Measure the person whom the violin is for using a soft tape measure from the neck to the middle of the palm on an outstretched arm, then select from the chart above. Violin quality guideThe easiest way to stop a child from learning is to purchase a poor quality instrument. When you consider that violins should be hand carved from solid wood, then a violin less than £50 is simply not up to the job, because even at Chinese labour rates it is not physically possible to make a good quality instrument. Cheaper instruments are made from pressed ply or steamed wood and will sound terrible and will not encourage your child to continue playing. The best bet is to spend around £100 and a get a quality instrument that will sound nice be well built.
On the surface, most instruments look physically the same, but it is in the details that the difference is felt: the accuracy of the carving, the quality of wood, the set up of the instrument, the lacquering are all highly important. The makes we predominantly sell are Stentor and Primavera, which are both highly respected makes and are backed by solid guarantees and customer service. On the Primavera Heritage series, Bernard Docherty, co-leader of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, said "I have been highly impressed by the Heritage instruments that I have sampled. Not only have the craftsmen re-created the look and feel of the original, but also the richness of the sound is evocative of the work of the Italian masters." That is a pretty ringing endorsement from a very highly respected musician, but he goes on "I would recommend these instruments to fellow professionals and my students, as this degree of quality is simply not available at a comparable price." |
