A buyers guide to new violins. Read on for tips on what to look for.

Buying New violins

Buying a new instrument is a great move. There is a huge range to suit every budget and taste.

And finding them has never been easier with the growth of the internet.

Before you buy though, here are some things you should consider.

They can look quite different. Varnishes can be different colours. Violin backs can be one or two piece. And there will be lots of other differences in quality and tone depending on the price, maker and country of origin.

Try to tune your eye in. You will soon begin to get a feel for whether you are looking at a quality instrument or not.

To complicate matters, bear in mind that this might change as the violin is "played in". Playing in can take up anything up to a year and the instrument can improve a lot as it settles. So if you like the instrument now - the chances are it will become even better! It should mellow nicely.

That's the good news.

On the downside, you are never quite sure how new violins will work out. This probably isn't too importantif you are not planning to spend too much. But if you are paying thousands you want to be as sure as possible this is the right instrument for you!

Depending where it was made, the wood could take some time to acclimatize to the country you are in.

If the instrument has been made out of newish wood, it could crack! You only need to look at older instruments to know how common this is - although not all of this damage happens because of climatic conditions.

New violins can be bought in different grades, from student to professional. Costs can range from under £50 to many thousands for hand made instruments. So think about your budget.

At the student grade level you can buy A grade and B grade instruments. You get what you pay for. Best to stretch to A grade if you can.

If you are looking for a better quality instrument, happily there are some great bargains about. China and Eastern Europe, among others, are exporting many high quality professional grade instruments for much less then they would cost if made here in the UK.

That said, there is a great tradition of violin making in the UK and many other parts of the world. If you are lucky enough to be able to afford a new handmade instument it is well worth checking out luthiers near you.

It is fantastic to be able to support local violin makers if you can. It is a truly an art and you can only admire the quality of the craftmanship involved. The instrument you buy will be a one off!

If you are looking for something special you might want to commission a violin to be made for you. If you are thinking about this, try as many of that maker's instruments as you can.

Also, be as specific as you can when commissioning your violin. Do your research and find a luthier with a good following if possible.

I have a new handmade violin and its a pleasure and a privilege to own. I can still smell the oil varnish! It just glows! Glorius!

For most though, particularly if this is your first violin, you will be buying trade instruments.

If you are buying through a dealer - ask, ask, ask!

Check the condition and quality of the instrument.

Check it will hold its tuning and that you like the tone.

Ask how long its been in the shop for and where it comes from.

Check if the dealer knows how seasoned the wood was when the instrument was made.

Can you take it back to the shop and trade it in when you outgrow it?

Check that the violin plays well and that the bridge is not too high.

It should have no buzzes or nasty vibrations.

If it comes with a bow, check it is not twisted.

New violins come in many shapes and sizes. It is possible to buy five string violins (which go downto C rather than G). Don't panic if you don't know what that means. I wouldn't advise buying a five string if you are just learning to play. Best to stick with a four string at the outset. But for more experienced players who want the range of the viola too - it can be very useful!

You can also buy violins in all colours now. These are fun and quite popular for folk that play in a bands.

Another option is an electric violin. Some of these are real objects of desire. They are fantastic if you want to plug into an amp. I WANT ONE!

If you want to see examples of colored and electric violins click here. But it is worth mentioning that you can have a violin pickup fitted to an acoustic instrument too.

We hope this has helped you to decide to buy new violins and to help you to choose a great one! Just do it!

If you are still not sure about whether to search for new violins or older instruments, click here read our pages on buying antique violins.

Or if you are buying for a child read the page on kids violins too. The choice is yours!

Save Up to 95% in the Price Cuts Section of the MusiciansFriend.com Outlet Store