I Tried EVERY Price Level of Violin

In this video Ray compares violins at a lower price range all the way up to the most expensive violins. Ray also shares some do's and don'ts when buying an instrument!
Want to stay motivated and have fun while you practice? 🎉 Join the Tonic community today: tonicmusic.app/practice-now
Have questions for your own instrument needs? Ask the community on Tonic! In addition to practicing, you can also exchange ideas in Groups around buying instruments, join fandoms (like the TwoSet Appreciation Club) and more: tonicmusic.app/join-in
00:00 Intro
0:32 Inside of Frederick W. Oster Fine Violins shop
01:29 $3k - $4k violins
05:14 $10-20k violins
08:00 $30k-$50k violins
13:14 $450k violin!!! (Ray's old teacher's violin)
16:00 Ray tries to resell his $69 violin...

[@RayChenViolinist]

Have questions for your own instrument needs? Ask the community on Tonic! In addition to practicing, you can also exchange ideas in Groups around buying instruments, join fandoms (like the TwoSet Appreciation Club) and more: tonicmusic.app/join-in

[@SkittleJr10]

hola

[@BlackViolinist_]

Wish I could get one of those violins 😢even if it's the cheapest of them🤦

[@howardlui949]

U should take that JBV dude

[@BlackViolinist_]

@@ChiefHerzensCoach 🥺💝 I believe brother

[@BlackViolinist_]

@@ChiefHerzensCoach someday I believe I will get to own one of these

[@its.me_angie]

I love how the last instrument had sentimental value. It was a better instrument, but I think the sentimentality of it, made the playing so much better. I felt every note in my heart.

[@youidiotbleh]

I would have cried if I had been in his shoes.

[@mous3y490]

before my late piano teacher passed away, she gave her last student her piano. we all talked about that piano during her funeral. some of us have more expensive pianos than hers, but the thought of playing it again makes us think it’ll give us super powers. RIP mrs. mastretti - ty for giving me the gift of music.

[@rfv618]

Same, I got goosebumps watching and listening to him play it. No doubt it's a great instrument but it's who built it and who's played it that make it worth the 450k

[@tangt4860]

Sad the violin was sold rather than passed down.

[@hanskulainen]

Yes, I became with the joy of emotions. I am not a string instrumentalist, but I do appreciate when I hear the quality. Ones the photographer Ansel Adams said,, “”It’s not the camera, but what’s behind it. So glad that the presenter is Ray Chen. In each categories, I definitely recognized the differences of each instruments.

[@carlosnieto226]

Rays reaction to his teachers violin was bittersweet. His memories of him and then realized that he passed. Yeah can really bring out the feels.

[@emilythielen6700]

Really loved this video. It has to be emotional playing your teacher's instrument. We're all so grateful to Mr. Rosand for helping to shape you into the amazing violinist you are.

[@jamesknoblock1064]

It would be fitting if Ray Chen acquired Aaron Rosand's Vuillaume violin. It would complete a circle started many years before. Mr. Rosand had also owned a Guarneri del Gesu violin previously owned by Polish violinist Paul Kochanski who died of cancer in 1934. Rosand bought it in the late 1950s from Kochanski's widow after he lost the use of a Stradivarius when he decided to get married. His benefactor didn’t want him to marry. He sold his Guarneri del Gesu violin in 2009 to a Russian businessman for ten million dollars, donating 1.5 million dollars to his alma mater, the Curtis Institute, where he had taught since the early 1980s. I found Ray's comment about not using a shoulder rest amusing, because Aaron Rosand did not like shoulder rests. I watched Ray’s 2009 performance of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concert at the Queen Elisabeth Competition and it looks like he isn't using a shoulder rest there either. One summer in the early 1970s I participated in a youth orchestra program where I sat in the second violin section. For me the high point was the week when we accompanied Aaron Rosand in the Beethoven Violin Concerto. He was clean shaven at the time but wore his hair pulled back in a pony tail. Many girls in the orchestra loved that. I remember in one of our rehearsals Mr. Rosand stood on the conductor's platform and provided guidance to the string section. After his performance in the concert, he played the last of the 24 Paganini caprices as an encore. In the months that followed I bought every record he made that was in the inventory of the record store I frequented. (This was long before I discovered the Schwann record catalog.) It would be 30 years before he released a recording of the Beethoven concerto which also included the Brahms Violin Concerto.

