mikeburns - Posted - 12/22/2019:  11:33:12

I'm sure that there will be a big variety of answers on this. I am a learner. I have 2 old strad copies. Neither is high quality. I am thinking of just buying a new one, and am curious what you guys think are some of the better ones in the $500 ballpark range. Of course sound matters, but set up and playability are more important to me, since I'm learning. I like what I read about the Kennedy company, but I'm sure that there are others as good or better in that range. I look forward to reading your recommendations.

Beardog - Posted - 12/22/2019:  13:59:49

How new of a learner are you? How old are your strad copies? Has a good luthier looked at them for you? In my experience, any decent old fiddle that was fairly well made (it doesn't have to be "high quality"), and has been recently set up by a good luthier will usually beat the socks off of just about any new $500 violin. I spend a lot of time in a really nice violin shop about an hour's drive from my house, and I am never very impressed with anything they have that is priced below about $1500 for a "new" violin/fiddle. They have several superb "old" violins that they have gone through and setup properly in the $1000-1500 range, that are much, much better than the new ones at the same price. A $500 budget in a violin store (where most new violins are sold) won't go very far. One can do much better in the used, individual seller market, but it is easy to get ripped off that way, unless you are very careful. Have you tired a $500 carbon fiber bow on one of your present fiddles? You might be amazed. A good bow and an inexpensive fiddle beats a decent fiddle with a cheap bow in lots of cases.

farmerjones - Posted - 12/22/2019:  19:05:13

Find out where the local school orchestra(s) kids get their violins. Good chance many are rented. The violin rentor i know, keeps an eye out for cherry instruments. Maybe he/she will have one for sale at your price point. Yes, an important percentage of the price is setup.
I'm not going to site a brand per se, because from the cheapest to the most expensive, violins are a bunch of parts flying in formation. From strings, pegs or cornerblocks, so many parts tunable, tweakable, adjustable, and/or able to be damaged. Then to make matters worse, it's only less than 10% of how you sound.

stumpkicker - Posted - 12/23/2019:  05:18:17

I have had good luck with restored old fiddles. I see you live between Cincinnati and Indianapolis. I would post a new topic: Question for Cincinnati and Indianapolis Fiddlers. Then ask them if they know of any luthiers who restore old violins in their area, and check them out. If you do go visit bring another more experienced fiddler/ violinist with you. Good Luck.

Dragonslayer - Posted - 12/24/2019:  04:53:03

The classifieds here sometimes have some pretty good fiddles in that range.
Also, seems to me that fiddles are the least brand driven instruments out there. You just gotta find one you like

mikeburns - Posted - 12/24/2019:  05:13:31

quote:

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Originally posted by Beardog

How new of a learner are you? How old are your strad copies? Has a good luthier looked at them for you? In my experience, any decent old fiddle that was fairly well made (it doesn't have to be "high quality"), and has been recently set up by a good luthier will usually beat the socks off of just about any new $500 violin. I spend a lot of time in a really nice violin shop about an hour's drive from my house, and I am never very impressed with anything they have that is priced below about $1500 for a "new" violin/fiddle. They have several superb "old" violins that they have gone through and setup properly in the $1000-1500 range, that are much, much better than the new ones at the same price. A $500 budget in a violin store (where most new violins are sold) won't go very far. One can do much better in the used, individual seller market, but it is easy to get ripped off that way, unless you are very careful. Have you tired a $500 carbon fiber bow on one of your present fiddles? You might be amazed. A good bow and an inexpensive fiddle beats a decent fiddle with a cheap bow in lots of cases.

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mikeburns - Posted - 12/24/2019:  05:19:37

I've been trying for about 6 months, and am fairly happy with the results, except when trying to play in front of an audience. One of my fiddles is a Czech made Strad copy. The other is a Jackson & Gulden. My guess is that both are 1940s roughly. The Czech copy sounds better, but the other is in better condition. I bought a Glasser carbon bow a year ago. Not expensive, but much better than what I had. I have played guitar and sang for over 50 years. Having a basic understanding of music, and a good feel for chord progressions has helped me some.

mikeburns - Posted - 12/24/2019:  05:21:43

quote:

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Originally posted by stumpkicker

I have had good luck with restored old fiddles. I see you live between Cincinnati and Indianapolis. I would post a new topic: Question for Cincinnati and Indianapolis Fiddlers. Then ask them if they know of any luthiers who restore old violins in their area, and check them out. If you do go visit bring another more experienced fiddler/ violinist with you. Good Luck.

