those frustrating first days, have more patience to tune as needed and make use of the fine tuners for smaller adjustments as much as possible. PS: the original advice was to put the pegs in one's mouth for a while :D But I used water and it was just fine. If the pegs feel too plastic then moisten the wood directly on the violin. Just a few drops of water are enough. By the way and since this video might attract people unfamiliar with the violin, besides rosining the bow as mentioned in the video it's worth also mentioning you have to tighten the bow at the screw. If you don't know about this look for beginner videos here on YT.

[@kd5nrh]

I would like to see a "maintenance" video; new strings, $10 bridge, let it settle in for a week and try again, maybe with a better bow as well. Basically, what you'd do if you bought a used violin at an estate sale, but with the goal of keeping the total price of the violin, strings, etc under $100. Then see if it's up to what you'd expect to find on Craigslist for $100.

[@romanellisgirl11]

That violin looks very similar to the one that I own... 😅 excuse me while I go and cry

[@rahmatarek1422]

Same here 😹💔

[@Amy-qt7iv]

Same

[@jkris2441]

Me too 😭

[@devoidatalent4243]

appearance is nothing :) don't worry about looks, it's all in the type of wood used, the quality of the strings and sound itself.

[@DM-yf3mv]

Guys just wanna say, if that's all you can afford for now, its okay to still go ahead and use a cheap violin. Don't be discouraged if you can't afford an expensive violin okay. 1. She was saying how its always going out of tune, BUT a NEW violin with NEW STRINGS will always be like that. The longer you play it (maybe a few weeks or 1 month), the more it might stay in tune. 2. 9:10 She was also saying that it takes FOREVER to rosin the bow. BUT, keep in mind that its a new bow, and generally you do have to rosin a new bow with a more generous amount of rosin than usual because its a NEW BOW, with no rosin AT ALL. 3. The only downside buying a violin online is the bridge. The bridge is REALLY IMPORTANT and new, beginner students might have trouble fitting the bridge themselves. So, if possible, if you want to buy a cheap one, try to buy it from a shop near you so that at least the bridge can be fitted properly by the shop owners etc. Also, buying a violin online is *a little* dangerous because they might not give out proper information about the violin (eg they say its wood but its actually plastic :( ). Edit: At 11:26 ish, pause and see the bridge from the side, its kinda leaning towards the finger board and that's a no-no, because a leaning bridge like that affects the sound. But can't really blame her cause i think there were no grooves on the bridge. Which is why, if you want to install the bridge yourself, you have to be careful or ask help from a violin shop owner/ luthier. Or go to the internet and follow the proper steps (like the position and the 90 degree angle etc of the bridge). Remember that the bridge of the violin is like the heart of the violin. :) Lastly, have fun playing and practicing!! If you want to buy an expensive one, you can also try saving up money. If you think that you might upgrade later, or think that you are gonna be serious in practicing, might as well save up a bit and buy a decent one. Maybe instead of the $30 one, you can try saving for the $60 violin. BUT, remember, its okay if you have a cheap violin. As long as you have the passion to play and practice, you can do it. Its no point having an expensive violin if you don't practice practice regularly. Cheers!

[@dre...289]

I bought a $200 viola off of Amazon about 2 years ago. It included a bow, case, rosin, and an extra bridge. It also came with a tuner and the bridge and strings were attached properly when first opened. The brand was Cecilio, and my orchestra teacher never said anything about it. I believe I got a pretty good deal. :D

[@ArwenStarsongMusic]

Cecilio has been wonderful for me. Got my baby on Christmas last year and it has been great!

[@skwidthecrayfsh34]

Gibraltar I have a hindersine is that good

[@baronstriker8378]

Viola fam

[@michaelgulley1348]

The violin is not set up. I bought a similar violin for my daughters first year. I changed the strings and bridge then cleaned and reamed the pegs and holes. The sound is not the greatest but far better than my daughter could produce on her own. Also, has she never purchased and replaced her own bridge? They always come thick and have tall feet. You have to thin them and shape the feet to the violin. Tuning pegs are the same. Most violin parts have to be fitted to the instrument. Setup is what you are paying for when you buy from a music shop.

