想買小提琴，有咩要注意？

霖霖媽

成人學，即本人，想學小提琴，需買一個全新的。
不打算學很久，可能學幾年罷﹗
市面有很多價錢，有數百元至數萬元，究竟我應買那一類？
有咩建議？2000元左右夠用嗎？
本人已學開其他樂器，所以對音質也有一定要求﹗

可否給予一些建議？

kaka0814

要看你用這 $2000 在哪裡買琴了
在香港可能買不到甚麼好東西
在國內就有機會買到好的琴

如果可以花得起 $3000 就會好一點哦

霖霖媽

那中國制和德國制，相差遠嗎？

kaka0814

認真說, $3000 的價錢來講, 中國制可能比德國的還要好
但琴弦還是用外國的好

warrrren

Dear 霖霖媽,
Don't judge a violin by its origin. Chinese violins are not bad at all.  I agree with kaka0814 that you should go after a Chinese violin if you are looking for one in the $3,000 range.  By the way, all those <$20,000 so called German, French or Italian violins are probably made in China, Romania or Bulgaria.  You should be able to get a decent Chinese violin for $2,000 to $2,500.  Be prepared to spend extra few hundred for a set of better strings (Dominant or Tonica for examples) and a new bridge.  A common problem with Chinese violins (or any inexpensive violins) is that they come with poor quality steel strings and lousy bridges, which are very often too thick and too high.  A good set up will make your violin learning ten times more easy and enjoyable.  Don't overlook the set up.

Happy violin shopping,
warrrren

霖霖媽

WARRRREN , KAKA0814

謝謝你們的資料；
WARRRREN，按你所說，如果我買一支普通琴，但換過好的弦就可以？找誰可協助SET UP 工序？琴行？

我都期望在學習過程，會盡量將學習困難減底，期望學習過程更輕鬆、更快學成﹗

霖霖媽

茵茵：

請問你所說的SCOTT CAO 是那一處出品？在那兒可見？

warrrren

Dear 霖霖媽,

If you want a hand-cut bridge, you can try Violmaster, Orfeo or HK Strings.  I guess it will cost you something like $350 to 400 for an average Aubert bridge.

Scott Cao is a good choice.  It is a brand name used by Cao Shu-kun.  Cao is a world known violin maker from China, who is now living in California.  A violin personally made by him is worth many thousands of US dollars.  He has a factory in Guangdong, and the less expensive Scott Cao violins are from his factory.  I have never tried a Scott Cao but heard many good things about them.  I am not sure where you can get Scott Cao in Hong Kong, but you may try Yue Wah Music.  Cao has written a book on violin playing and making, which can be had for $16.  I got my copy from Xin Hua Bookstore in Causeway.  It is a steal for $16.

warrrren

kaka0814

其實我想講, 一千同幾百的小提琴冇乜大分別

好耐之前我係 ofreo 試過一隻 $1800 的琴, 本來唔係太好, 後尾加左一支 $2000 的弓一齊就好正

so, 我會 prefer 買個唔太貴的琴 + good set up + good strings + good bow

講真, 一套好弦要二百幾, set up 又三數百, 再加松香又幾十, 買埋譜架, 琴書之類之類, $2000 包哂其實冇乜 choice    

霖霖媽

KAKA0814，茵茵、warrrren ,

多謝你們的熱心回覆，你們的資料很有用﹗

其實我這兩天都看過幾間，有柏斯、偉樂、槳聲同我學緊琴的利斯音樂中心，共4間；另打電話就問過通利﹗

我問過好多人的意見，有些建議我買過萬的，一定可以較優質、有的說小提琴1-2000已好夠用，夠用到8級、有的說起碼要3000-4000先有野睇﹗

其實，太多說法﹗我相信各人也是對的，只是角度不同吧﹗

樂聲琴行說：他們的琴是自己做的，大部份最起碼也要4000-5000元。

利斯音樂中心說：我幫你取了幾支小提琴，有的1900、有支2700，兩支都不俗、是意大利設計，也不是時時都可以取到的。

通利說：4月份做特價有一支捷克做，2200，幾抵....

又有的說：手做的好好多。

又有的說：中國當然是手做的，因為人工反而更平於機做....

哈哈哈以我是外行人，甚麼也不懂，還是維持原意，花費2000元左右butget吧﹗我簡直一頭冒水呢﹗

.....但很多謝你們的意見，歡迎再給多意見，多多指教﹗

我可以慢慢揀，因為我問朋友借住一個先練先學....

我的目標是：半年內能掌握基本功.......我期望靠著本身的音樂底、再加上努力練習，希望事成....

ykwong

warrrren, kaka, yun yun and any one of course!

Any share in changing bridge or others setup?

I have a 2.xk china vio with a meaningless brand. the sound was quite good when bought and compared to the $500 yuet wah one.

upon progress, found out many unwanted sound. finally changed a bridge in seasound, $300, brand "Teller".

Wow, significant change, most of the unwanted sound missing. So i suggest anyone wants to improve sound quality, first thing is to change a better bridge.

The technician said, if i changed for a better one, which costs $500, help more wor! Also it has $100 bridge provided, as told by the sales, or technician or luthier ??

