9/30/2011

Wittner 4/4 Violin Ultra Composite Tailpiece with 4-tuners and Nylon Tailgut Review

Wittner 4/4 Violin Ultra Composite Tailpiece with 4-tuners and Nylon Tailgut
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I purchased this tailpiece for a violin that I made. Being a beginning violin student it is a great help to have fine tuners on all strings. So far it seems to work well, stays in tune, etc.

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Thomastik Dominant 4/4 Violin String Set - Medium Gauge - Aluminum/Steel Ball-End E Review

Thomastik Dominant 4/4 Violin String Set - Medium Gauge - Aluminum/Steel Ball-End E
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The Dominant strings sets the standard for synthetic violin strings, and is pretty predictable. They are fairly priced, so most instruments are strung with Dominants. When it is new, there is a slight metallic feel, but that goes away after it is stretched out. They last about 2-3 months, fairly bright, but with good overtones, and then gradually get duller. The E string is just ordinary, and many people substitute a different E string (such as Pirastro Gold). I like to substitute the Kaplan Solo E string or the Jargar Forte e.

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9/29/2011

Dampit Instrument Humidifier for 4/4 Violin Review

Dampit Instrument Humidifier for 4/4 Violin
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It's truefor more than a day, here in the desert. I recommend the Arion case humidifier which lasts months! It is large, so make sure you can fit it in your case.

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Music Basics Violin Complete Kit with Free Tuner - 4/4 Full Size (VLN-10 4/4) Review

Music Basics Violin Complete Kit with Free Tuner - 4/4 Full Size (VLN-10 4/4)
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The violin was as described and shipped within the stated time frame. One of the strings were not attached.

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9/28/2011

Pirastro Obligato 4/4 Violin String Set - Medium Gauge - with Ball-end E Review

Pirastro Obligato 4/4 Violin String Set - Medium Gauge - with Ball-end E
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I just ordered my second pair of the Obligatos. They are great all around strings; much better than the Corellis I replaced. My first pair of Obligatos lasted a year and a half, then I noticed they weren't as responsive, and became more difficult to play. Actually, I was surprised they lasted that long. The new set was easy to break in (tuning stablizied within a week) and they have a great tone. (I think my violin would sound good with a lot of different brands of strings, however the obligatos really make a subtle difference to me, especially on sustained notes). They can make a really good violin sound great. I know they are expensive, but they last longer than traditional gut strings, and I love that they stay in tune. I ordered mine through Johnson String Instruments, and I received them within a week of ordering them. (I know JSI was a few dollars more than their competitors, but they have great service--this is my third order from them and I intend to order from them in the future.)
I wouldn't put the obligatos on a student level violin, but if you have a fairly decent violin ($5000-10,000 range) they are worth the price. If I could afford to change them out more frequently, I would, but they still sound great after a year and a half of playing about 10 hours per week.


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Knilling Sinfonia Model 4/4 Violin Outfit (Thermoplastic Case, Glasser Fiberglass Bow) Review

Knilling Sinfonia Model 4/4 Violin Outfit (Thermoplastic Case, Glasser Fiberglass Bow)
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Original bought Cremona SV-175 Premier Student Violin 3/4 one month ago for my son and I didn't like it. The sound is very strange and instructor couldn't tune it right. I returned it to Amazon and bought this Knilling Sinfonia Model 4/4 Violin Outfit and I couldn't be happier. Sound is very smooth and quality is good.

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9/27/2011

Andrea Violin Solo Rosin Review

Andrea Violin Solo Rosin
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I thought I had to restring my bow because the feel just wasn't right anymore, nor the sound regardless of how much or how little rosin I used, but when I took it to the luthier, he said I should wash it, that I still had quite a bit of life in it. So I went online and read everything I could about washing the bow, discovered that many people (carefully!) use denatured alcohol. And I decided when I cleaned the bow, I would upgrade the rosin. So I took it to the luthier when I had to fix something else on the violin and asked him to help me clean the bow. He used the denatured alcohol and then we applied the Andrea rosin. I tuned it up and slid the bow across. Wow! Whatever the combination is, the feel and the sound out of my violin is amazing, from the first moment. I'm an amateur player and I figured anything that makes me sound better is a great thing. This rosin has a much different feel to it, much stickier than the cheap brick I'd been using. I can use less and get more out of it. I'm very satisfied with this product.

