How do I buy a very inexpensive viola?
April 22, 2015 4:51 PM Subscribe
I'd like to spend ~$300 on a viola to be used by me for experimental purposes. Should I buy online, from a shop, from craigslist, or?
I play various instruments, but not bowed strings. So I don't know if I could tell what a good $300 viola sounds like, or identify one if presented with it. There seem to be plenty of more or less satisfied customers for the $300 violas on amazon. And I wonder if markup from at a luthier's shop wouldn't cancel out whatever benefit comes from having the luthier tell me it's an okay instrument. But buying a viola online seems -- somehow -- wrong.
I basically want to maximize my chances of ending up with something most resembling an actual musical instrument, for $300. How to proceed?
I play various instruments, but not bowed strings. So I don't know if I could tell what a good $300 viola sounds like, or identify one if presented with it. There seem to be plenty of more or less satisfied customers for the $300 violas on amazon. And I wonder if markup from at a luthier's shop wouldn't cancel out whatever benefit comes from having the luthier tell me it's an okay instrument. But buying a viola online seems -- somehow -- wrong.
I basically want to maximize my chances of ending up with something most resembling an actual musical instrument, for $300. How to proceed?
Also, get a decent shoulder pad now (I like the basic Kuns) or you'll be in for a world of technique problems.
In the future if you can upgrade to a cheapish carbon fiber bow at some point that's a good idea. You can also eventually upgrade the strings to Helicores or Dominants and that will help the sound significantly. For now, though, what you will want is something decently built that is capable of staying in tune, and the upper end of the Shar beginner line is about as good as you can get at that price point.
posted by charmedimsure at 5:12 PM on April 22, 2015 [4 favorites]
In the future if you can upgrade to a cheapish carbon fiber bow at some point that's a good idea. You can also eventually upgrade the strings to Helicores or Dominants and that will help the sound significantly. For now, though, what you will want is something decently built that is capable of staying in tune, and the upper end of the Shar beginner line is about as good as you can get at that price point.
posted by charmedimsure at 5:12 PM on April 22, 2015 [4 favorites]
I'll be watching with interest. We pay $17 month including insurance from a local music store for an $800 - 1200 roughly "store-price" instruments. The commitment is month to month. I've also heard good things about Shar.
posted by RoadScholar at 5:37 PM on April 22, 2015
posted by RoadScholar at 5:37 PM on April 22, 2015
Check out the Gliga brand, I've seen their name tossed about abrsm forums, and a quick search indicated that they are within your budget :)
posted by TrinsicWS at 10:52 PM on April 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by TrinsicWS at 10:52 PM on April 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
Came to recommend a Gliga. I have one and have impressed several music teachers with its quality.
I bought mine on eBay.
posted by Sheppagus at 9:12 AM on April 24, 2015
I bought mine on eBay.
posted by Sheppagus at 9:12 AM on April 24, 2015
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Do not buy from Amazon. Those Cecilios are piles of untuneable crap. If you must go cheap, rent from a local music store; you should be able to find something for $30/month. If you must buy cheap, try Shar music. Their Franz Hoffman Etude violas are not a bad entry-level instrument and are at your price point.
posted by charmedimsure at 4:58 PM on April 22, 2015 [7 favorites]