Those super cheap violins and violas on ebay…are they any good? + what does a $37 viola sound like?

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

Correction: It’s apparently totally normal for violins/violas to have maple backs and sides.

[@kenyamamoto7990]

Maple back is the standard. Some makers might make an instrument with poplar, sometimes other wood for experiment or to attain specific tonal goals. But that's very rare especially for violin and viola.

[@androidkenobi]

but do the cheap ones bait & switch and it's actually plywood or mdf in some parts?

[@bacicinvatteneaca]

Yeah, it's considered that the top is what makes the sound and therefore the back can be as hard or figured of a wood one might want to use

[@thomaspaul311]

It's probably for structural strength. Maple is a hardwood. Cedar is lighter, though. I suspect it retains a bit more flexibility. Very interesting video. Liked.

[@mrz80]

@@androidkenobi The really cheap ones might try to save some bucks by laminating a nice flame maple veneer over a plain maple back, to stretch out their supply of fancier more expensive maple.

[@iamwinkle]

What this proves to me is something I've actually believed for a long time. Even an inexpensive instrument can sound quite remarkable in the hands of someone who know how to play well, and the most expensive instrument in the world can sound pretty horrible in the hands of someone who does not. Obviously Mr. Hilowitz is a member of the former.

[@DarkSideofSynth]

So true, about any tool: cars, cameras, painting brushes, musical instruments, mics, amplifiers, kitchen tools.... The quality and scope of the human's skillset with the quality of the tool is what determines the end result. A unique Stradivarius and Abbey Road Studios at your disposal won't make you automatically a sort of Paganini+Alan Parson crossover. Alan Parson and a top violinist and a half-working Portastudio can still blow you of the water ;)

[@startedtech]

@SoftserveSodium I'd say to a lesser extent with guitars. Those really cheap guitars often have warped necks and lose their tune incredibly fast.

[@seanworle]

I generally agree, regarding the sound in any case. The bigger problem with cheap instruments (especially string instruments) is that they often go out of tune much more easily than a better-built more expensive one. So while you may be able to get a good sound from one, that good sound may not last for more than a few minutes of playing before you have to re-tune.

[@SeekerLancer]

Sound is one thing but build quality and durability is another. After a few months they're usually falling apart and the materials they're made of are so low quality they're not worth the price of repairs if they even can be repaired.

[@AbsoluteSkycaptain]

@@SeekerLancer What are you doing to your instruments? I've owned some cheap garbage over the years but never experienced anything like that.

[@carlosenriquez2092]

I was at a guitar center one day many years ago and a hobo walked in. His pants just filthy holes in his shirt not smelling very pleasant he asked the clercks if he could play one of their guitars the clerk would only let him play the one hundred fifty dollar model but he played it with so much zeal. His soul was in every note, this arabesque piece he played told me all the hell he'd been through to end up on the streets. it was truly amazing. I paid for the guitar and two sets of strings so he could leave with it with when he was finished. I watched him from my truck when he left the store looking around for the person that had given him a guitar. He never found out and I never saw him again. I envy and with much resentment those of you who can make music I am despite my best efforts without this gift. Thank you, a very excellent video good Sir.

[@ZipplyZane]

I think it would have been interesting to hear the strings and bow they came with first, just for the comparison. That way we'd also get an idea what what they'd sound like for whoever buys them and how changing out the strings/bow changed things.

[@phileo_ss]

That's exactly what I thought!

[@justinread4381]

I'm with you on that but only to hear just how bad they are lmao

[@zanemartin-music]

Hello fellow Zane

[@TheHorrySheetShow]

Kinda made the video clickbaity because he changed the strings. This is a no brainer that he shoulda used the original everyyything. lol

[@ZipplyZane]

@@TheHorrySheetShow I don't quite agree there. He did test the violins themselves. I just think it isn't as helpful if you don't also test them with the strings they came with. I'm hoping he'll do a redo of this video in the future, and also demonstrate the included strings before replacing them.

[@lisarichards1956]

For the millions of us who have no aspirations to be professional musicians it's fun to know we can buy something cheap just to play around on. This was fun to watch! Thanks, David! :)

[@aceaudiohq]

I like the sound of the cheaper one more, the more expensive one sounds too clean

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

I might agree...

[@blackmetalchemist]

the cheaper one i preferred as well.. As an amateur audio engineer, the mid range in the $200 instrument was just obnoxious (despite it being able to cut through the mix better); the cheaper one sounded pretty well balanced that it could be easily manipulated just enough for it's purpose.

[@SteamvilleQuintet]

$200 was sharply bright, like the cheap one. I actually have from years ago a $25 red violin from there - bought it for a wall decoration, but it sounds just fine!

[@KozmykJ]

Yup. Me too. Smoother tone.

[@matthewshimek]

I'm a bass guitar player, and I've seen this sort of thing amongst certain bass tones aswell. Sometimes, a fret buzz sounds good. Other times it doesn't. I really think it's more about the player than the instrument. A professional on a $37 viola will sound a lot better than an absolute beginner on a $3,700 viola.

[@kelleyforeman]

I can’t believe how great these sound! My parents bought my big girl viola in 1991. It was $1200, not including the bow ($250) or the case ($150). This was a huge expenditure for my parents and I’m not sure it sounds better than these cheap instruments! It was made clear at the time that if I wanted a college-level or better instrument, it would have been $5,000, at a minimum (and this was in the 90s). I am truly shocked!