[@Masterpg2007]

Yeah, if you can do some research you can do all that alone, some music shops also move the sound post, which is not recommended for people that have no experience, since it's hard and you can fuck up the violin sound. Say you get a little bit more expensive violin, like $200-400, it'll likely come with a bridge can you can just fit there and get a decent sound, without doing much work, the only thing that really is a MUST change are the strings in my opinion.

[@joekahno]

I played for two years back in middle school, too many decades ago. I remember almost nothing. I do recall my 1st instructor showing me how to fit a new bridge and nut to a bare instrument I found in my grandfathers closet. As well as him telling me that if I was too damn cheap to spend a couple extra bucks for some decent strings, I should get somebody to pass a hat while I was practicing and the poor bastards listening to me would buy a set to save wear and tear on their ears.

[@Blue2000q]

Im hear just to leave a 2 set violin reference.

[@helenenicholson6099]

if you can play it slowly?

[@1-vivi]

@@helenenicholson6099 you can play it fast

[@thetov1896]

@Vianna it is quickly

[@galaxyvulture6649]

@@1-vivi You had one job

[@ambers6789]

4:50 is when the violin is shown

[@feli___21]

one of my strings costs more than this whole violin😂😂

[@lilahb6231]

*rawrs behind you* * it’s your* and, actually, for your info, that is an expensive string.

[@jockim123]

@@lilahb6231 rawr xD

[@tiffanywang5016]

Bruh. That’s literally my violin.

[@gitaarfreakoriginal]

I think 30USD is a pretty good price for that violin case.

[@Dominaire]

Lmao

[@sebione3576]

Yep. Violin goes straight in the trash.

[@SURFtheEARTHguru]

My dog is the best cridic of violin. I've listened to your videos for years. My dog loves your playing. In the beginning she would cry and hide when I played. This video made he hide under a table. Thank you for saving anyone the time of wasting their time. You are devastatingly gorgeous and extremely talented. I adore you. Thank you for being my virtual teacher. All the loves

[@beverlyfranklin8327]

My cat was sitting on my lap looking intently into my eyes to get me to get me to do his bidding. The violin started to play. His ears flew up and back. His eyes got the hugest I've ever seen them. His head jerked from side to side seeking the source of the sound. He jumped off my lap. I guess he thought he was at a rock concert jumping into a mosh pit.

[@sebione3576]

Cats are weird.

[@samskibob2154]

When the pinky is bent *Ling Ling has joined the chat*

[@Lyre206]

Samskibob lol😂😂. Two set fans are everywhere, lol. Love it!

[@gracehughes873]

Twosetviolin should do a video about your channel.

[@hsuhorn]

Grace Hughes how would that work though

[@gracehughes873]

MasterLuke24 Is Cool yeh true

[@muhammadfajri355]

Dude u think what im thinking xD

[@gracehughes873]

Paaajiii yeh

[@spiritualawakenings6251]

I bought the same violin a year ago. So far it plays and sounds almost as good as my 100 year old German made. It takes a bit for any new stringed instrument to break in and new strings to stretch. Mine was tuned in about 5 minutes and has held tune ever since after one more tuning. The music comes from the soul not the instrument after all it is only an instrument.

[@craftmasy]

Well some instruments are badly made meaning it’s harder to tune, strings too high and too close together, horrible sound and bad quality. All of this will hinder a beginners progress. I get your point that when you are good at playing the violin, The instrument won’t improve your technique.

[@spiritualawakenings6251]

@@craftmasy High strings and string spacing is a very cheap and easy fix. you should do some videos on how do do these simple things, no one can set up a persons instrument better than the person playing it. it also gives a sense of accomplishment to a student to be able to do these simple things and furthers their interest in music.

[@JackLe1127]

Wait the "Add to cart" button is "Add to basket" on Amazon UK??

