Whether you or your child aspires to become a professional violinist, having the right type of violin can certainly improve your play. No matter if you aspire to become the next Niccolo Paganini or the next Joshua Bell, or you just want to play your favourite instrument, having the right one matters. But the most common question that arises during this moment of choice is whether to rent or buy a violin.
Why Rent?
Renting violins for beginners seems to be the most reasonable and obvious choice because the person is new to this. This goes mainly to children who are still growing and can easily outgrow a certain beginner violin size. Renting one for a beginner is also better because when young, children can’t make a firm decision without trying something first. For instance, he/she might think that this instrument is the right one for them, but once starts playing, he/she will change their mind.
Renting a violin sometimes is a better option because many retailers offer rent-to-own programs which a lot of you might find appealing. Some retailers or manufacturers can even provide credits for upgrades in size or even on your next purchase, so renting a violin in such cases seems a pretty reasonable choice.
Why Buy?
Generally speaking, buying a professionally set up beginner violin is a good investment for beginners who have already been renting one for quite some time. Purchasing this instrument seems acceptable for those people, especially for children who have shown their dedication to the instrument and the music.
By purchasing this instrument, you will help a child understand more about responsibility, especially when it comes to caring for it. When taking proper care of it, you’ll be basically improving its longevity and increasing its value. This will allow for the instrument to be handed down from one generation to another. Buying a violin is also a good choice for a child who is already grown and can use the largest size of violin.
However, this doesn’t stop some parents from buying a smaller size violin to a dedicated player, because they plan on giving the smaller size to their younger child. If you think that you or your child is already into playing the instrument and into this kind of music, then buying seems the best choice you can make. When not sure what to do, make sure to consult with a store’s specialist to make the right choice.
“When you play a violin piece, you are a storyteller, and you’re telling a story.” – Joshua Bell
Things to Consider When Buying One
In case you have decided to buy one, you should consider some important things before doing anything.
Look for Professionally Set Up Violin
Whether renting or buying a violin, you should make sure the chosen one is professionally set up because this will affect its usability and the quality of the sound. In case the chosen instrument isn’t set up properly by a professional, you should expect to deal with a violin that is difficult to play on and tune. And not to mention that the sound coming from it will be just terrible. All of these things can discourage any player, especially a beginner. So, by any means, do choose a violin from a trusted and reliable store, and one that is professionally set up.
Choose One Made from Quality Wood
When it comes to buying one, you really shouldn’t settle for a violin that is made from lower-quality wood. Instead, you should choose one that has its neck, back and sides made from quality wood like maple while the top of it should be made from spruce. Another thing to look for in a violin is its nut, pegs and fingerboard made from boxwood because it is a denser and stronger type of wood.
This, in fact, is the only wood combo you should look for in a violin. Do not let the price of the cheaper violins fool you. Usually, they are made from laminated wood which has poorer quality. Plus, a poorly made violin is extremely difficult to tune, so make sure to stay away from such.
Keep an Eye on Its Strings
A good-quality violin should have good strings that can produce a nice, warm and encouraging sound. Nowadays, even some good and quality violins can come with a set of Chinese and poor quality strings which won’t help you achieve the needed sound. So, even if you buy a good instrument, if the strings are poor, make sure to invest in a separate set of good strings.
Choose the Right Size
The last thing to consider is the instrument’s size. In general, violins come in a variety of sizes ranging from 1/32, 1/16, 1/10, 1/8 and 1/4, to 1/2, 3/4, 7/8 and finally the standard size of 4/4 which is typically used by adults. However, if you are petite, you might find it better if you play on 3/4 or 7/8. Taking all of this into account explains the fact why it is better to try several violins before making any decision.