[@alandeutsch7769]

Indeed Ray didn't use a shoulder rest for a while until he invented his own bespoke one that adheres to the back of the violin but without damaging the varnish. Not sure what he does now.

[@mike_junmin]

I can't even imagine what it would be to bump into a violin that once belonged to one's late teacher.

[@TunedNoise]

Omg. When he asks if he can borrow his late teacher's violin, his little earnest and eager face when he says "wow~" Too adorable. So heartwarming. Ray reminds me a lot of my old teacher and mentor who has passed. I can just imagine how special that moment was for him, seeing his mentor's violin. :')

[@ericyang9779]

It’s actually so amazing how the 450k violin immediately sounded 5 tiers higher than the 40k violins.

[@thunnusscombridae7105]

We not gonna talk about how you just casually have Fred from Antiques Roadshow on your show? The dude is a wealth of knowledge on musical instruments. So happy to see him on your channel.

[@keikun17]

Ray's mood and editing on this video is top notch. Easily my favorite ray chen upload. Also, looks like ray's about to start a gofundme to retrieve and own his sensei's violin. That violin has been waiting for him for who knows how long.

[@TomJacobW]

“Check out mah crib” absolutely LMAOed me.

[@user-fm8tt2fx3m]

Watching you experience nostalgia over Mr Rosand's violin was genuinely touching. Must've been quite the experience, and thank you for documenting it for us.

[@TwoSetViolinEdits]

Aww ❤🥰 The excitement of when Ray had his teacher’s violin. When he smelled it and it smelt like him. When it sounded like him. That is the purest thing ever.

[@tatianaes3354]

*LOVED the French violin.* Sounds amazing and the price is sane, just $3500.

[@Mickaelasama]

I have a French violin bought in France cause I’m French 🤣 and I bought it 2000 dollars and it sounds so similar with the one in this video.

[@brooklynchorus8377]

Same, I am happy to hear the $3500 French violin stand out in the first tier. I got a similar aged French violin for the same price, and I like it a lot.

[@tatianaes3354]

@@Mickaelasama The French have inherited the ancient Italian traditions of the violin making, so no wonder.

[@Mickaelasama]

@@tatianaes3354 18th and 19th they have influence from Italian violin, however France have their own history of violin same as Germany. Don’t make everything Italian just because there are famous craftsmanship in Italy. Btw Italy is famous about making violin but in terms of name and luthier France and Germany have more luthier than Italy.

[@bradingrao8496]

The musician part of my brain appreciates the variety of samples and your player's "gut" but the academic part of my brain (I'm an audiologist specializing in musicians and severe hearing loss) wishes you played the same 6 or 8 bars on each instrument covering all strings, positions and dynamic levels.

[@gimletrose1985]

Same same! I was saying "go on low register like the other one too! So I can hear it!" Lol

[@juliechen7733]

OMG I literally snorted from laughter when you wondered aloud if the Vuillaume still smelled like cigars!! I took lessons from Mr. Rosand in the early 2000s and after he chucked my shoulder rest out the window, he gave me a sponge from his violin case that smelled - you guessed it - like cigars! XD I miss him too!

[@alandeutsch7769]

So cool to hear random people in youtube comments random connections to renowned people!

[@laggyplayer2499]

Burst out laughter when Ray Ray called his dad saying 嘿把拔你有沒有錢😂😂😂😂 Really nice video - fun and informative!