[@edwardwong9599]

Jack Le 😂

[@proctologistbarbie]

I love that that was your biggest takeaway from this lol

[@jamesmziegler]

Hey - you make that piece of crap sound pretty awesome! I do have sympathy for the beginner trying to learn, however, especially with the D. A proper trim of the bridge might fix that. Setting it up properly and cutting a new bridge would cost several, probably many, times over the $30 paid in the first place. It certainly would be playable, however, and it shouldn't be thrown away. That violin has a place. You play what's on your shoulder at the time. A violin just like that may be all that the world's next Paganini or Heifetz can afford right now.

[@TashaVanHuss]

I know right! She sure does!

[@jackelectric7075]

im a guitarist wtf am i doing here

[@ashleyjones1519]

i got one of these for my daughter and after the first week it settled into itself. it kept the tuning and the nasal sound mellowed a lot. she played for about a year and then quit because she got bored. i think some kids don't really like playings instruments but the cheap price of this meant she could have a go and broaden her horizons a bit.

[@uhfch2358]

Being a musician, I thoroughly enjoy watching an expert point out things that do not stand out as being so obvious to the average beginner.

[@briansmith611]

they make great decorative items for restaurants or just wall hangers

[@bonguyen7464]

Admit it, your school probably buys these violins...

[@PaulHirsh]

They always pack the bridge wrapped in paper under the tailpiece, to protect the finish from the fine tuners while avoiding soundpost cracks which can happen if the bridge is left in place. You need to see how these things get thrown around at airports.

[@kyndallgilliam3198]

When my orchestra teacher gave me some rosin for the first time I really wanted to lick it

[@MrMrSockhead]

Me a beginner watching my violin be reviewed 👁👄👁

[@alkalinebase]

This seemed like a personal attack!

[@dabonem5317]

Well it’s probably a sign you should upgrade your violin LOL

[@bellebrunette300]

Not ever body as the money for that

[@dabonem5317]

@@bellebrunette300 I understand that but even just a 30$-40$ step up in price is noticeable

[@MrMrSockhead]

Dab On 'Em Yeah I would prefer that too, but me and my family are tight on money, we can’t afford that right now

[@Mike-vw5cl]

I got 2 presents for christmas and one of the presents is that violin ... bruh

[@Alien-vu4bt]

Mike Mikkelsen 🤣🤣🤣 RIP U

[@SparklSeoul]

Ouch!

[@belle8026]

It looks quite similar to mine, and I bought mine for £50 as I’m a beginner. It did come with a music stand, a shoulder rest, rosin, a chin rest and spare strings- but my mom bought it for me so that I could ‘try’ the violin out. The rosin for mine isn’t as dusty as that, there’s nowhere near as much fallout as on that one, but I will replace mine after a year or two. The bridge for mine seems more defined than that one, I can play the strings separately. It’s also decent to tune- so I do honestly think that mine was worth the £50 since I’ll be using it for only a year or so.

[@polojay6182]

Bells buy more expensive one

[@matthewflynn2164]

She's stops complaining and plays at 10:06... Your welcome...

[@dqpfjggisjgIdksorp]

Thank god

[@obsessedmuch4380]

She tuned it-

[@oqhixlismaudios8798]

She starts at 11:30

[@_satanic_cyanide_]

Violet Subs thank youuuu

[@oqhixlismaudios8798]

Anytime

[@kylotrap3920]

Thank thy my savior.

[@MrTubeman007]

There is so much missing here, first what would the violin be like if you bought a better bow, had the sound post fitted well, fit some good strings and had the bridge cut properly. I play and built violins for over 30 years and I can get massive differences in a violin just by setting it up. Why complain about the rosin and bow the rosin and bow is not the violin, dont use the rosin get some better for a few quid. There is lots of music like folk which you could play on this, the old boys in America made their fiddles out of tins and cigar boxes, it did not stop them playing music and creating a genre clled appalachian, don't be a classical snob.

