• We should now be fully online following an overnight outage. Apologies for any inconvenience, we do not expect there to be any further issues.

How much on average, does a violin cost?

dcpsoguy

Diamond Member
Nov 5, 2000
3,252
0
0
I am just wondering, on average, how much a violin costs?

I am not looking for anything special or anything, just good enough so I can play the violin
 

amnesiac

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
15,781
1
71
I have one I might be able to sell. Send me an email if you're interested; I'll come up with pics and a price or something for you this weekend!!

 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
My dad has ones he sells for $150, obviously student grade models. They're very good for student models, he's selling them for quite cheap. He has better ones he sells in the $200-300 range.

My violin + bow is worth around $3,000, & it's on the low end of decent violins.

Pretty much sky's the limit.

If you want one, though, my dad has 50+ of 'em.

Viper GTS
 

gopunk

Lifer
Jul 7, 2001
29,239
2
0
a cheap one is around 200 i think, and of course they run into the thousands. i might be a little off though, i play the cello. haven't touched a violin since 4th grade.
 

Aihyah

Banned
Apr 21, 2000
2,593
0
0




My dad has ones he sells for $150, obviously student grade models. They're very good for student models, he's selling them for quite cheap. He has better ones he sells in the $200-300 range.


yep, but if your truely serious i'd splurg for a bit more, probably better to learn on something that sounds halfway decent:)


look at it this way.. how much is the cheapest piano? hehehe
 

dcpsoguy

Diamond Member
Nov 5, 2000
3,252
0
0
Thanks for the suggestions.

One question. I am looking for a violin with good sound. What is the lowest price , on average, they go?
 

GoldenGuppy

Diamond Member
Feb 4, 2000
3,494
0
0
Good sound? That's all dependent on you really... I have a violin, I haven't been playing for a while though - but it's usually preferences, most places will allow you to play and test on the tone if you want - Good luck

My violin is about 2500 and my bow about 200 , and now it's just really collecting dust.
 

swai

Senior member
Aug 11, 2001
726
0
0
a good violin will probably be at least $3000
don't really know about bows, but i'd guess about $300
 

dcpsoguy

Diamond Member
Nov 5, 2000
3,252
0
0


<< a good violin will probably be at least $3000 >>


3000??!!??

The most I am willing to spend is 500, and it better be a great model.
 

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
18,834
1
0
Whatever you do, DON'T buy those ones you see in mail-order catalogs. They are terrible-sounding, terrible to play.
Musical instruments are one part manufacturing and 3 parts skill. We know exactly how violins are made, yet no one can figure out how to duplicate the sound of Stradivarius violins exactly....it's never the same.

The bottom line, expect to blow a few-hundred clams. If you've played before and know you're going to continue playing, it wouldn't hurt to blow $500-600 and get something a little higher-end. Don't ignore the used market, either.

If you've never played before, you might want to look into a rental plan, just to see if you think you're going to stick to it. Many places will do a rental plan where if you decide to buy, your rental payments go at least in part towards the final purchase...

EDIT: For $500, don't expect to get anything NEAR a great model. If you want high-end tone and craftmanship, you need to be prepared to spend a couple thousand. $500 will score you a good-enough starter/student model, maybe a used but good-quality instrument. Musical instruments just ain't cheap.
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136


<<



My dad has ones he sells for $150, obviously student grade models. They're very good for student models, he's selling them for quite cheap. He has better ones he sells in the $200-300 range.


yep, but if your truely serious i'd splurg for a bit more, probably better to learn on something that sounds halfway decent:)


look at it this way.. how much is the cheapest piano? hehehe
>>



These are actually surprisingly decent instruments for the price. He strips off all the non-ebony parts & replaces them with ebony, puts dominant strings on them, & sells them. While they don't compare to mine, they are surprisingly decent for the price.

Viper GTS
 

Aihyah

Banned
Apr 21, 2000
2,593
0
0

3000??!!??

The most I am willing to spend is 500, and it better be a great model.


remember its an investment, one that should last a long long time if treated well. :p

and vipergts, i only played the violin for 2 years::p sad hehe, sister is the expert in the family. i switched to the piano:)
 

Gen Stonewall

Senior member
Aug 8, 2001
629
0
0
I think a "good" violin runs at around $25,000. Compare that to a professional-level clarinet at around $2000.:p Violins are very expensive, and you should invest a few thousand dollars if you want to play the violin seriously for any length of time. (You should go to a good music store for an accurate recommendation.)
 

Siva

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2001
5,472
0
71


<< The most I am willing to spend is 500, and it better be a great model. >>


You can't just go up to someone and say give me a great violin for $500. You get what you pay for, and violins run pretty damn high for a "great model"
 

Magicthyse

Golden Member
Aug 15, 2001
1,095
0
0
Depends on what you want I guess - I found MIDI violins quite fun. I wonder what would Paganini say (or do) if you showed him how to jack the violin into the 'puter? (Prolly buy Kevlar bow hair...)

Zeta

But you should be able to learn on any basic violin. $500 will cover that.
One for a good sound I would say is about $2000-$4000 at the moment. To be honest, the glass fiber bows are probably better for practice. If you must have a decent bow, prepare to spend over $300 at least.

Magicthyse is a former pro-level violinist who wonders what the heck he is doing running a computer company. Oh yeah, I remember now... MONEY.


 

urameatball

Platinum Member
Jan 19, 2001
2,770
0
0
who was that asian girl violinist? ask her for one? she probably gets those $50000 violins for free anyway!
or even better, ask her for one she's used and sell it on ebay :)
 

Daniel

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
3,813
0
76
How would be the best way to find out the value of some instruments? Because I found some older ones in unpacking some stuff and they haven't been used in like 15 years, a clarinet, a violin, a viola (sp?), a chello and I think a trumpet too, any ideas would be great.
thanks,
Daniel