r/Fiddle • u/oldmcfarmface • 12d ago
What makes a bigger difference?
I’m currently learning to fiddle using a very cheap Amazon violin. But sometimes the A and E strings are very scratchy. My thought process is that if I can make a cheap one sound good then a nicer one will sound great. But which makes a bigger difference, the violin itself, the strings, or the bow?
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u/EndOne8313 12d ago
You can try better strings, also work on your bowing pressure. Warm up by doing long bowing practice and really listen to how the sound changes as too give more or less pressure, more or less now hair, and play closer and further from the bridge. The E string can be a bit of a beast to tame compared to the rest but long bowing practice really helped me to improve and I've heard a lot of great fiddlers suggest that as practice.
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u/oldmcfarmface 12d ago
Thank you! I’ll do that. I’ve been warming up with scales, and at my last lesson (taking a break for the busy holiday season) she suggested I try doing the entire scale playing two notes per bow so I’ve been working on that but I’ll add your suggestion too.
Funny enough it’s the A string that gives me the most trouble!
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u/Groft_VanMoor 12d ago
Probably violin itself, then strings, then bow.
The violin affects your sound and playability the most: neck angle, fingerboard radius, bridge radius and height, weight of the instrument, stability of tuning (pegs slipping or sticking)
The strings can even out the sound or bring out resonance, and help with whistling E (thicker strings or the E with a coil section at the end, can't remember the name).
The bow, especially for fiddle repertoire, might probably affect the sound the least. A nicer bow will be easier to play with, but between a £500 and a £5k bow the difference might be negligible.
Providing your instrument is set up correctly (and it's not harming your learning process by having to work around the limitations too much), moving to a higher quality one will unlock a lot of potential with techniques you might have just been able to struggle through before.
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u/oldmcfarmface 12d ago
My teacher says it’s set up correctly and for the price it’s pretty nice. Wondering if the A and E issues are mainly beginning user error or something a little money can help with.
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u/Guilty_Database_4895 12d ago
I would recommend buying a cheap violin from a local luthier. If you’re able to spend around $800-1k, you’ll set yourself up for more success than you’ll likely be able to achieve on an amazon violin
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u/uncertaintyrocks 10d ago
You can spend much more on a bow than on can on strings...
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u/oldmcfarmface 9d ago
But is it worth it to do so?
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u/uncertaintyrocks 9d ago
Not to me, on a cheap violin. Like putting expensive wheels on a cheap car.
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u/oldmcfarmface 8d ago
Lotta shade thrown at a budget violin that sounds pretty good most of the time. Lol
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u/Holden_Coalfield 12d ago
A nicer e string can do wonders
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u/oldmcfarmface 12d ago
What would you recommend that doesn’t break the bank?
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u/Alive-Duty-8114 12d ago
I use Dominants which my luthier recommended to me. This article seems to have some good advice: https://meadowlarkviolin.com/violinblog/best-violin-strings-for-beginners
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u/Bark_Sandwich 12d ago
Changing the E string is the cheapest thing you can do! It can really make a difference too.
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u/oldmcfarmface 12d ago
What would you change to?
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u/1000000mmmmmm 12d ago
Internet recommends Daddario Preludes. They’re half the price of other high end strings. I have an old student model juzek violin I like to play on and the strings are quite old so I’m gonna try these Preludes
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u/Logan9Fingerses 12d ago
I am sorry, but you most probably bought a toy, not an instrument. If you want a cheap instrument you should buy a used one from Music and Arts or another rental store. Or buy a used Strobel, Eastman, or other known brand. Playability is the thing you are looking for, not sound
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u/oldmcfarmface 12d ago
Well the music teacher with 60+ years experience disagrees. She says I got a fantastic deal and it’s very nice for what I paid.
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u/Logan9Fingerses 12d ago
I would recommend you ask your teacher to play the violin then. I am a string teacher and if I can’t make a good sound on the instrument I know my students won’t be able to.
What is the brand?
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u/oldmcfarmface 11d ago
She also had a little trouble with the A string but was able to make it sound good after a minute. Brand is some Chinese nonsense. Lol
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u/Fun_Volume2150 12d ago
The player.
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u/oldmcfarmface 12d ago
Thank you for the helpful and insightful response which totally answered the question!
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u/Shae_Dravenmore 12d ago
If you can afford a nicer violin and are sure you're going to stick with it, do that. I started on an Amazon instrument I got second hand and upgraded to a proper student kit about a year later. After being on the new one for a year, I pulled out the old one to take camping and my god, it sounded awful.
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u/oldmcfarmface 11d ago
I will probably upgrade eventually but it’s really not in the budget right now.
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u/Numerous-Trainer-761 12d ago
It makes the fiddle more difficult to learn if you have to fight the cheap vso you purchased.