[@ameliev.5459]

She showed what you get for 30. If you do stuff to improve Sound, the cost skyrockets fast! Decent Strings start at 40 and would already Double the price

[@kengle1]

My first violin was $70 on Ebay. I figured that it would be crap, but as long as it stayed in tune for 20 minutes that would be enough for me to practice, and once I knew it was something I was going to stick with I could get a better instrument. I got lucky, because it wound being a half decent; I played it for three years before I decided to upgrade. 16 years later, I play Irish fiddle professionally.

[@sallysmith8081]

Loved your comment!

[@bribread]

Seeing the rosin gradually falling off the bow and onto the board gave me flashbacks to 6th grade

[@quirkyquinn6687]

Peachy Bri I’m in 6th grade, nobody I know gets that much fallout at one time

[@Turboy65]

And now for a challenge: Take that same cheap violin and give it a proper setup. Give it a good soundpost adjustment and put a proper bridge on it and see what you can get out of it with a reasonable effort. How good might it be with as good a setup as it can take? That'd be interesting.

[@fluffycritter]

Yeah, I have a similar violin (bought on a whim) and I ended up upgrading the bridge and strings and bow and ended up with something that's at least somewhat playable, and the total price is still way less than a typical student violin.

[@highpath4776]

@@fluffycritter Are you using metal strings or gut/nylon ?

[@angelahomicz1813]

I am a public school music teacher and many of my students buy these cheap violins. Although I understand your final thoughts, it is very difficult when you have to tune several instruments like this for a lesson or rehearsal. There have been many times when I have spent 15 minutes of a 30 minute lesson just trying to get the instruments close enough to play. If you’re playing at home alone or with a private teacher that may be one thing.......but playing these cheap instruments in a larger group setting creates a problem. Just something to keep in mind for future reviews/recommendations.....thank you!

[@angelahomicz1813]

Ok....I wrote my comment at 13:30 but should have listened to the end. I totally agree with you in the end.....sorry for “jumping the gun”. Still, I think it may be helpful to potential customers to hear another teacher’s experience with them

[@TheOnlineViolinTutor]

I completely agree, but most of my audience are adults leading at home - which the point of my channel and the videos I make.

[@sebione3576]

Angela, you make a good point. It may be worth mentioning in case some parent is out here watching comparison videos for cheap violins to decide which would be best for their child.

[@Steviegottagunn]

My first violin was a $50 special on ebay. Bought the fiddle, found a teacher and under his insistence, a year later, I proceeded to search for and buy my current violin (fiddle). 11 years later, I'm still playing my $1,000 Sam'l Gunn 1851, American made fiddle, which has accompanied me to Ireland, Scotland and Great Britain, both informally at sessions and professionally, onstage... I still have my first fiddle, now signed by Tommy Peoples, Kevin Burke and Paddy Glackin. I don't play it anymore but it hangs on my parlor wall.

[@RiderOfTheRohirrim]

Tip for beginners (like me) who want to try out the violin: instead of buying a cheap one of the internet (which will ruin your first time playing), rent one. Many violin-builders and music stores have the option to rent a violin. This way you get a professional violin for a few bucks a month. If you like it, you can invest in a good violin. If you hate it, well, then you're not stuck with a violin you wasted money on. You bring it back and you're done. This is what I'm doing, I'll be picking up my first violin very soon!

[@frozenwizardgaming]

Is buying a second hand violin a better idea than buying a cheap one?

[@diegoserrato4016]

Happy playing! Never stop practicing

[@diegoserrato4016]

@@frozenwizardgaming Absolutely. I got my favorite violin, an awesome Scherl & Roth, at a pawn shop. The only problem is that pawn shop violins might be improperly set up, so be sure to check it out thoroughly or if you have a violinist friend, have them check it out first before getting it.

[@qey9341]

Actually its "okay". aside from the powdery rosin. And the bridge. all in all its okay "okay" for $30.

[@manusoftar]

I wish you had played also one of your good violins to be able to heard the actual difference...