[@Love-Is-Kind]

The top two that I sincerely loved the sound they produced was the "1905 Hill" from Great Britain for $40K and the "1862 J.B. Vuillaume" from France for $450K. (Rest in eternal love & peace, Aaron Rosand 💐🕊🎻) Older violins tend to have a more mature sound or tone to it. 😇👂 It's like listening to a gifted 10 year old singer compared to a seasoned 60 year old professional artist. You can tell the difference in their voices. Thank you, Ray & Frederick W. Oster, for your valuable time and sharing such beautiful options to consider at different times in one's journey as a violinist. Ok. Please stay healthy & be encouraged. Take care. 🤗🤗

[@NierAutomata2B]

Same! I loved how these 2 sound too. For me personally I would strive to one day own something like that "1905 Hill". A Vuillaume is beyond my wildest dream.

[@anqipeng6129]

But my technique doesn't need a $$$$$$ violin😂😂😂

[@AmritP]

This is me lol I just started why am I watching this 😂

[@axlcrush]

Yup, I can’t even bring out the best sound in my replicated Cannone GCV violin yet.

[@jakestinkypig]

I love what you said at 12:00 when the color of your violin affects the way you play a little.I I have a hard time with that too and when I play a really dark violin like a spruce top, I makes me think I’m playing with more dark, deep and beautiful tone, especially one the G and D strings. Also, amazing video btw, really helpful!

[@fm90456]

do u know what is the song‘s name？

[@kevinvanhove5834]

If you're talking about the piece he's playing at 12:18 it's called Estrellita arrangement by Heifetz@@fm90456

[@adamdesanti6713]

We all know Ray DESERVES that four-fifty!

[@chipthequinn]

I had a friend who was a wonderful instrument repairman. He said about 80% of the effect of a fine instrument was on the performer, 20% on the audience.

[@Jayy_003]

That’s impressive being able to play so well without a shoulder rest!

[@therealalex8360]

40 hours a day

[@Chrisamic]

Fred couldn't put that $69 violin down fast enough. 🙂

[@petersmith2216]

Really great video Ray. I haven't played the violin in years but I found this really interesting. Should also help alot of folks wanting to buy a new violin. Keep the great content coming. It really helps me get through the week !! Thank you🙂

[@hayoolleeviolin9779]

You make every kind of violin sound like a 10 millon dollar violin!!!!!❤❤❤ It doesn’t matter which violin you choose since you just toooooo good!!!!😊😊

[@panopticemu]

damn but seeing ray get all emotional over that violin was heartwarming

[@cathleenl6350]

This will be so perfect. I’m currently looking to purchase a violin. Thank you in advance for your advice!

[@houdiniface8687]

same bro

[@cathleenl6350]

I can’t believe you read my comment!! My mom and I drove 32 hours to see you once 😅.

[@linclaudiachiao9779]

I wonder what your own Violin would smell like? 😂😊😅

[@DavidBergman1776]

Same!

[@__-fu5se]

450k starting?

[@tobelieve627]

Nice video, Ray. I’m glad you got to play your late teachers violin. I heard the emotion in that play it was touching. ❤

[@sanjithd3343]

I visited Fred oster’s shop in Philadelphia a month ago, and the place was an experience to remember. One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever stepped foot in, and Fred is a treasure of a man and so are his kitties

[@creativecolours2022]

My opinion is that it is not the objective quality or the price range of an instrument that makes it better but the skill of its player and the attitude that the player has towards the instrument. Ray played better on his teacher's violin, but he also played better on the English made 30.000 violin that he fancied from the moment he took it in his hands. The one with the carved design. I think that any skillful and relatively experienced violinist can play with any kind of instrument and make it sound good. The point is to love what you do and put some heart and soul on whatever you do.

[@savageg2002]

Violins beyond a certain price point have more collectible values than their real sound.

[@MishaSkripach]

This is absolutely right

[@creativecolours2022]

@@savageg2002 I agree and same applies on every other musical instrument or art tool.

[@henrybuttin803]

Dude your actually like my favorite ever. not only are you heavily talented, but your also incredibly hilarious and always puts a smile on my face when i see your very entertaining videos. Keep doing you man.

[@emmashowe]

this video was very well cut lol had so much fun watching

[@ArchangelLBC]

As a hobbyist I dream of getting to play on one of these 35-50k violins. Will probably treat myself to a 10k one in a few years, but I love trying instruments! Thanks for the video!