[@zipherdias420]

Yup, tis the age of "pretty ok" cheap mass produced instruments and they are just getting better by the day. I rolled the dice on a saxophone for 200(sadly that's about as cheap as those go) and It has been serving as my rough and tumble street/road sax for a good year now, I love it.

[@marioknowsitsgod1506]

@@zipherdias420 where did you purchase it?

[@zipherdias420]

@@marioknowsitsgod1506 On Amazon about a year or two back, Slade or S-laid, I remember Jay Metcalf from Better Sax has a review of it "cheapest Amazon saxophone" was the video, don't have it saved or faved so I cant give you a link but its probably still up somewhere.

[@marioknowsitsgod1506]

@@zipherdias420 thanks 🙏🏽

[@marioknowsitsgod1506]

@@zipherdias420 I’ll check it out I’m looking for one for my daughter

[@arseniykunin3423]

My God, purchasing new instruments is always so exciting! Even the cheap ones. Great video, David, thoroughly enjoyed it!

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

Thanks! Yeah, in some ways unboxing the cheap ones is even more fun because at those prices you really can't be too disappointed if they aren't good.

[@TheCompleteGuitarist]

I think the Stradivarius label is to indicate the model, shape because there are some subtle variations in violin form. Its a bit of a cheap shot but it's only like putting a gluten free label on a carton of milk.

[@veiledAutonym]

And for the millions of people with celiac disease, that gluten free label on milk might actually mean something (assuming it's one of the labels that actually reflects a testing standard). Luckily nobody dies over their body rejecting a counterfeit instrument!

[@andocobo]

@@veiledAutonym milk obviously doesn’t have gluten, but more importantly even if it somehow got traces of gluten in it people with celiac disease don’t suddenly drop dead if they have trace amounts of gluten

[@robinhood480]

Beef 🥩, Organic, grass fed : The 100% vegetable made food product. Gives you something to think about , doesn’t it ?

[@chrisakaschulbus4903]

@@andocobo If you eat too much gluten, your dong will fly off.

[@mikeroman5208]

@@andocobo just goes to show that most people have no clue what gluten actually is, where it comes from, and what it does to people who don't have a tolerance for it. @TheCompleteGuitarist probably should've written "glutten free distilled water" rather than gluten free milk in order to make his point, LOL!

[@Papergami45]

Hey David, if you have access to a 3D printer (or know someone with 3D printing experience), you should try one of the rapidly evolving 3D printed violins available. It'd be very interesting to see a classically trained player's perspective on those instruments, especially after your experiments with DIY box violins.

[@sifridbassoon]

I've been wondering for a while now if 3D printing could reproduce instruments.

[@jeffstone7471]

I mean I'm pretty sure they use specific materials to make them sound the way they do. If you can somehow 3D print spruce or maple into a violin then try it but otherwise it'll probably sound very different

[@rejoycelunceford6209]

As a viola player who has not been playing for 25 years, this proves my point that skill cannot be replaced by an upgrade in the "box". A solid set of good strings & a decent bow with player skills will yield a nice result. I used a very nice older "student" level instrument in a national symphony and chamber groups 30 years ago. I do wonder if we had better quality back then, but clearly that is not the case. Thank you for this very cool video!!!

[@DeadKoby]

As we have seen the guitar market, the use of CNC machines has dramatically reduced production costs, and allows a usable instrument to be within the grasp of more people.

[@picksalot1]

And they can be surprisingly good as well.

[@CameraHam]

@@picksalot1 even as recent as the 90s, if you spent less than $400 on a guitar you’d get a piece of garbage. Today though my $200 electric guitar can hold its own against a $1000 fender which is really quite remarkable.

[@napalmjack]

@@CameraHam my $400 LTD EX-200 with mods i put in stacks up and maybe even beats the ESP version. then again, i did slap hetfield emgs, locking tuners and a locking bridge and nut on it.

[@CameraHam]

@@napalmjack all my $200 squier would require to be as good as a fender is for me to put in some alnico’s. Other wise my instrument is just as playable as those.

[@TK-wk4hs]

This is amazing! It has been so long that people could only rent or buy a really crap instrument if they didn’t have sponsors or lots of money but this will hopefully allow us to discover way more tallent that would have never been expressed

[@BradKandyCroftFamily]

I am so grateful for this. My daughter is learning viola and it's cheaper to buy one of these than rent one (especially since she is going to grow out of multiple violas as she learns). Having an expert say they are decent instruments, especially for the price, helps me feel confident in buying one. I really hope one day she will play as lovely as you do.

[@laika6661]

There's something I love about watching experts play super cheap instruments. Instruments that were built with very little intention to be played this well. Instruments meant for some beginner to scratch away on for a couple years. It's like an incredibly introverted person joining a friend group at a social setting. They are not built for it, not used to it, yet sometimes will impress you. Most of the time, though, they have that same fumbly awkwardness.

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

That is insane. I'm really envious of the fretless nature of these instruments. If I were to buy a 37$ clarinet, all the holes would be the wrong size and the mechanism would either be too stiff or too slack. I bet it would be a great ear training exercise, though I woe for when I would eventually return to my usual instrument only to find that my intonation would be totally off xD

[@anthropomorphicpeanut6160]

We pianist are lucky, we can go to any toy store and buy a 3$ piano, plus it will come with rainbow colored keys

[@mrmonsterhunter808]

@@anthropomorphicpeanut6160 and it will make animal sounds! Neat!