[@ernestkuek8939]

Err... actually I have bought >10 of similar violins (with even cheaper price) and it wasn't that bad if you know how to handle it. I usually spent 2-5 hours on new ones to adjust the nut and bridge height, sometime repairing the fine-tuner because it is faulty. The other thing is the strings morph after getting stretched for the first time & it takes 2-4 weeks for it to stabilize so you need to be hardworking in tuning at the beginning stage. After some time, it is pretty fine to use as beginner's violin. The other thing to take note is the "frets" get out of place after morphing so you might play out of tune unless you understand the mechanism. Quite a few goes like this: Week 0 ==> Week 2 ==> Week 4 || | || | || | || | || | || | || | || | || | || | || | || | Changing strings definitely help a lot and I think it is cheaper than buying an expensive violin. Also, I think you put too much rosin. I never see so many rosin dusk falling on the violin among all the violins of this type. Suspecting that you might have done that on purpose?

[@M1nk13]

Strings are probably not stretched yet, hence why they don't keep a tune. Not even professional strings hold a tune when you first start stretching them.. I would recommend you tune it constantly for a hour or so, so they can properly stretch, and then they'll probably hold.. Just a thought

[@mish_elle1450]

Higher grade violins won't have such a problem. This violin isn't even worth 30 dollars

[@M1nk13]

@@mish_elle1450 My violin is a handmade Japanese violin that's 80+ years old, and I usually get really high quality strings, and they still need time to stretch

[@blacat2168]

And isn't that way too much rosin?

[@M1nk13]

@@blacat2168 Rosin doesn't affect the tuning, just the sound, and dirties the violin

[@blacat2168]

Armin Cronje I know, I referred to the hard sound the bow made on the strings. Sorry I wasn't clear.

[@ohitsewe6021]

Aw man this is the violin I have, didn't realise it was so bad, always sounded alright to me 😂😂. My parents couldn't afford a proper instrument so we went with the cheapest option because I really wanted to play, I can only imagine the pain my teacher must have gone through

[@tornadohand]

doesn't matter bro. what matters is you wanted something and you did everything in your capacity to get it. Keep playing, get good, then you can somehow arrange ways to get a better one.

[@thereasonableamericans411]

Haha! You can learn just the same, nothing wrong with that but the instrument is rubbish just the same, doesn't mean your skill set is.

[@PRIMUSALDA]

a sound comparison with one of your more expensive ones would have been helpful. Hearing your opinion on it is one thing, being able to make my own is another.

[@TheOnlineViolinTutor]

I did!! I did this in a separate video about a week after this one!

[@PRIMUSALDA]

@@TheOnlineViolinTutor Oh perfect! I didnt know, i wasnt familiar with your channel before. Thanks for the info, I will give it a look.

[@anthonyandino6069]

I started on a violin like this when I begun. I quickly outgrew that and bought a better quality Chinese violin for $300 after 2 weeks. A little more than 6 months later, I upgraded to a $500 West German made violin made by E.R Pfretzschner. It's the best violin I've ever owned. The best part about it, it was a copy of a Stradivarius violin. Those are the violins I look for most of the time. I made my $30 viollin into a wall decor art piece

[@CapitanTavish]

Having a piano in front of you.. no tuning with another violin ... lol

[@asherwade]

I thought you were going to approach this with ‘an open mind’ [sic] (?); ...with all the negative adjectives, I’m afraid you ‘may’ have put off every potential beginner who may have stumbled {lit.} upon your video clip. I’ve studied the violin for 45 years, and like Itzchak Perlman once said, “...if you can really play violin, you can make a cigar-box sound good”, too bad, as I’ve had many of my Russian teachers (in my ‘very’ early days) pick up my then $400 violin-shaped box and sound fabulous, ...but then again, as Heifetz once responded, “its the violin’ist’, not the violin”.

[@Quasihamster]

@@jazzdorefree194 Nice one. Reminds me a lot of a saying us photographers like to use: A good photographer will take good photos. He doesn't need a good camera for that. A bad photographer will take bad photos, no matter how good the camera.