[@janaangle5530]

You crack me up Ray! Thanks so much for sharing your joy and expertise. 😁

[@personalchef3821]

It is amazing watching you play with such passion melts my heart

[@danieltran9634]

The last one is so powerful! It’s the first time I’ve heard such a powerful sound from a violin.

[@guillermoramirez8444]

I relate so much to the nostalgia of being able to play on your professor’s violin. Glad they’ll lend it some time. 🙌🏽👏🏽

[@HenJack-vl5cb]

This was a beautiful and emotional video.Thank you both!

[@juanjoncolonel1531]

Ray has such an incredible, open, and beautiful vibrato... a true chefs kiss.

[@peacefulmindmusic4337]

I love that Ray plays my favorite song when trying each one of them❤🎶🎵

[@millyday]

Great advice! Invaluable experience! Thanks a million 🤗

[@ajsorensen2585]

Love it Ray! Your teacher's violin, wow that sounds amazing even on my macbook, all of those options are pretty good, interesting that some of the more modern ones are carrying a higher price tag, I own a couple of late 1800's and an unlabeled French violin which I love, they all have different tone's and character

[@patriciarossman8653]

Wow, what a touching and serendipitous moment with Aaron Rosand's Vuilliaume - unplayed until now. And it smells like him.❤ How wonderful for you, Mr. Chen. Good vid, too.

[@juliegill6278]

I just want to say that I LITERALLY CANNOT WAIT until the 4th of November when you'll be here in Glasgow performing Sibelius's violin concerto. My ticket has already been bought.

[@wakingtheworld]

Wow! I didn't know this. I'm about as far south as you can get but he's also playing at Aberdeen and Edinburgh. WILL be getting tickets for Edinburgh then working out how to get there/accom etc later! I'm seeing Hauser in London later that month too! Will be quite a musical month!

[@juliegill6278]

@@wakingtheworld He's also playing in Birmingham. If you Google Ray Chen tour you can get all the info you need.

[@wakingtheworld]

@@juliegill6278 Thanks for this. Nothing came up when I did a search so I just typed the date and Glasgow. Will check this out. MUCH easier to get to though (some of) my kids live in Newcastle and we're discussing a possible family trip to Edinburgh - not that they'd attend the concert. Not classical music fans! My sister is though! Yes, it will be great to hear Sibelius 'live'. I loved Eddy's [TwoSet Violin] rendition of this piece. Ray did an appraisal of his performance too!

[@juliegill6278]

@@wakingtheworld My pleasure. Music, PARTICULARLY classical music has been my passion all my life and I watch Eddy and Brett ALL the time!!! I REALLY WISH they would come to Glasgow though, as I'm on the dole and can't afford to travel. My brother and his wife have VERY KINDLY bought me my ticket to see Ray as an early Xmas prezzie. I LITERALLY CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!

[@danmorgan7775]

Very informative and pleasure to listen to. I honestly felt like a couple of the 3500 dollar instruments offered a very good value in terms of the quality of the sound. But Ray would make most non-Amazon violins sounds pretty great obviously.

[@paganina2330]

Awww, that was so fascinating. I wish I could be locked in this shop for a while and trying out these violins. Must say I have a favorite but only with my little speaker. Might be completely different in person. The second Mittenwald was great but the Hill was superb. Fell immediately in love…😍. Thanks for the video!

[@tom-gnade]

You should be playing a Vuillaume - it sounds so beautiful in your hands.