[@joeking433]

There's probably not much motivation for any company to make a $37 clarinet, LOL! They just aren't very popular.

[@carolinehowell5203]

@@joeking433 They are very popular in the U.K. My community orchestra has six. May soon become 7!

[@joeking433]

@@carolinehowell5203 There are probably 10,000 guitars sold for every clarinet, LOL! That is what I mean by popular.

[@FerretBomb]

Oddly, I prefer the sound of the cheaper one; it sounds warmer and richer. There's a lack of clarity, but more body to it. The more expensive one has a decided bright sharpness that I don't want to call 'scratchy' that was VERY noticeable in the A/B test. They definitely work well together, but only picking one... I'd go for the cheaper. It stands on its own better.

[@JeffDeWitt]

I don't know much about violins but I was thinking the same thing, I liked the sound of the cheaper one better.

[@fillmainlol5973]

@@JeffDeWitt i think you two are listening on very cheap devices

[@JeffDeWitt]

@@fillmainlol5973 I don't think anyone except a rich audiophile would consider my system with a nice Pioneer receiver and Dolby 7.1 on good speakers "very cheap devices".

[@FerretBomb]

@@fillmainlol5973 Shielded studio monitors with flat response are not exactly cheap, but OK!

[@rnbois6346]

@@fillmainlol5973 you got destroyed

[@notmyworld44]

I had a friend who played viola in an orchestra that I used to play with. One day he went into a store and left his viola in his car, but he forgot to lock the doors. He was heart-broken when he returned to find three more violas in his car. That's why I play the violin.

[@Man_fay_the_Bru]

Lol

[@starman2671]

GOOD ONE ! ! ! !

[@raneyheald3891]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@notmyworld44]

@@raneyheald3891 Raney, do you know the difference between a double-bass and a coffin? With the coffin the dead guy is on the INSIDE. Believe me, double-bass players are NOT dead guys, but it's a funny comparison. I played a huge bass fiddle for 38 years professionally until I had a stroke. God bless you, my friend.

[@jim.bennett]

😅🤣😂 Perfect!

[@lwilton]

The price change: I assume this was a Chinese seller on eBay. They have a standard algorithm in their sales program that increases the price of any item that is actually purchased. After several months it may or may not come back down. Often you can find another seller selling the identical item for less than the new price.

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

This has been my experience as well.

[@joeking433]

Exactly! It's the new way to price items. Everything I buy on Amazon, when I see it again it's always 20% high. Then it will eventually come back down. I really don't like these new sales strategies but it's so easy for companies to implement them that they will keep doing it.

[@y2kenh]

There's an engineer on YT (AppliedScience) who could only find certain metal parts on ebay and couldn't buy more than 50 at a time. each time he went back the prices were practically doubling!

[@clairearan505]

I appreciate that you took the time to play each instrument with the same attitude. Often when I see violin comparisons, the violinist plays the expensive one differently, not just the notes of the music, but also the energy of the playing, and that really does make a difference in my opinion. I'm glad there are dirt cheap instruments out there that sound ok enough for someone to see if it's something they'll enjoy with very little risk. Thanks, great vid!

[@genghissu1185]

I thought that the cheaper one had a better sound, like the way a vintage guitar would have a real sweet tone, when played side by side they both sounded cool, a real nice blend. 👍

[@novice8036]

I am a novice player and I loved hearing you play each of these. Talent trumps low-end sourcing.

[@paulhammer1363]

Love this video. I bought a violin on ebay for $49. Canadian, a few months ago. It has a professional, un-laquered, excellent appearance. The tone is sweet, not especially loud but suitable for most performing situations. I still can't believ how good this instrument is, for $49.!

[@CarloBenevissi]

SO glad someone made this!!! I ordered a violin from China for $250. I was pretty blown away at how beautiful it was. I did have to take it to my local luthier for a professional setup and even he was impressed at the sound quality of the instrument. I’ve been playing for 22 years and that one is now my travel instrument I bring with me when I go on gigs.

[@Journey-of-1000-Miles]

I am a guitar player, however, I love inexpensive gear of all kinds. Thank you. This was a very clear and concise back to back parison. Beautiful playing too!

[@DangerousDevilOfficial]

Not that I have any experience with violins or violas. But when you did the secret test, I preferred the sound of the first one you blurred. So for me, the cheaper one sounded better. I am blown away either one could sound as good as they did for those prices! It shows that the talent playing makes up a big portion of the sound being coherent and what we would consider appealing.

[@JungiOlympia]

Tops are spruce, back, sides and neck are almost always maple. That's how Stradivari and Guarneri did it and that's how almost all violin, viola, cello and double bass makers still do it. No corners cut there. Also good maple is much harder to come by.

[@nottobey]

This video confirms once again that in professional hands even the cheapest instrument can sound incredibly well. Nicely done!

[@JohnMarshall-NI]

I guessed correctly! I actually liked the cheap one better solo, but they do complement each other really nicely. Cool video!

[@NeonDreams7]

I don't know how I showed up here... but I did and I loved the video. Both of them harmonizing at the end was an awesome thing to listen to. I enjoy the fact that you took the time to try out the lower end of what a student/parent might be looking at. Well, minus the bow. Thanks for sharing!

[@brucemoyle7610]

Cheap, easy to play and relatively quiet, sounds almost ideal for a student! Oh, and I'm really looking forward to hear this composition when you're finished, it sounds great!

