Comparing a Cheap ($120) and Expensive ($8000) Fiddle

Darol Anger, the renowned fiddler, compares an expensive ($8,000) and inexpensive ($120) fiddle.
Access Fiddle lessons with Darol here: bit.ly/AWFiddle

[@seanclason6350]

I don't even know shit about the violin, but I enjoy watching this guy. Has a great attitude

[@zetok45]

There have been double blind tests where violinists found it impossible to even tell the difference between a strad and a modern violin

[@plj103]

It’s got all four strings, that’s very cool.

[@coldspring22]

Thank you for not trashing the cheap violin. I also thought cheap chinese violins were junk, until I actually bought one ($40). Complete set with bow, case, shoulder rest, extra strings etc. It sounds really nice, and I don't see why I need to get more expensive violin. It works perfectly for the nice slow mellow pop music that I like to play.

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

Spending thousands of dollars for a violin seems highly overrated. Maybe it’s better to spend some extra money on a good bow, that’s what plays the fiddle anyhow.

[@29maurice]

"...or whatever musicians do to make money"! -Thank you for the laugh. That was awesome.

[@dm-jz7se]

I have to say you really made the cheaper violin sound like an electric guitar- just shows when you have talent you can play anything beautifully. wow!! this was amazing to watch. thank you.

[@lloydsplace101]

Darol can make any fiddle sound great.

[@stevefrost6329]

Some quality strings would probably be huge! They're not spending a lot on strings for a $120 fiddle

[@obbzerver]

To be a meaningful comparison the inexpensive violin needs to be set up as correctly as the more expensive violin with good strings. Then play the same selection on both - something that really displays the sound, not just hacking on it for a few seconds.

[@mrice3274]

Well done! I have just recently started playing a 5 string carbon fiber viola where the strings are closer together. Did you do anything special to be able to switch between 4 and 5 string instruments so easily?

[@Emg2463]

the one he's holding up on his right is slightly larger...hence the really cool deeper sound

[@nikomeyers2192]

Purple Haze , I was 16 when I tried , my first Violin or purple haze,I can't remember.

[@jwukulele]

Wondering what stick you're using... Nice comparison. I wonder if the extra string on the nonAmazon fiddle adds a bit of extra resonance... ~15:00 "The learning curve is not what you get with a ukulele for instance but you can do so much MORE on a violin than you can with a ukulele... I guess that's the carrot... it's also the stick."

[@sanmcc55]

Night and day difference but great for a beginner......you are funny Darol:)))

[@patriciajrs46]

Faded Love!! Thank you, Sir.

[@jilthorp1249]

You’re a lot of fun. Great videos too.

[@timothybladon9958]

My luthier friend said he had played Guarneiri violens and said they didn't sound much better than instruments they sell for about $700.

[@benindependent5956]

You rock Bro. That was great.

[@twoblink]

First video where I can hear a DRASTIC difference in the bow. Thank you

[@alexanderbelov6892]

or difference in the rosin. The new rosin was put on the accessory bow, while old bow had some rosin cover in use some time. It makes some difference like less scratchy sound.

[@stringspicksandfiddlestick6388]

Saw you at Wintergrass a few years ago.

[@kingkongdingdonggaming4638]

wait....maybe im not following the video i dont know but i always thought i was meant to play violin. Dewey and brice shepard are my ancestors and i've always learned quickly which i read that sound may of migrated west from an edison recorder by a passerby. what im getting to is that i've tried 3 violins , all cheap. I'm wondering if its me or the violins. I can play a mean mandolin, almost from the very begining (20+ yrs guitar) so it has me confused. Was thinking about hinting to it for a upcoming Christmas present.

[@patriciajrs46]

He is qualified enough, I guess, to tune by ear without error. I like the idea of a tuner, the mouth kind.

[@clawhammer704]

Those nick marks are not always where the correct string length is.

[@gregurban5133]

The problem that is not made plain here, is that a really good violinist can make an inferior violin sound good. Using their skills and experience they can 'force' the violin to produce an acceptable sound. It will take a lot more effort than it takes on a good violin. But, that is their skillset! They have spent years getting one of these things to sound good. They might not even have any sense of how much effort they are making compared to good instrument. And a new violinist will not be able to do that, so they come to the conclusion that they lack ability and can get discouraged. It couldn't be the violin, they have heard how good it can sound, it must be themselves! My advice to a new violinist (or any violinist, really!) is to try out a bunch of violins. Take a couple out on loan from a seller at a time. Play them for your friends from another room and have them tell you which one sounds the best. Keep the one that sounds best and take out a couple more on loan from the violin shop. Rinse and repeat until you have the best-sounding one. Buy that one if it is in your price range. A good quality violin makes a huge difference in how much 'effort' it takes to make a good sound.

[@jasonlw0]

11:52 Is that a song or freestyle? I can't place it.

[@laurawallbank]

Jason Woods that’s Tennessee Waltz in the key of G

[@williambradford3627]

Who makes the cheaper one? For $120, it's not bad

[@bobmilner4762]

I know damn well that if he had told you the 120 dollar one was the one that cost 8ooo dollars that's the one you would have liked.

[@clawhammer704]

Use the same bow for a equal comparison......

[@patriciajrs46]

Please. I agree with this comment. Use the same bow and same rosin and play the same song.

[@RobFlaxMusic]

He literally does.

[@patriciajrs46]

It would be nice to be able to hear you. Your voice sounds muffled and mumbled. I would have liked to hear you.