[@terrywu509]

This is my favorite Ray’s chapter. As a senior violin lover, I shopped around in eBay garage sale and spent a few hundreds for a skeleton of Stradivarius label violin and dumped my $1200 Scott Cao. With E string not satisfactory, I spent $10,000 online for a new violin then returned due to struggling to get used to it. I brought my Stradivarius labeled to violin shop compared to 6-7k level, could not tell too much difference. Still looking… this video clearly shows price vs sound ❤

[@lamentconfiguration3171]

I have a 1918 J.B. Collin-Mezin & Sons myself. For a factory instrument it's surprisingly valuable (although the R Weichold Dresden bow it came with was an even bigger surprise) but I do think the price of these instruments has far more to do with age and provenance. The original owner of mine was a violin teacher and orchestra player. She left it to her nephew who loved the violin. When that nephew was an old man who'd had a stroke and could no longer play, he advertised it for sale. As a teenager I didn't have a whole heap of money but after hearing me play, he sold it to me for a fraction of what it was worth. He said none of his children were ever interested in playing. He hated the thought of it just rotting away in a cupboard so he thought if he sold it, it would likely go to someone who would actually play it and that was far more important to him. I've had it for over 20 years and it now has so many good memories that when I can no longer play, I too will give it away to someone who will treasure it as much as all the previous owners. Just one observation though. As a playing instrument... that G string... I don't know what the real story is but anything above 3rd pos is like an atomic super wedgie it's that butt-clenchingly painful. Luthiers, teachers, they've all scratched their heads because other than that it's a fine instrument. I still can't afford to drop that kind of money on a violin though so I just kept adjusting til it didn't chaff so bad. Ray my question is, can you get away with paying a lot less than 3k if you go for some modern, workhorse, factory instrument that doesn't come with any history? Nobody is paying 10k for a Standard American Fender that just rolled off the production line and that's considered a perfectly respectable instrument for any gig. What would the violin equivalent of that instrument be?

[@nyannyanneko5919]

I have a 1902 J.B.Collin-Mezin and i have the same problem

[@eliasacuna8461]

Just came here to say that editing is on point, props :)

[@Creationhorse]

Fun and interesting video. If you do something like this again, wear a blindfold and have someone hand you various instruments of all price ranges in no particular order. It would be interesting to see what you like, with out you knowing what it is, in advance 😊

[@davidlfm777]

Hey Ray, I am a music lover of retro pop, J-pop, classical music and Chinese orchestral. I find your videos amusing with all those side effects. Love it. Keep it up your good work!

[@ExpertSalt556]

Thank you Ray!!!

[@kimmymedina6535]

The violin on 5:56 is my favorite! It’s so beautiful sounding! That’s a sound that I am looking for! 🎻💕

[@tao5331]

Yesterday I was wondering how to choose a violin. Today you make a video about it. It's a sign

[@marianhreads]

10:20 that whole Tchaik excerpt was exquisite 😍

[@shanewang3813]

Love the video! Even though I don't play violin I found it very informative - wish we could be in the room to hear the differences live! Would love to see a video of your personal violin collection and how you received them / the process of being loaned (if you're allowed to share)

[@BzBlade]

Ray, video idea: Find and interview Carol Sindell. She is possibly the only living Heifetz's student left who appears on his masterclass video.

[@davidhunternyc1]

Geeze, I wish you could be the next caretaker of your teacher's prized Vuillaume violin. Your teacher deserves to be honored.

[@iainemacdonald4663]

Thank you for playing the Schindlers List bit, it's such a gorgeous piece and not played enough :-)

[@pandannep]

Sentimentality aside, I loved the moment when you had the realization that the Vuillaume still smelled like Mr. Rosand's cigars! I actually bust out laughing. And the sound quality was just insane.

[@Mickaelasama]

What is interesting and what a violin maker told me is that Italian violin are expensive because at that time violin maker in Italy doesn’t make much violin so it is like a rare Pokémon card.

[@duggiefresh8170]

Ray has so much charisma! He didn't learn that at Curtis.

[@JSB2500]

Ray, I think you should have taken your favourite orchestra with you to the shop, to check the projection and tonal contrast of each violin you tried 😃.

[@karriu4769]

God these violins sound so beautiful. All so unique. It definitely makes me want to keep learning.

[@kokod2736]

Loved the video. Such wonderful instruments. I noticed that he kept coming back to Tchaikovsky, one of my favorite violin concertos

[@hudsonhornet-HSHN]

Hi, Mr. Ray Chen, The tonic app that you’ve developed will be useful for my violin practice. I’m gonna download your app to practice my violin with that app. Thank you, Mr. Ray. I also love to watch your videos.