[@Fearborne]

I swear, every single one of your videos just has this background to it, a polite voice making things that once sound ugly to a viewer; sound beautiful, rustic or analog. It's *always* a banger! I never thought i'd find inspiration in a toothbrush! I'm very impressed (if not jealous) of the way you write and compose. I'm honestly pretty bad at composing and writing, sometimes i lose motivation and find writing or composing impossible; so the way you write music or compose music out of things infront of the viewer is beyond inspiring to me. I couldn't appreciate your work less. I especially loved the analog Ukranian piano, that was neat! - CK

[@earthearth5188]

Spot on! I had a similar experience with comparing violins. Cheeper violins are easier to play, less responive and less dramatic, kind of conceal mistakes. The sound is monotonic, less complex, but they do the job for beginners.. I have a variety of violin from the very cheap to the very expensive... Still my favourite is a 24 year old ( bought back then for $500) violin, Anno model, Raggetti with the mute on, the resulting sound so soft and pleasing... And super easy to play....yet without the mute...it is way untamed like a wild hourse... Ultimately... It comes to what you play and what music you favour.... But liked your honest comparison 👍👍👍

[@EricWatkins7]

David, I'm really loving your channel. Very inspiring, down to earth, and practical stuff. I'm learning a lot and also appreciate your non-hyped, matter-of-fact delivery. Best wishes!

[@MeadowlarkViolin]

Your layered composition made them both sound awesome! The thing about these cheap violins is that you do have to change the strings and possibly toss the bow. If you're a brand new beginner without a teacher, knowing how to change the strings and whether or not the bow is any good takes some time and effort.

[@paulw4259]

The sound of your playing these instruments just reminds me why I always wanted to play viola. Thanks.

[@zzzut]

I am impressed both by the sound of the violas and by your playing. It would have been interesting to hear what they actually sound with their original strings so people who are considering buying one of those instruments know how they really sound. I know nothing about violas but if the replacement set of strings is as expensive as the instrument themselves, I think potential buyers should know.

[@SONOMA_VALLEY_TOM]

On the D'Addario website a set of Helicore viola strings is $75.

[@LeftyPencil]

@@SONOMA_VALLEY_TOM can usually walk into a Music & Arts store for them, just not a viola E

[@sinopulence]

i was thinking "A is the cheap one, B is the less cheap one, but... would love to hear them together, I bet they sound.... oh wait... never mind, they do sound great together!" Great vid!

[@monsterluv101]

Those $200 dollar ones are pretty awesome for beginners! They sound amazing (IMO), they look phenomenal, and they get the job done. I bought a similar priced violin Guarneri copy and the sound was loud, bold, and powerful! The back was a beautiful deep tiger stripe maple that danced when light was on it, and it had a cool ebony piece that was fitted on the nose of the saddle... honestly a really dope buy, wish i had kept it!

[@pedade02]

This piece of music is very calming. I suffer anxiety and listening to this helps a lot. Thanks.

[@chalkboardjamtracks]

Not so long ago the super-cheap instruments and other music tech would have been terrible, and we learned to avoid like the plague. Now, while there is still junk out there the world has changed and there are true bargains to be had: really good quality affordable kit.

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

That's my sense as well. Twenty years ago, I was offered a violin from China as a backup. I played it, and decided it wasn't really worth my time. These instruments seem so much better.

[@Lantertronics]

@@DavidHilowitzMusic Is this because of advanced in CNC manufacturing? I often feel like many $300 dollar electric guitars made now are much, much better than anything I could have gotten for $300 in high school.

[@zipherdias420]

Ya it really feels like a roll of the dice, but when you find that one cheapo that actually plays almost as well as your standard its pure gold. In fact I use my cheap one for things I would never bring my good one to, its great. (oh yea, I play the saxophone, forgot to mention that)

[@evil1st]

@@Lantertronics yea a squier strat is good enough for a professional studio with better pickups but a $300 guitar from 30 years ago would barely even make any sound and if you are lucky would come with frets that wont slice your fingers open lmao

[@thear1s]

@@evil1st Haha 15 years ago I bought a 50$ guitar. Some of the frets were not properly cut and I had to sand them. I took the opportunity to sand down the whole guitar and repaint it with a poor taste pattern. At least I wasn't afraid to break it.

[@Dewm_]

As someone who loves exploring the world of music, but is unsure what instruments might be right for me, such accessible pricing on "good enough" equipment is a blessing. Thank you for looking at these two! Maybe one day the world of music will be easily accessible to all; no matter what instrument interests you.

[@garygreen7552]

I taught elementary school string classes for 40 years, and I remember my first experience with the cheap Chinese violins in the 1970's. The instruments were actually not bad. However, the final steps in preparing them was awful. You mentioned the cheap bow that came with one of the instruments. Having horsehair was a plus. Many had artificial hair that was impossible to apply rosin to. The other major problems included cheap strings, as you mentioned, poorly fitted bridges and poorly fitted pegs made of softer wood and painted black. The pegs did not hold pitch well, and I had several actually break while I was trying to tune the instruments. Your comment that the cheaper instrument seemed easier to play is in line with my experience that better quality instruments require more effort to display their real quality. They need the skills of a good musician. Student instruments are, and have to be, easier to play. In listening on my computer I felt that the $200 viola had a more complex sound, but it is hard to tell without hearing them "in person."

