I plan on purchasing a viola and I need some help... Any experts?

The only problem is that I'm kind of on a budget. How much money do you think I'll have to spend to purchase a fairly decent viola and bow that would get me through my first couple years of high school?

I plan on purchasing a viola and I need some help... Any experts?
Hello! I am a violist (trained in Chicago area, does semi-professional sub work, freelance, has professional string quartet) I can't tell you names of shops because of geography, but I can give you some advice at least.





I assume that you have private teacher, and that person is the one you should ask about shops. Especially when you are dealing with shops that are found in cities, you run across the problem of "regraded" instruments where a dealer has taken an old and crappy instrument, hollowed it out so that it sounds better, only to have in collapse a short while later, depending on how often you play. Also older violas with new bass bars installed in them may have problems as well. Worse comes to worse, email a member of a local symphony and ask them about shops who will not blindside you.





When you do have a few reputable shop names(which you should get a couple...comparing prices is a must, and don't be afraid to bargain down your price either) go and see what they have. A good intermediate level viola (you said your current one is $700 which would be student quality) should run you about $1,500-$3000 maybe $4000, depending on what you want to use your instrument for or if you have already decided to get ready for a life in the classical music industry. I myself learned on a $500, had a $2,500 intermediate, and purchased a $20,000 viola as my freelance quality instrument.





Many of these instruments may be factory punched but hand made, so even if a shop has several instruments by the same maker and the same model, all of those instruments may sound completely different. Sooo, you could get one with $4000 sound quality with a $1500 pricetag if the cut of the wood was perfect and it had a skillful assembler. There are also beautiful older instruments as well and a good shop should be able to point out the ones that will suit your preferences (like whether you want a bright or dark sound). In the end, the one that you want will be obvious to you, and only after you have fallen in love with the instrument should you do closer inspections.





Always always always take instruments out on consignment from shops. That way, when you are trying to decide between a final two or three instruments, you can play them for other people and see how they react in different settings (is it good for solo work, orchestra work, chamber music?).





In the end, do only what feels right. My viola is as individual to me as my own soul, and yours should fit you that perfectly too. It is a big purchase for you to make, and I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.
Reply:Scroll down to "Better Student Violas" from:





http://beststudentviolins.com/violas.htm...
Reply:You should not have to spend more than $200 on a beginners outfit ; case , viola and bow.


Make sure you buy it from a proper violin shop so that it has been set up correctly. Don't buy it from a guitar/drum/keyboard music shop.





PS You should have said which City you are in. Perhaps somebody can direct you to a particular music shop and a brand of viola.