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Wolf Forte Secundo 3/4 - 4/4 Violin Shoulder Rest Review

Wolf Forte Secundo 3/4 - 4/4 Violin Shoulder Rest
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I have played the violin for over 18 years. In that time span I have tried almost every shoulder rest on the market. I've used sponges, play-on-airs, Kuns... the works.
Here's the thing with shoulder rests: whether or not they work is totally dependent on the person. What could be the most comfortable shoulder rest in the world for one person could be downright painful for another. I've even known violinists who swear by using no shoulder rest at all. These differences in opinions are based largely on the fact that everyone has a slightly different build and body shape.
So with that in mind, here are the things that I, personally, like about this particular shoulder rest:
-I have found that the Wolf brand tends to be pretty durable. They can definitely take a beating for many years. The padding also does not become unglued from the metal frame. I have found this to be an issue with Kun shoulder rests.
-Wolf actually uses a metal frame. Plastic frames, although cheaper, have a tendency to crack at their stress points.
-Of all the shoulder rests on the market, I find that Wolf is the most adjustable. I have a long neck and very few shoulder rests can give me the kind of length and extension that I require.
-I like the shape of this particular series. The way it wraps around slightly makes for very comfortable playing.
So, again, these are the reason why I like this shoulder rest. I would not recommend this shoulder rest to those who have shorter necks. However, when it comes to shoulder rests, experimentation is key to finding the right fit.

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9/26/2011

Palatino Ebony Frog Violin Bow ½ Size Review

Palatino Ebony Frog Violin Bow  ½ Size
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Not very good quality, but it costs much less than from the store.
Came with two hairs already broken, and another two broke when I was trying to use it.
Very thin layer of hairs. However the seller's responses to my email inquiries are prompt.

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ViolinSmart 1/4 Size Student Violin w/Bow, Case, and Rosin - Solid Natural Wood Review

ViolinSmart 1/4 Size Student Violin w/Bow, Case, and Rosin - Solid Natural Wood
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When I first tried to tune the violin I applied pressure to the D peg and the scroll broke from the fingerboard! It wasn't a lot of pressure so I assume there was a crack or a weak spot in the wood. Needless to say I contacted (emailed) customer support and was pleasantly surprised when they agreed to replace the violin at no charge (not even shipping)! The new violin arrived and I was able to tune it fine. My five year old son has been performing around the house almost everyday!
Now a word about the quality. Would I buy this brand to perform professionally? No. This is an inexpensive introduction to the violin - it is a massed produced product that I think is wonderful at this price. Beautiful to look at and my son loves it - nuff said.

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9/25/2011

ViolinSmart 4/4 Full Size Violin Shoulder Rest Review

ViolinSmart 4/4 Full Size Violin Shoulder Rest
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This shoulder rest, combined with a chin pad, have made my instrument much more comfortable to hold and easier to play. The price was great, too!

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Kun Original 4/4 Violin Shoulder Rest Review

Kun Original 4/4 Violin Shoulder Rest
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I don't always use a shoulder rest, but this one is good when I'm playing in a seated position. I still can't quite get it adjusted perfectly, but my doctor says I have weird shoulders. Oh well. It keeps my left shoulder from aching after playing for an hour or two. Good quality, serviceable shoulder rest. I'd give it 5 stars if I could've adjusted it to fit "just-right".

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9/24/2011

Snark SN-5 Tuner for Guitar, Bass and Violin Review

Snark SN-5 Tuner for Guitar, Bass and Violin
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Great display, accuracy, price, and adjustable positioning. Frees me from using a pedal to tune so I can run straight into my amp and relish in the toneeeeeee! Fits on my PRS headstock.
I also should note that this model is strictly a chromatic tuner, no mic and no tap-tempo metronome. But, I'm a sucker for the black coloring vs the red or blue.
Highly recommended.