[@darktimesatrockymountainhi4046]

I, too, taught school orchestras, but more recently, and found the instruments to be generally good. However, just like you said, the finishing touches were cheap & haphazard, so I learned how to make the adjustments & upgrades myself. I saw all kinds of cheap & literally rat infested instruments in my career, but I found really only one hopeless violin: Its neck/block was installed a bit slanted, so that the strings could not go along the neck. All others served my students until they were ready for a better instrument.

[@theWinterWalker]

Wow, I'm blown away, for someone like me, a middle and high school musician (clarinet and flute) who is now 40 and disabled looking for an outlet, to know that I could purchase a stringed instrument on a fixed income is kind of exciting.... Thanks for sharing 🥀

[@KKIcons]

Sometimes a cheap one can be more expensive because of the cost to get it set up. As a disabled person myself, I think it's important to have the ergonomics go smoothly because it already puts someone at a rather awkward angle, with neck and pinched nerve problems especially. Checking with the teacher or luthier for a used instrument that they can help you set up is a really good option that worked for us.

[@KKIcons]

I really hope you get going on it because I think it's really rewarding and sometimes with a disability one might not be able to do it later. I'm sure glad I learned when I was 40 because I can't physically practice long enough to learn it now. But I can still pick it up and have fun once in awhile although not on the level that I wish I could play.

[@KKIcons]

Another tip is subscribe to the Smalin channel. The animated scores let your brain practice so it can minimize your practice time. I have heard that listening to music before or after your practice can trick your brain into thinking you practiced longer. And practice for about 15 minutes of new things and 15 minutes of review. About every 6 hours. So doing that with listening and studying scores one could learn faster but with less strain. It's not a no pain no gain thing. I've had to temporarily stop playing my main instrument, keyboard, so many times, because of trying to play through "a little pain" in my hand or wrist.

[@theWinterWalker]

@@KKIcons Thanks for the recommendations and well wishes 🥀

[@jollieJollie]

My first violin was a horrible but okay to start with orange violin. Now, I have a 125-175 years old strad copy, and the sound on it is amazing. When I wanted to go ajust my first one, the luthier told me that he needed to ajust or change every piece on the top. My new one is perfectly adjusted, the sound is really warm and powerfull. If someone is searching for a good quality violin or viola, go see a luthier that is spécialized in old one. You can have something really better than with new and it is generally cheaper because it is used.

[@dhouse-d5l]

I found a laminated mid century German beginners cello in factory burnt orange! It sounded as bad as it looked but the grain on the top was lovely so I stripped it, dyed and antiqued it. Learned about sound posts etc. Its now a really nice instrument, looks wonderfully old and battered ...not loud but suits me. happy.

[@GuitarGuyAl]

It is really astonishing how useable cheaper instruments can be. I found the same to be the same in the guitar world as well.

[@1.4142]

There is an orchestra called the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura in Paraguay which uses instruments made from scraps collected from the local landfill. They have performed with Stevie Wonder, Metallica, Megadeth.

[@maijstralkazuki8960]

There are misconceptions in many fields that a person needs the “best” or more expensive tools to do well. This can be so disheartening to those just starting out. I am thankful that nowadays we get to experience more things because of the decreased cost. Of course we must still do research and select wisely. Thanks to you and all those who assist others (directly or indirectly) in their decision making. Certainly you are competent in your field to get such sounds from those instruments! Take care and go well 🤙🏼🌺☀️

[@katedp7825]

I actually got a kinda "cheap" violin for orchestra class that was probably in the $150-$200 range or lower and other students payed more to the $300-$400 range and some of them would say it was pretty because it's a bit shiny but it is beautiful and I would tell them that it was pretty cheap for a beginner instrument and they'd be like "Oh, payed $400 for mine" they were kinda amazed but it proves to show that sometimes the cheaper options are better. But I am one of the "best" in the class, which isn't saying a lot because there like three of us and I'm the worst of the three so it is the violinist who matters more than the violin. Though a really cheap one might sound bad no matter who plays it.

[@LFTRnow]

You are absolutely right. While good on their own, mixed together they sound beautiful.

[@fatitankeris6327]

That is quite amazing for a $40 viola... I think it sounds warmer than the $196 one, but has worse bass.

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

Yes, I think that’s exactly right, actually.

[@fatitankeris6327]

@@DavidHilowitzMusic Thank you for the review of these instruments!

[@parasiteunit]

TBH, if I'm mixing string sounds (either artificial or real) the lower frequencies get knocked back for higher register tones anyway and vice versa for the deeper string tones. I do find there's a "sweet spot" around the 600 - 750hz that seems to give a "warm and woody" tone to the sound... However, that can vary notably when you go to the lower toned instruments. The description of a "rustic" tone was very accurate.

[@joeking433]

I liked it better, too! Funny, the price has jumped to $69. Never fails when someone does a popular video on a cheap Chinese product those Chinese jack the price up right away! I've seen it many times.

[@WarrenPostma]

@@DavidHilowitzMusic Question: What is the least you can spend for an actual playable useful bow?

[@jort93z]

For $37 I honestly expected some sort of toy. Really impressed with what your received.

[@altacus]

Loved this video. There are so many reviews just trashing affordable instruments. You were actually able to create music with both.

[@julienielsen3746]

I got a "white" viola on eBay once, just to use to hang on my red wall for a decoration. Months later my music teacher said he needed a viola because he was doing some recording with a group for a CD. So, I brought my white viola, which we noticed in the light in that room was really very light pink. But, he ended up using it for recording. And he said it sounded just fine along with the other instruments. So, I let him keep it incase he needed to use a viola again.