[@ElektraYu]

It's actually correct to remove the bridge before shipping rather than setting it. You can see Brompton's site and it tells you the same. If the bridge was set, when the shipment arrives at your place, God knows what damage would be. I once ordered a violin (shipped from a city 1 hour away, not even so far), the sender didn't remove the bridge and I don't even think he loosened the pegs, so when the violin came, the bridge was totally destroyed.

[@cottonmeow9914]

Elektra Yu yup agreed

[@josephbingham1255]

Thank you for the review. I had a friend who had an aircraft instrument repair business. He had a violin on display but did not know how to play it. Just respect for a musical instrument I suppose. He had a grandmother living in the hills overlooking Hollywood. She had been married to a man connected to the movie studios in some way. My friend one day asked her if she could actually play the piano he had always seen in her house. She looked at him in surprise and began to play concert music. Afterwards he said to her he would never just look at her as an old lady! SO she gave him a framed photo of a little girl at the piano in frilly white dress. Included in the frame was an article about WW1 saying that this child prodigy would be touring the country and listing the concert music she would be playing. This was his grandmother whose talents he never knew. Thank you again for the video.

[@kaanokcu1]

Actually I really liked it. If you're starting violin just to try, you don't really care about the tune or anything. As long as it's playable, I think it's good.

[@JohnIsRandomYouTubeChannel]

Kaan Okcu I thought the same thing 😂 but since I like to make little videos in the snow I got one as a prop and it NOT something you want 😂 I would get the $60 Cecilio violin 😂

[@claraw972]

I think you should buy a really cheap violin and kind of just worth it up by putting on new strings, a new bridge, new fingerboard, finetuners etc. and see how good you can make it. That'd be quite interesting I think.

[@Thisisshxron]

this is the exact violin i have lol and its horrible. im going to try and fix it up like you recommended

[@claraw972]

@@Thisisshxron I don't know if it would work, but it would be cool to try out I think

[@Parthasorenchess]

I don't play violin... so why am I watching this?

[@BerneanuOrlando]

Same here but suggestions usually take me way deeper than this

[@KillTheAlarm69]

..you wanted to buy one yourself! (to become a violinist, ofc)

[@robertjoey1063]

At one point, I was considering buying a cheap violin like this, but thankfully, this video stopped me. I am very blessed to have an Aunt who plays violin who was extremely kind and let me borrow an old one of her's that is a baroque period instrument. The only issue with it is that at some point in history, someone replaced the neck with a more modern one, so there's enormous pressure on the bridge. This means that the bridge is slowly warping and curving, to the point now where it bends outwards. It doesn't affect it too much, but I have to adjust the bridge a lot and it is hard to play on the fourth finger (because it is raised at an obscure angle). I am currently looking to save for a violin of my own. Thanks so much Alison for stopping me buying this firewood!!

[@mengnanzhu5984]

I think for beginners, your determination and interest is more important. If you gave up just because the sound is not pleasant enough , you probably won’t make it anyway. Ps, 30 dollars for a violin? What else do you expect? You definitely can get a high quality made in China violin... if you are ready to spend more money.

[@aleksandradabrowska1508]

I don't agree! It's not only about sound. Cheap bow makes difficult to control bow, sound quality, straight strokes. Cheap violin makes difficult to produce proper sound, it has wrong shaped bridge that makes it difficult to play on strings separately. Your fingers would hurt because of hight of the bridge and quality of strings. If you really want to learn how to play violin, if you are serious then just go for something better. From my experience as a teacher, people who go for it will never play. They never practice, they never improve, they think that everything will come super easily and without any effort.

[@mish_elle1450]

She is showing how crap a violin is at that price range and to save a bit more money than trying to learn with this pos because violin is hard as it is, why put yourself through this misery

[@mengnanzhu5984]

HappyAminah I agree. I didn’t realize bad strings would hurt your fingers. Thanks for pointing it out.

[@BugsNRoo]

If you only want to spend a little on an instrument if you're trying it out, rent one for a month instead. You'll get a better instrument with good sound and support from the staff as well. Well worth it imo.