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mikeburns - Posted - 12/24/2019:  05:25:28

That's a good idea. I personally only know of one luthier in my area, he is trying to retire, and does not specialize in violins / fiddles. So if anyone is aware of a good luthier between Indianapolis and Cincinnatti who does specialize in fiddles, I would surely like to know about them. If nothing comes from this, I'll follow your advice and post a new thread asking about that.

mikeburns - Posted - 12/24/2019:  05:27:40

quote:Originally posted by farmerjonesFind out where the local school orchestra(s) kids get their violins. Good chance many are rented. The violin rentor i know, keeps an eye out for cherry instruments. Maybe he/she will have one for sale at your price point. Yes, an important percentage of the price is setup.
I'm not going to site a brand per se, because from the cheapest to the most expensive, violins are a bunch of parts flying in formation. From strings, pegs or cornerblocks, so many parts tunable, tweakable, adjustable, and/or able to be damaged. Then to make matters worse, it's only less than 10% of how you sound.

mikeburns - Posted - 12/24/2019:  05:29:57

I live in a very tiny town, that is in the second smallest county in our state. I have actually never seen a violin in our high school orchestra. That probably sounds crazy, but it is what it is.

Cyndy - Posted - 12/24/2019:  06:42:27

mikeburns A decade ago, I bought my first good fiddle from Chris at Bluegrass Shack in southern Illinois. The shop had a good selection in many price ranges. Chris was wonderful about offering suggestions but she was also good about stepping back to give me relaxed time and space to try the instruments to find one I liked. If the shop is still there, I think it might be worth the trip.

Dick Hauser - Posted - 12/24/2019:  07:09:09

Fiddlers looking for good playable fiddles at a reasonable price should check out Royce Burt in Plant City FL.. He demonstrates fiddles on Youtube. He buys used fiddles and reconditions them.
I purchased a old fiddle from Royce and no complaints about fiddle or service.

mikeburns - Posted - 12/24/2019:  09:09:31

quote:

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Originally posted by Cyndy

mikeburns A decade ago, I bought my first good fiddle from Chris at Bluegrass Shack in southern Illinois. The shop had a good selection in many price ranges. Chris was wonderful about offering suggestions but she was also good about stepping back to give me relaxed time and space to try the instruments to find one I liked. If the shop is still there, I think it might be worth the trip.

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mikeburns - Posted - 12/24/2019:  09:10:23

Thanks, I'll see if I can locate Chris at Bluegrass shop. Appreciate it.

mikeburns - Posted - 12/24/2019:  09:11:10

quote:

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Originally posted by Dick Hauser

Fiddlers looking for good playable fiddles at a reasonable price should check out Royce Burt in Plant City FL.. He demonstrates fiddles on Youtube. He buys used fiddles and reconditions them.

I purchased a old fiddle from Royce and no complaints about fiddle or service.

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mikeburns - Posted - 12/24/2019:  09:12:31

I will actually be in Plant City in February. I'll keep Royce Burt's name with me and will try to find him while I'm there.

Cyndy - Posted - 12/24/2019:  09:13:00

Mike, I replied on my phone earlier so I wasn't able to check a map. Looks like the shop is farther from you than I hoped, but they also sell instruments online and I think they work hard to set them up right. The advice to check with Royce Burt is also sound. 

Edited by - Cyndy on 12/24/2019 09:13:47

tpquinn - Posted - 12/24/2019:  10:33:45

I also recommend Royce Burt. And you actually being in Plant City soon seems a touch of destiny.

Royce repaired and set up my old trade fiddle and it sounds great. I know a couple of other folk that got fiddles from him they love at great prices. I'll probably by another fiddle this year and it will most likely be from Royce.

I would suggest you contact him now to chat about what you're interested in so he can keep it in mind over the next month or so. I don't think he has a shop per se, but rather restores fiddles and sells them when he's done. And chatting with a later visit doesn't obligate you to buy from him, so no worries there.