[@glenshort5123]

I am enjoying your presentations even more Mr. Hilowitiz. Although I am a guitarist and never played any violin or that type of stringed instrument. You have provided a valuable service to those who are on a budget. I do like your tone, and actually prefer Violin A. Of course in the hands of an armature we would never hear any difference. If I can ever get through my ridiculous long project of mine, I will make it a point to share it with you. Thank you for your contribution David. PS- love the quirky wall rack of gear. Thinking one of your video's in the near future we will be hearing..... it's alive.... it,s alive. :)

[@paddyodriscoll8648]

It boggles my mind a violin of any sort could be sold at such prices and not be simple cardboard cutouts.

[@Artrysa]

I love that nowadays you can get a workable or even a decent instrument for a fraction of the price they used to be. Makes it a lot easier for people to get into music. :)

[@ros8737]

Immediately liked the cheaper viola tone more, like a warm whispering cello. The other viola produced more useful overtones but they didn’t resonate well, at least on my phone.

[@knightsun2920]

I got a eBay violin from Seattle good will for us $12.50 needing repair. It only had two strings and three pegs and the bridge was inside the violin and likely knocked out the sound post. A complete Rosewood parts kit and D’Addario Helicore string set later and good as new.

[@peterelfman]

Is this the birth of a new Decent Sampler/Piano Book instrument?

[@DrStoooopid]

Regardless of the quality, that sounds amazing, Achi. Solid musical voices.

[@zuider77]

"It's the craftsman, not to tools". That's may not be entirely accurate, but this demo shows that a great player can make any instrument sound good. Very well done. Now I'm checking out ebay . . . .

[@masterxyr]

this was my first vid of yours. I subbed mostly because you come across as a lovely person. I also enjoyed your comparison of course, as I did your composition. Both violas actually sounded very pleasing in their own different ways, in your hands :)

[@IlGattonero13]

Thanks for the comparison. The two instruments might have revealed their distinctive qualities and differences more clearly had you played across a much wider range of pitch, tone, and dynamic intensity. Hope you’re having fun with them!

[@Fahrvergnugen]

They really do sing beautifully together!

[@holgieselchen7033]

The only question for me is how stable the violin string remains over a longer period of time. Does it maintain its tension or do the pegs on the scroll of the violin gradually give way over time, so that it becomes unplayable in half a year at the latest?

[@zxb995511]

In my experience long-term quality is what you are really paying for in a more expensive instrument, more than "superior sound". You won't get a lot of mileage from a 40 dollar instrument but I would expect a 500 dollar instrument to last at least a decade with proper maintenance. Past 500 dollars you are paying for very minor tweaks and real craftsmanship that a high level musician might appreciate/notice, and if you are paying more than 2000 dollars for a stringed instrument you are getting duped in my opinion.

[@arlenmargolin4868]

@@zxb995511 I've been getting advertisements for a company in New York and they specialize in base cellos may start at $5,000 and go up to $100,000 but the expensive ones date back to the 18th century I wouldn't mind checking out the sound on $100,000 instrument

[@hollsroles1814]

37, it’s everywhere, we don’t lie oh’ James.

[@rossjamestobitt]

I think the replacement of the strings and bow (and skill of player) says a lot at the end of the day. Would have been nice (however awful) to see what these sounded like straight out of the box.

[@broderp]

So all those snobs who say a cheap instrument is crap are just fan boys of the more expensive models. I thought the cheaper one sounded better, and I like the shiny finish. Why are people so fixated on full, flat finishes? Good video and this proves that you dont have to break the bank to get started in music.

[@mariabarker2036]

I am super, super shocked to find that I preferred the one that ended up being the super cheap one. I was thoroughly convinced that was going to be the more expensive one. That said, I don't know how it sounded to you, as you were playing it. So it might have been a more unpleasant sound right at your ear. Anyway, thank you so very much for this comparison!

[@CromemcoZ2]

Thank you, David, for an entertaining and educational nine minutes :) I'm glad YT suggested this for me, though I'm no musician.

[@ksrhrieber95]

this was very interesting, I started out with a $30 violin from ebay 2 years ago. It arrived with the bridge unattached and horrible steel strings. I swear it was made of plywood. But I learned the notes and open strings on it, it really didn't sound horrible with newer strings. They both sounded lovely in your skilled hands, it made me want to try a viola.

[@funwithmadness]

I think this also clearly demonstrates the value of the player. As someone who knows nothing about stringed instruments (Ok... I have a guitar, but I can't even tune the thing) these instruments sounded pretty much the same to me. Your playing make them both appealing.

[@dynamicfreqz1112]

I haven't seen which is which, but I think the second one had a thicker richer sound, and the first had a decent tone, but it sounded thinner and sounded like it could only give off higher tones. Ultimately the first one had a fuller dynamic range. I still think they both could be used to make music, and people wouldn't think it was done by a cheap viola. Maybe a professional would notice, but the general public wouldn't.

[@farfoe5106]

I would have liked to have heard them compared to a $20,000 viola, just for reference...

[@philwithnotes]

You are an amiable, funny and engaging host and I’m thrilled the algorithm pushed me towards you. A sub for sure. And as others note, your musicianship is stellar. These videos wouldn’t work without the musical joy and technical prowess you bring to them and to us.

