Instrument Buying - The 6 Biggest Mistakes String Players Make 

I got a good laugh at the fiddle being put on the shopping belt with the groceries.😂

When my daughter wanted to start learning violin, I started to look for a local luthier. We found one and then my husband (also a musician; he plays trombone, sings), listened to the shop owner/head luthier play various instruments before we settled. He, unbeknownst to me at the time, did the same thing to find a viola for me so that I had an instrument to start teaching our daughter from (I’m a trumpet player and music teacher). He did a great job, despite having little to no experience with strings. He asked a lot of questions of our friends who are string players too.

I bought a 1792 Johann Gottfried Liebich from a pawn shop in Vicksburg, MS. It was the finest violin I have ever touched. A make believe Luthier did damage to it. Luckily he only hurt the appearance. I sold it to send my sons to college. It is now being played in an orchestra in Melbourne, Australia.

I bought my violin after I had had only 3 lessons. I knew for sure this was what I wanted to do. I knew nothing about violins. I went to a violin shop which imported violins from the Czech republic which has luthiers like f.i. Hans Lorenz (but my violin isn't made by him). I could choose from a few beginners instruments. I played endlessly Twinkle, twinkle on the different violins (that was all I could play), to decide which sound suited me best and which violin was nice to play. The shop owner also played all the instruments so I could hear them from a distance. I didn't want a very good violin because I knew I could never get the beautiful sound out of it for years (I was 59 at the time), but I didn't buy the cheapest one either because it didn't suit my character. I like the warm cloudy sounds. I bought the violin for a reasonable price and I haven't regretted it so far. My instrument grows with me in sound. More and more I am able to get the sound out of it that I heard when the shop owner played it.

I once bought an original german violin made by a very good maker for 300 Euros on eBay. It holds up very well to my certified Justin Derazey master violin. 😄

i just had a random video Idea I thought I might share! What if you collabed with Twoset again, slightly longer format videos where you traded lessons? You could take a playing lesson with twoset and twoset could take a violin making workshop with you! I can't speak for the rest of the audience but I know I would be extremely interested in watching long format for both of these videos as I could learn some things about both playing and making/repairing violins. I know personally I could watch at least an hour long video of both of these :)

Yeah, I got a Piere Lomont Master violin and it is setup perfectly as delivered. I"ve been playing it for a couple of months now and it is starting to open up and breathe for me now. Perfect "step up" from a student grade violin I think. I also really like the Fleuriel Bow that came with my Piere Lomont violin.

Thank you for the great tips. I spent nearly a year looking for my viola in Southern California, I had many sources to explore to find an affordable instrument with a tone I like. Most violas in the mid-price range and all student models sound nasal to me. More recently I bought student model cellos. Both were made in China, but one was not set up as well as the other. One has a peculiar ridge on the finger board that caused a buzz and the bridge is likewise arched oddly. I recently gave that cello to a pianist who played cello when younger. I mentioned the finger board needed replaning but she didn't notice the difference. She thought the cello was great. I couldn't stand playing it, but I was perfectly happy playing the other cello except the tone could be better, but I have been spoiled playing my wonderful sounding viola. Set up does make a big difference!

I am an adult beginner... I looked for my own violin after a while... I fell inlove with one and bought it. My original teacher didn't like it and guilt tripped me all the time, said she could get me better for less...It would really not surprise me if she would take a bit of profit for herself tbh, it came across as such to me. She also wanted to know every detail of it. And then she just said negative things about it -> the guilt tripping... Found a more fitting teacher after a short break and he had no knowledge about the violin. First thing he said when we started lessons is that he REALLY likes the sound of it and that I have a gem and a keeper for a violin! He played it after I asked him and it was really beautiful to hear what it sounds like.. (my playing isn't that good yet). OG teacher didn't really want to play mine when I had it to try it out, prior to buying. She played on it after begging but very very shortly.

You are right Olaf. I purchased a violin online, beautiful violin, but it was with no return deal. I found out that the the A and the D strings cannot be tuned to the right tone, got stuck with it. I took it to a shop and after months it came back the way it was and as compensation I have received the violin of the music teacher with a silencer on it. That violin sounds as bad. What can be wrong with these strings it puzzles me, I tried to find an answer in the internet, but to no avail. If you read my comments by any chance, throw a few lines to tell me your opinion on the strings. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, most appreciated. Your videos are also comforting and fun to watch.

Good advice Olaf. Informative and interesting. Thank you. 👍

Add gear for music to the banned website list, someone said their oboes are so bad you can bend the keys off like a spoon

One of my friends has strings that are at such a height he struggles to play high at all without shredding his fingers so yeah big issue look into that

„Good strings“ lol I haven’t changed mine since I bought it like 8 years ago (blasphemous I know) but like I’ve taken it to my teachers and made them play it to check and I did my grade 8 on it like 5 years ago and it was fine, idk what the hell magic strings the luthier put on them but goddam

I bought a Yamaha sv-200 electric violin. I like it, but I never played any other violins!

Tanks Olaf !

If you want a bow for a beginner I got one called a 3/4 Theodore Ebony bow for under £17 .and it plays beautifully. From the balance point to the tip you can play Sautille ,Spicatto ,Stacatto .It`s effortless and instinctive to control .Made of wood . Looks like pernambuco .I wish violins were so good from brand new .

Olaf, I really like your honesty about your violins made in China. How did you come up with the name "Piere Lomont"? Was he actually a French luthier, or made up name?

woa epic new intro

Hah, no on the character point! I am certainly the opposite in character of my instruments and I wouldn't want it otherwise.

I find I no longer have the ear I had when I was younger. So, I have to rely on look and feel.

Olaf, if a violin maker has had proper training, will they have credentials, on display, so you can know they have been trained, like a Dr.? 😁✌🖖

If the pegbox is a little screwy so that the strings lean on other string's pegs in passing, is that a major flaw?

Yo Olaf, i was in your website and i don't know which violin choose , can u help me ?

I restore violins. These cheap violins of horribly made. The thickness of their belly and back plates are many times twice to three times the thickness they should be. Also the chisel marks are often still there. I can make a violin but I don't want too. There are too many that need TLC.

Hi Olaf, I tried getting you "7 essentials" report from your website, but I didn't get an email. Looked in my spam as well. Maybe it's broken?

Why would anyone use that damned lacquer on a violin? Yuck. Might as well paint it.

Unfortunately your industry has so may pitfalls and charlatans that being ripped off is almost guaranteed. Because of Severely overpriced instruments made by the great masters , every Luther on the planet believes that their violins therefore must be worth at least 30k by osmosis.😮 Im a electric Bassist and I have professional basses ( and intermediate) . When I was younger my schools music programs did not support orchestral instrument so I couldn't learn cello . As a older person now ive looked into learning cello ( for interest and fun) and it's costs are just too much to justify , 3-5k for a higher end beginning cello is crazy . Sorry , Im not trying dislike you or you channel but if you can only afford a $300 dollar violin there is no reason to start .

Mistake #7: They buy a viola.