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Bon Musica 4/4 Violin Shoulder Rest Review

Bon Musica 4/4 Violin Shoulder Rest
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I am a beginning adult violinist. I purchased this shoulder rest to find a comfortable fit for my violin, shoulder, and chin, after several attempts with standard shoulder rests. It is an amazing piece of equipment. It can be adjusted in numerous ways to achieve a customized fit. The extended, curved, left end can be bent to fit the violinist's shoulder and prevent the instrument from sliding off without requiring extensive down pressure from the chin. It is a little more expense than other standard shoulder rests, but it is definitely worth the price. I recommend this shoulder rest to any beginner who may be having trouble achieving a comfortable, relaxed bond with your violin.

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9/23/2011

D'Addario Pro Arte 4/4 Violin String Set Medium Gauge Review

D'Addario Pro Arte 4/4 Violin String Set Medium Gauge
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I discovered these strings by accident a couple of years ago when I broke a violin string and had no spares. A local music store had Pro Arte medium tension strings in stock and they were inexpensive, so I figured that I would buy a set as a stopgap until I could get a set of my preferred strings online.
I noticed right away that the strings come packaged in sealed pouches, which is a nice touch, and that the ends of the strings are nicely finished.
The sound is very sweet. A darker sound than many classical players prefer. I read another review that said that the reviewer hated the Pro Arte strings because they were dull. The reviewer was going back to Dominant strings. I find Dominant stings very loud, for sure, but it is a bright, glaring sound that I find that I am always trying to sweeten. I find Evah Pirazzi strings even louder and more glaring. If you, like me, find some of these more popular strings to be loud but overly glaring, you should try a set of the Pro Arte strings. The price is so good that trying them won't break the bank. I am hooked on these strings now and am glad to be saving so much money with each set.
I will try the Pro Arte heavy tension strings next.
Side remark: On their website, D'Addario publishes wonderfully clear tables showing the tensions (in pounds) of its various strings. So refreshing. Pirastro's site describes tensions only as soft, medium or thick. I prefer to know the actual tension.

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Instrument Stand for Violin, Ukulele and Other Small Instruments Review

Instrument Stand for Violin, Ukulele and Other Small Instruments
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Instrument Stand for Violin, Ukulele and Other Small Instruments
This is a short video of how the CMC Stand unfolds, folds and adjusts. This is hands down the best uke stand out there for the money.

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9/22/2011

ViolinSmart Brazilwood Violin Bow Size 4/4 High Quality Great Sound Review

ViolinSmart Brazilwood Violin Bow Size 4/4 High Quality Great Sound
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I'm an adult learner--a newbie. And still working on how to hold a fiddle and bow. Some months ago, I bought a fiddle that lists for $1,500 and a bow, that appraised for $300. After some near-misses with doorways, I decided that I should use a cheaper bow until I better learned how to manage it. I purchased this one because it's CHEAP! Is 8-sided like my "real" bow -- and the reviews were positive.
It arrived very promptly -- in a very battered box, that had taken some serious dents. "Uh-oh! Hope they packed it well." Opening it, I found that the bow was in a plastic sheath, taped to a sturdy wooden rod, and enveloped in several turns of bubble wrap. It had come through, just fine!
Unwrapping it, I was alarmed because it seemed to have a much more pronounced arch than my Bow #1. (Was it warped?) But no, everything lined up fine, actually. Looking it over, too, it was almost a replica of my fancier bow . . . the mother-of-pearl in the frog is a straight white, versus the pretty blue/greens in the other. Also, I could see that the wood was of a lighter weight.
Then I put on the rosin and played. the tone was also "thinner" and lighter/quieter than with the more expensive bow. (Which, as a beginning violinist with neighbors on the other side of the wall, I consider a plus.) The sound is . . . pretty. Gee.
Are these things hot? Should I "stock up while supplies last?" Incredible value. I don't know when I've been so happy with a purchase. A big thanks!

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