[@NickLeonard]

I listened a few times before you revealed it, and I was convinced A was the more expensive one. It just sounded richer and smoother, maybe because it's quieter, or you you liked playing it better. Neither sounded "cheap" to me, but I'm not a violinist.

[@robinhood480]

Why not ? Don’t have $37.00 ?

[@NickLeonard]

@@robinhood480 I actually have a really nice violin, I just can't play it 😂

[@MarkMcCluney]

Thanks for your objectivity about these very low price instruments. Too many folks are snooty about cheapies simply because they don't cost a lot of money, regardless of the sound or playability. Thanks again.

[@rosekennedy9744]

I think it’s worth noting that a professional can certainly make a cheap instrument sound amazing, but an instrument of poor quality can make it very hard for a beginner to learn or be effective. I’m a guitarist by trade and I thought I hated bass, but then I tried my bassists nice instrument and suddenly I understood why people like playing it!! Playing a cheap bass felt awful, it made it hard to learn technique and develop my skills. It’s the same way with a guitar, a cheap instrument will limit how far you can go and how easy it will be to pick it up. This all being said, it’s a balancing act. A good instrument won’t make you good, but it might help you sound better or improve easier.

[@thear1s]

One thing I discovered recently and confirmed by this video, is that "cheap" and "poorly engineered and built" are not synonymous anymore. With the scale effects of factory lines, it's possible to make good enough cheap instruments. I wish this video explored a bit more the usability for beginners, who probably care more about how playable it is rather than its sound. They're beginners, it's going to sound bad anyway :)

[@malcolmstockbridge2569]

I was already thinking from the start how amazing they would sound together, and they do !...they harmonize perfectly.

[@bronsoncarder2491]

Huh... interesting thing: I guessed correctly, that B was the more expensive one. But, I couldn't tell a lot of difference between their sounds (the more expensive one had slightly better overtones, more dynamic, but it was very subtle). I mostly based my opinion on... how easy it sounded to play. With the A recording, it felt like you struggled to glide between notes as efficiently, whereas with B, it felt more natural and flowed together better. Which is really interesting, because you said you actually liked playing A better. The full recording at the end was indeed beautiful, but it's also kind of cheating to compare that to the other two. For a fair comparison with the last one, you'd have to re-record both of the first ones again, so you can layer them with themselves. Cause any amount of layering is just going to sound good, even if it's just the same instrument. Especially with strings. lol

[@DakotahMiskus]

I’m not trained in any music…. So I have no say other than an average enjoyer of listening to music and they both sound beautiful to me.

[@ianward2087]

very interesting! Can you find me a $39 bassoon? In the late 70s my mum owned a music shop in the UK and the cheap instruments were the Lark and Skylark (posher version) and both were horrible...Thanks, Ian

[@douglasmarkwith]

The composition you wrote is truly beautiful. Well done!

[@Miss2ndEdition]

I guessed right! The more expensive one has a broader range of colours in the sound. When I first started out professionally I couldn’t afford the average price others paid for a professional instrument, so I went to Poland and bought one for £2k (here in UK a modern viola would be around 9-11 now). The panel’s never knew it was such a ‘cheap’ instrument and I got a lot of work. 90% of the sound is about how the player makes the sound for sure.

[@brentogara]

A decent $2000-in-Poland Single-Maker violin/viola can be amazing, We love them in the shop I work at. They quite often have excellent wood and solid construction. Honestly, once you have good wood that's been hand carved and assembled carefully by someone who knows what they're doing, you can't really go wrong.

[@LTTUSA]

I am not a musician, don’t play any instruments but love music. KZbin suggested this video and I always like these cheap product reviews by professionals so I watched it. Actually I watched all of it. I really loved this comparison and how you did it. I definitely heard a difference between A and B. B definitely sounded more acoustically richer and resonated better and fuller. I’m really glad I took Music Appreciation classes in Junior High. I got stuck learning to play the Oboe 😭

[@schrm]

thank you for your comment. i thought, im am one of two persons only, who feels viola b to be "better" sounding.

[@kn4cc755]

The mix DOES sound great! Totally impressive. At this price, I have to wonder about the conditions of he workers who build these things.

[@carloko08]

wooooow, amazing, when I heard the viola A I firmly believed that it was the most expensive viola but the outcome left me very surprised, THE CHEAPEST VIOLA HAD A BETTER AND DEEPER SOUND THAN THE MORE EXPENSIVE ONE, damn, it only costs less than 40 dollars, and it had an amazing sound!! but I had already seen this kind of test, only I had forgotten it..... A couple of years ago I saw some amazing tests that were done with precision instruments such as spectroscopes, oscilloscopes, equalizers, etc. where they put many pianos from the cheapest to one that cost millions AND THE SCIENTIFICAL DEVICES MARKED THE SAME OSCILLATIONS, THEY HAD THE SAME READINGS, AND ALL ITS STRINGS VIBRATED IN THE SAME RANGE in the highs and lows, INCREDIBLE, the piano of 500 dollars to the 3 million dollars piano SOUNDED IDENTICAL because there was one detail: THE PIANIST..... this is how we have that a great pianist can play well with a plastic toy piano as with a Stenway piano, IS THE MUSICIAN, NO THE INSTRUMENT and that team of professionals continued testing different musical instruments with their equipment of scientific elements, transverse flutes, clarinets, trumpets, timpani, etc., even electric guitars, always with the same dynamics: a lot of musical instruments from the cheapest to the most expensive, applying them scientific measuring devices... The result was the same, the musicians COULD NOT DISTINGUISH THE SOUNDS OF THEIR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, they were even asked if they could guess which was the cheapest or the most expensive AND NO ONE COULD IDENTIFY THE SOUND BY THE PRICES PAID FOR THE INSTRUMENTS and now our good friend David reconfirms those experiments for us: IT IS THE MUSICIAN, NOT THE INSTRUMENT!!, if he is a good musician he can stick strings on a broomstick and it will sound incredible, but if he is a bad musician there is no Bechstein, Stradivarius , Gibson Les Paul, Powell, Bach or Yamaha that makes it sound good, THAT'S THE THING 😉