[@OleksiiHuska]

Дякую, Рею, за чудовий огляд скрипок. Ви не перевершені 👍

[@mintchoco5640]

I just bought a violin recently. I would also advise to not ask what the prices are before you play them as that may skew your perception. Ask the shop to put out a selection to try within your budget and find out the prices after

[@MishaSkripach]

The shop will then immediately inflate the price for the chosen violin! The method is to take someone with you, that person gets the selection knowing the prices, and gives violins to you blind.

[@tiny6406]

The edits in this video are amazing and really enhances the violin review! Props to the editor 👏

[@jonathanscorner9827]

I love the Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume Ray played. It belonged to Mr. Rosand. How amazing!

[@sarabaldeschwieler7763]

That was so much fun.

[@user-fp7pb4go3u]

Bro when 3-4k was the lowest price i died. My violin and bow were $300 and I've been playing them for 8 years

[@gregwilkin6565]

Thank you for sharing. :)

[@hayoolleeviolin9779]

His humor makes my belly button pop out!!😂😂😂😂😂 Love your personality Ray!!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@MishaSkripach]

The sound is a violin is made by the violinist, and this makes the biggest difference. Ray on a $300 violin will make a better sound than a less skilled violinist on a Strad.

[@Maruri-Luna]

Glad Hank is doing well!

[@janya80085]

Just found you through twomoo and couldn’t stop watching your content. Reminds me of my Nodame Cantabile days. 😂

[@esthertravis4469]

Ray, you're so entertaining! Really enjoyed this video. 😊

[@venustsaillc]

Awesome sample video for my students. Bravo 🎻

[@therealalex8360]

12:05 love the Devill's Trill in the background

[@carolyncuesta774]

How am I just now finding your channel I’m obsessed

[@CoryShyu]

Thank you for video! I would love to see your expert advice on violin bows.

[@mellissadalby1402]

Ray Chen ROCKS! The hand patch on the $45k 1960 USA violin looks like it needs varnish to protect it from hand perspiration. Ask Olaf!

[@lindaadams9108]

Awesome video! All goes to show! You get what you pay for….. but it doesn’t hurt to be an amazing violinist like Ray Chen!

[@theoredori]

Oh wow, really cool Video idea!

[@sage_silvestris]

Not counting Aaron Rosand's violin, which was undoubtedly the best I liked the 1920 german violin the best (on the left) then came the british violin as close second. All others were just too bright for me. Nice comparison I really enjoyed playing the Stradivari expert. 😅

[@sabrinai]

Expert advice! What more do we want?

[@Anya-Pruitt]

I relate so much to the nostalgia of being able to play on your professor’s violin. Glad they’ll lend it some time.

[@swingeasyguy]

Love the graphics you put together...fun. Was it my ears, or was Issac Stern's violin always sounding a bit flat and muted? Also when you tested these violins were you (unknowingly) playing them differently? I agree, darker violins seem warmer. A fan from Newmarket (Onatario)

[@ChrisWoodsViolin]

Great video! I’m hoping to be able to rent a super expensive violin when I debut my violin concerto, thanks for showing some of these off…

[@peterbaxter8151]

I liked the one you played Estralita on.

[@sabrinai]

"That's just fancy junk!" got me good XD.

[@frickxnas]

Loved the 40k one with the dark colour.

[@reveriesend4668]

Come now, this will just lead to Ray using his old master's violin in a concert.

[@hellopsp180]

Literally felt like I came out knowing less about buying a violin than when I started the video xD Genuinely only learnt that more money = make ray more happy when he plays the violin

[@MrWiseinheart]

The French violin you played first actually sounded really well even compared to all others.

[@Pet_N_Peace_Lover_TW]

Very interesting film.

[@Guillermo.R.S.]

Very touching appearance by Aaron Rosand.

[@AndromedaAiken]

The Vuillame's sound was clearly heads and shoulders above the rest right from the first note. It's interesting listening to the instruments of different price points!