GENERAL VIOLIN KNOWLEDGE

VIOLIN CHOICES: 1/2 SIZE FORYOUNG CHILD HANDS
3/4 SIZE SMALL HANDS/WOMEN PERHAPS
4/4 SIZE REGULAR ADULT HAND
SPRUCE TOPS (CLOSE GRAIN IS BEST) AND MAPLE WOOD BACK AND SIDES ARE THE NORM. THE BEST LUTHIERS GRADUATE THE TOPS AND BOTTOMS FOR INCREASED TONAL QUALITIES. ALSO YOU WILL HEAR BLOCKED. THAT REINFORCES THE INSTRUMENT. IT IS A SIGN OF A QUALITY BUILDER. CHEAPIES MAY HAVE PLYWOOD TYPE TOPS AND LAMINATED WOOD. BEWARE!
PURFLING THE (SMALL BLACK INDENTED LINES AROUND TOP/BOTTOM OUTER EDGES). SOME HAVE ONLY PAINTED ON STRIPES.PURFLINGPREVENTS ANY CRACKS FROM GOING FURTHER INWARD IF THEY SHOULD OCCUR.USE A HUMIDIFIER TO KEEP THE WOOD FROM DRYING.IVE SEEN A LOT OF GREEN WORMS USED.
EBONY FINGER BOARD IS THE BEST. THEY DON'T WEAR FINGER INDENTATIONS AS EASILY OVER TIME.A GOOD EVEN FINISH IS REQUIRED HERE.
TAILPIECES (THE PART ON THE BODY THAT HOLD THE STRINGS) EBONY OR ROSEWOOD IS FINE. METAL/PLASTIC ONES TAKE AWAY FROM THE SOUND OF THE INSTRUMENT.
(TUNING) PEGS USE FRICTION TO TIGHTEN AND HOLD THE STRINGS IN TUNE. FINE TUNERS CAN BE USED FOR FINAL PITCH(TUNING).NOW THE SCROLL(END PIECE WHERE PEGS ARE)REALLY DOES NOTHING FOR SOUND. BUT IF IT IS CRACKED YOUR PEGS WILL NOT HOLD TUNE AND THE FORCE OF THE STRINGS IS GREAT. THEREFORETHE GOOD SOLID MAPLE IS NECESSARY.
WOODEN BRIDGE (HOLDS STRING UP FROM BODY OF VIOLIN). TRANSFERSSTRING VIBRATIONS TO THETOP.MOST QUALITY BRIDGES ARE FINE.AUBERT BRAND IS ONE OF THE BETTER BRIDGES.
BRIDGEFEET SHOULD SET PROPERLY ONTO THE TOP OF THE VIOLIN.THE FEET SHOULD CONFORM TO THE CURVATURE OF THE VIOLIN TOP.
THE BRIDGE SHOULD BE PLACED EVEN WITH THE SMALL "V" NOTCHES IN THE TOP "F HOLES.
GET AN INSTRUMENT TUNER. SOME ARE MADE JUST FOR VIOLINS. BUT IF IT'S NOT TUNED PROPERLY IT SOUNDS JUST LIKE THAT!
A GOOD BOW DOES NOT FLEX AND GIVE SIDEWAYS AND USES REAL HORSEHAIR. "DO YOU THINK THAT IS WHERE BOB TAIL NAGS CAME FROM???lol"PLAYING IS SO MUCH EASIER WITH QUALITY.
YOUR GOOD STRINGS WILL GIVE YOU THE EASE OF PLAYING AND THE TONE THAT IS PLEASING. CHANGING STRINGS WILL CHANGE TONES.

PLEASE DON'T OVERLOOK TRUE QUALITY IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE. ASK ANOTHERMUSICIAN/MUSIC SHOP OWNER/LUTHIER(BUILDER) IF STILL IN DOUBT.