I was scared by the expensive looking of Orfeo, but agree that its sales very nice and helping, the Violmaster, quite snobbish, HK strings; sales girl doesn't know much. Seasound, more down to earth (that suit me ) looking and the boss is very friendly.

Tonica, i had tried, don't like it, not smooth and comparative high pitch. maybe not suit for my cheapy vio. but it dies (deteriorates) very soon is for sure.

Anyone use Obligato? any good suggestion of E strings to match this set, the golden E string in the set  is too easy in slipping and the sound sounds a little bit weak when compare with others.

Anyone heard of "Red Cotton" from China, any shops sell this brand?

My opinion: up to $10k, in same price, there is no European vio better than the China's.

Anyone tried carbon fibre bow? it has very good comment in some US chat group, please share, thanks!

warrrren

Dear ykwong,

How are you doing?  Long time no see.

Teller bridges should be good for most people.  I don't think you need to switch to something even better.  It's strange that you find Violmaster a snobbish looking shop.  I've met Mr. Liu and the young man working there (can't recall his name) a few times.  I would say they are shy or not sociable, but don't consider them snobbish at all.  Try Andre Jutras and you will know what a snob is like.  Don't be scared by the grandiose look of Orfeo or HK Strings.  99 out of 100 people who visit the shops leave empty-handed.  You won't be given a cold shoulder for not buying anything.

For some reasons I can never work with any golden E strings, and I much prefer the cheaper Larsen or Jargar E.  I now use Dominant/Eudoxa (GDA) and Larsen/Jargar E.  If you do not mind tuning your violin every half an hour, try Eudoxa on your Chinese violin.  The Eudoxa works exceptionally well on my inexpensive Chinese.  The combination produces a sound that is beyond recognition.  As for carbon fibre bows, I have never played one.  Maybe I should try some next time I go 運吉 at one of the violin shops.

Regards,
warrrren

ykwong

warrrren,

thanks for your quick response. You must be fans of Ms Yiu. i saw her last time in the tv show "kang gor kam kuk" using a dominant G.

I am now starting to learn something my teacher called it vibrato, to me that is more likely a shaking of the vio

Eudoxa is: 1 expensive 2 guts (that means not last for long). those two factors are fighting my mean ghost characters.    Anyway the money spent on strings was already more than the vio itself!

Jargar sounds a good idea, will try and report later. Larsen, sorry never heard, is that a steel string also?

Sorry no offense to the violmaster, just my personal feeling to share. maybe using the wrong adjective.

Happy fiddling

kaka0814

Ykwong,

Dominant is good anyway. I am using Dominant medium set + a gold E with loop end string.

I am thinking to change a dominant soft set, my friend said it would help more for developing the vibrato (I am still making the "ghost" or "chicken" sound when doing vibrato)

Any good idea?

Warrren,
could you post again the "orange" web link for me? Thanks!

warrrren

Hi ykwong,

thanks for your quick response. You must be fans of Ms Yiu. i saw her last time in the tv show "kang gor kam kuk" using a dominant G.

Who is "Ms Yiu"?  If you are talking about 姚鈺, no, I am not her fan.  I have in fact never heard her play.  When it comes to classical music and violin, my heroes are Bach, Milstein, Bach, Oistrakh, Bach, Kogan, Bach, Heifetz, Bach, Szeryng, Bach, Podger, Bach ... Bach ... Bach...

There are two versions of Larsen E - the standard steel one and the golden E.  The one I use is the steel E. Eudoxa strings are wound guts, not pure guts.  I think it is a myth that they do not last long.  My experience is that if you play less than 2 hours a day, they are good for 3 to 4 months.  Synthetic strings also go bad and need to be replaced regularly.  The difference between synthetic/guts strings is that the former die gradually (and thus the deterioration is less obvious)  and the latter die of a sudden heart attack.  It is sort of like how alkaline and silver oxide batteries work in old cameras.  Try replace your strings after three or four months of regular use, and listen to the new strings.  You will hear a difference between the old and new ones.  As a rule of thumb, replace your strings regularly (say every few months, depending on actual use).  Don't wait until your strings break to replace them.  Some people suggest that one can make guts strings more stable by giving them a coat of olive oil (not on the bowed part of course).  I have never tried it and don't know whether the trick really works.

Regards,
warrrren

warrrren

Dear kaka0814,

This orange?

Regards,
warrrren

Sindy

我女做vibrato時,我都覺得鬼鏈咁............不過呢樣係要多練的........你個橙都好有用呀,順手叫囡囡睇埋其他野添..........thanks

ykwong 寫道:
warrrren,

thanks for your quick response. You must be fans of Ms Yiu. i saw her last time in the tv show "kang gor kam kuk" using a dominant G.

I am now starting to learn something my teacher called it vibrato, to me that is more likely a shaking of the vio

Eudoxa is: 1 expensive 2 guts (that means not last for long). those two factors are fighting my mean ghost characters.    Anyway the money spent on strings was already more than the vio itself!

Jargar sounds a good idea, will try and report later. Larsen, sorry never heard, is that a steel string also?

Sorry no offense to the violmaster, just my personal feeling to share. maybe using the wrong adjective.

Happy fiddling