[@igiornogiovannahaveadream649]

"If you can play it slowly, you can play it quickly"

[@Haru-dm4yx]

-Guy from BBC news

[@brockolee1476]

Kono Giorno Giovanna niwa yume ga aru

[@stephanienuno100]

Two set violin LING LING 40 Hours

[@ghlscitel6714]

You forgot to "lubricate" the pegs with chalk. One cannot expect to get a stable tuning after a newly stringed violin but you are an excellent violinist.

[@brooksiefan]

It is just incredible that *anything* may be produced at that price.

[@leepshin]

What you should do now is upgrade the components you feel would improve the instrument as you never know, you could have a fantastic instrument disguised by those naff components like the bridge, so replace that. Use some decent rosin on the bow and change the factory strings for better quality ones and "then" reevaluate it. I reckon the result could be amazing.

[@abear2874]

why would someone who owns professional instruments waste time upgrading an amazon piece of chinese junk

[@billf7585]

I am a repair technician so I see heaps of these violins come through my shop at the beginning of the school year. Here are the main problems I see with all cheap Amazon violins. First, you'll get the parents that bought a 4/4 violin for their 8 year old kid, and when I tell them, this instrument is too big for your child, he won't be able to play it, and often their response is "well I'm not sure if he's gonna stick with it, so we'll let him learn on this one and get him a better one if he likes it"... That one is the most difficult for me to hide the "what the fuck" face I'm making in my head. Beyond that, the pegs are never ebony, in most cases, the pegs, nut and fingerboard are all painted maple. The reason ebony is used for pegs especially is because its quite dense and hard, and doesn't deform easily, where as maple is much softer and easily deforms out of its round shape, making the pegs not turn smoothly at all in their holes. The pegs are never fit in the peg box, and the nut is usually far too high, and has 4 little paper cuts instead of properly filed grooves. The bridge, as you found out in your case, is usually the worst offender. They are way too thick, usually with the feet not fit to the face of the instrument, and very often with a curve that is far too flat. This causes the student to hit multiple strings at once because there is not enough of an arch to the bridge. Again, as with the nut, there is usually 4 tiny papercut notches for the strings rather than properly filed grooves. The tailpiece is also garbage, often when the instrument is brought up to pitch, the threading on the ends of the tailgut will begin to strip and you will hear distinct popping sounds as the nuts skip over the threading on the tailgut. The fine tuners are horrible as well, they rarely turn smoothly or easily, and the paddles underneath the screws will shift from side to side, allowing the screw to just push around the side of it, making them useless. You may not have even noticed this, but lastly, the soundpost is an absolute joke, its usually just shoved in at a random angle, not making good contact with either top or back face of the instrument. When I encounter one of these with a customer I politely list off everything that's wrong with it, followed by telling them what it would cost them to have me get the instrument somewhat playable ( this usually amounts to 2-3 times what they paid for it) and then I suggest they return it and rent a proper instrument from me instead, without making it seem like a sales pitch. But I always get the same response: 'Oh, well I don't know if he's even gonna like the violin, so he can try it out with this one and then if he likes it we'll buy/rent him a better one" ... facepalm.jpg. I cannot understand this logic and it leads to so many, potentially talented kids quitting. Sorry for the rant, but this really grinds my gears. There should be some type of international governing body to determine what can and cannot be sold as a "violin" as there is for champagne or whatever. Such a shame.

[@TheRokkis]

I paid about the same for second hand violin at flea market (I know...this is my first one) and went to a music shop with it to buy a chin rest. Turned out that it was hand-made by "someone" as was the bow, I was told that it is actually a pretty good violin (what do I know, I trust the shop owner on this one). I got some problems since it's not exactly the standard size 4/4, I've used guitar tuner to get the fingerboard stickers in place, but I can't really see them due my strong glasses, I see everything as double for that distance =D I decided to just f it and go by ear, sounds horrible so far, but hey, 40 hours of practise a day should fix that they say ;) My neighbours will never wan't to hear "Twinkle Twinkle.." when I'm done, they probably already don't want to hear it =D Thank you for all the videos, they are really helpful for someone who is trying to do this all alone without a teacher.