[@MarcoZamora]

Now I'm waiting for a new $150 baby grand on eBay.

[@DavidHilowitzMusic]

me, too! 😂

[@13opacus]

If you heard this and you didn’t know they could be strands! Just goes to show that you hear what you want to hear. Great vid 👍

[@watermelonhelmet6854]

One things videos like this always seem to miss out is that sound is only part of the equation. A huge part of what makes a quality instrument a quality instrument is how it feels to play. (I mean physically, not emotionally) I just finished setting up a guitar for a beginner friend who went cheap (I think the guitar was around £90)... and while it sounded pretty good, it was just incredibly awkward and uncomfortable to play. She was absolutely astounded by the difference it made just doing some basics like setting the action properly, re-dressing the frets etc. So, for the next one I'd be interested to hear more about that side of things as well as just 'does it sound good'

[@bwyou812]

Nice playing. It's not the cost of an instrument but the talent of the player.

[@hellfire9145]

Both actually sounded superb. Warm, mellow, resonant. Actually more like cellos. I have two beginner level violas, costing about the same. On both , the C strings grunt like a pig, the A strings shriek like a power saw cutting metal. If only I could get a sound like these two instruments in the demo I would die happy. What IS the secret?. Do you have to have fingers with a magic touch? Does the bow have to have hair from a young unicorn living high in the Andes? It's driving me MAD ! There are so many contradictions. There is another demo where a professional violinist takes a $50 violin out of the box , gives it a bit of a tweak and proceeds to play the Mendelson concerto pretty convincingly. Then there are the so-called experts, snobs, salesmen, tell us these instruments are just "VSOs" (Violin/Viola shaped objects). and we need to spend AT LEAST $500 for anything worth bothering. And at a school here in UK a school thinks "talented young musicians" should be given instruments worth upwardly of £3000. I'm neither young or talented Seems to me a talented musician can get a decent sound of almost anything !

[@anotherdactyl]

decent strings make a big difference, as does the bow. I don't think he played the A string, which tends to be more harsh. Cheap instruments often have pegs that stick or slip, cheaper wood for the finger board that may wear down more easily. They also may mellow out with age and playing.

[@deldarel]

The way they're mixed together reminds me of the reason why they added recorders in the flute section in my old school's band. It really raises the whole quality and makes the flutes sound like they're better than they really are at school orchestra level.

[@StephanBuchin]

So interesting to hear an unexpected unbiased opinion from a qualified musician ☺

[@nikkiisrael2708]

Hi there, this is the first time I have listened to one of your videos, and I was drawn to this one, because it came in front of me on my feed as I came onto KZbin just a few swipes along ha ha Well, I’ve secretly had an interest in the viola for quite some years now, but never picked one up as yet.I am a singer and pianist naturally, and play by ear because I am actually blind. But to be honest with you, I couldn’t really tell the difference between the two violas. There was a slight difference, but I’m not sure which one I would prefer and I think The music you played was beautiful and very soothing to the soul. How wonderful that you could combine the two sounds together in one piece of music, and thank you so much for teaching us about the viola. I will listen to more of your videos and learn about lots of different instruments while I am here.

[@emelynavarro1914]

I really like this video, i played on a $80 dollar viola, dubbed the "eBay viola", for years. I think something to consider is that these instruments are often advertised to students/begginners and should be easy in all regards, such as using the pegs or fine tuners. Many of cheap instruments are hard to tune, almost impossible for beginners. I also think switching the strings didn't allow for a real comparison because most beginners would have kept the cheap strings just from not knowing any better. I guess what I'm saying is that a professional would know how to take full advantage of any instrument and tweak things in a way that would help, while beginners, the main purchasers of these cheap instruments, will not. Still a great video and puts into perspective that you don't really need an expensive instrument to sound great 👍

[@missy-t9d]

I really love that music extract!

[@Chris.from.1950]

Very interesting, David! Thanks! My wife played viola as a girl, but her instrument was damaged beyond usability one day when a tornado blew through the neighborhood of her school during a performance. She found, when she got back to her seat, that, in the scuffle to get to the school’s cellar, someone had knocked her viola to the floor and it had been stepped on. I’ve thought about buying her a new instrument, but have been inhibited by the high prices that I’ve seen. It may be time to look again.

[@AndrewBeals]

I really enjoyed the piece you put together for the example and would love to hear it fleshed out more - it spoke to me.

[@dolceviolins9535]

Interesting experiment! I enjoyed watching it. At our store, we have violas and violins at different prices. I think the quality of an instrument should never suffer even it's very affordable.

[@superteamvideo1930]

The human is the factor and also a good teacher. Every teacher will tell parents that their child has a "talent" and they should continue lessons...