[@Kwantscupcakes]

I think practicing a Dmayor scale too could help you learn the finger positions a little bit better.

[@TheRokkis]

@@Kwantscupcakes Thank you, I will try that! Didn't even think about that even if I play solos from it with guitar. So far I've been going by ear, since the taping figer positions just distracted me, at least my hearing of pitch has gone way up. Also I'm progressing, yaay!

[@Kwantscupcakes]

@@TheRokkis Happy to hear that! I'm a cellist and scales are what really improved my pitch and hand position.

[@AC5SH]

Yeah, Twinkle Twinkle kinda jumps out all by itself, doesn't it? It's a good thing something does, because it takes a bit of effort from there :) Tim O....... not an expert yet, to say the least. Lol

[@hodakaforster5914]

What's sad is that we have very similar types of violin in our orchestra for school use.

[@hsuhorn]

Hodaka Forster ooof

[@jalene150]

I kind of wonder how it would sound if you slapped on a good pair of strings

[@ДмитрийГерман-ю3ы]

And maybe tried it with a good bow....

[@craigmorrin1164]

That was very brave of you, Alison, thank you...especially since I actually have that one! Actually, one advantage being a beginner is that I can't tell how bad it sounds, and I am actually enjoying learning to play on it. Tip for people who have this one: add a little chalk to the pegs to keep them from slipping.

[@yzxt7535]

Craig Morrin lmao ikr

[@denysmcnair302]

I'm a street musician violinist. I've Been playing for 53 years and play a very broad repertoire of music. I was looking for a violin that I could travel with and play outside in all weather (except rain). I was offered a J. T. L. Geronimo Barnabetti, Paris 1900 for which I paid £500. It was badly scratched and needed repairing, but when I managed to play a few notes I could tell that it was a really good instrument in terms of quality of sound. The previous owner paid £350 to have it properly repaired by a Luthier. I replaced the strings with Thomastik Vision Solo Titanium strings (£63) which made an amazing difference. I play it about 4hours every day and love the instrument. It's worth much more than I paid for it because of how it sounds, but in an auction it won't fetch very much. It really does make a difference playing a violin that sounds good, but it doesn't have to be a Strad. In my opinion, if you buy a cheap factory violin it could put you off learning to play. My point is this. Look out for violins being sold privately and take along a friend/violinist, if you can find one, who can tell you if it sounds ok and worth buying. It doesn't need to look pretty, as long as it's not cracked or damaged. If it has a label inside it will give you an idea of its monetary value if you Google the info that's on the label.

[@RatherPratty]

I’m currently on my third violin, been playing for 3 years. Took some trial and error and my current violin is quite expensive, so thankfully I’m not getting any new ones in the near future whatsoever. Considering that the violin isn’t the most famous instrument in India, it was really hard to get a good one that wouldn’t disappoint. I now play a Höfner, though not a professional super expensive one, but still rather expensive for someone who’s still trying to get there.

[@singhjasmeet2506]

this still sounds better than the viola

[@singhjasmeet2506]

@張曜傑 but at least im a violinist who wasn't forced to play that instrument

[@gisellejimenez6149]

I have that violin and it was a birthday gift

[@alexandrahrdina450]

Oof

[@thithanhphuongnguyen6539]

Oh

[@sman5877]

wow i know it’s cheap but you can make it sound nice.

[@diffie.hellmannn]

Number of times she said ‘Horrendous’ 👇🏻

[@reefa781]

37

[@hassanxoxo000]

do one on the cheapest piano on amazon

[@yikes7607]

I'd love a piano, even a cheap one. I'm too poor to complain about these small luxuries XD

[@buc_mix]

Plot Twist: She can't actually play Violin and the Amazon Violin is one of the best.

[@C_U_R_I_E_L]

When this is true give me a ring, in the market for a hurdy gurdy.