Need Your Help Writing about Violins

I was wondering if someone can help me write general descriptions about Chinese string instruments that we will be selling, which you can view here

Here is a small bulleted list I received from my distributor, but the descriptions are too concise and I would like to expand on these descriptions:

• The best solo quality is almost made for professional people,this kind of violin has the flame maple back and side,the sound is very good.
  
• The top quality violin has the good sound and flame maple back and side.
  
• The second quality violin has the slightly flame maple.
  
• The common quality violin is almost made for students.

Obviously the above descriptions are not detailed enough. As YC makes these sales, I hope I can have more reviews about these instruments, and even show videos. But if anyone knows anything about violins and what makes their quality, I would appreciate it if you can help me out. I assume that as the wood ages in these instruments, the better the sound quality. I also assume that a varnished instrument sounds better than an instrument with no finish (which we sell as well, thus making the instrument cheaper). But what qualifies a sound quality of a string instrument? By how loud it is? The tone? Both?

Thanks for your help!

So are you selling Chinese instruments and violins?

Being a violinist, this is how I basically understand it. I may be wrong on somethings, or left something out, so if anyone else know stuff please add or correct me. ;)

Age has some to do with the quality of the violin (for the most part that just means breaking in the instrument, unless you plan on selling older instruments); this, however, doesn't have huge impact on the sound. At least not so much that most people will notice. Yes, as a violin ages it will generally become more valued, though not signifigantly for a while.

Tone can affect quality. If the instrument has a clean, pure sound or a lush, dark one will also affect price; the alternative is a muddy almost muffled or muted sound. (You can hear the difference in intruments on Youtube with Heifetz, or someone the like, compared to some guy recording him learning to play Hot Crossed Buns.) This in turn can affect projection, or loudness, but that isn't major point as far as I know.

Tone can be affected by a number of things such as f-hole shape and size. Most violins follow a Stradivarius or Guarnerri(sp) model or mold, but these can still and do vary slightly from instrument to instrument. Another thing that influences tone is the grain of the wood used (I can't remember the types of wood unfortunately). Ideally the grain should be very straight and very thin (like toothpick width or smaller). This applies to the back, belly, and ribs of the instrument. Propper bridge placement also, but that is easily adjustible and shouldn't be an issue.

Flaming is basically a varnishing technique, but the straighter and more mirrored across the center of the violin it is reflects the grain of the wood.

I don't know anything about with or without varnish, which is interesting because I have never heard of someone selling one without. Go figure...

Who made the violin also changes price, though I am not sure who is the best guy around now.... Also if it is handmade or produced in a factory or something if a point.

Thank you for your information, you can bet that this information will be going on my product pages in some form or another. I just have to figure it all out and how I will present it.

And yes we are selling Chinese string instruments, and string accessories (bows, strings, bow hair, etc). The makers are called Kata Music. The instruments with no varnish most likely are "do it yourself" kits, where you have to string and varnish the violin yourself, in turn saving cost. Yes, it is very interesting, and when we get a few sales, I will have to take a few pictures, and ask the person who made the purchase if he/she can send me a little audio and/or video demo.

I don't understand why you'd want to sell unvarnished instruments... I wouldn't leave my customers to varnish their own instruments. Who are you selling to? Just regular people? Most of the purpose of the varnish to protect the wood of the instrument. Varnish is basically a recipe, some type of oil, plus rosin, wood ash, turpentine, together with some water. Adding this mixture to an instrument adds weight and dampens the vibrations. If not done expertly it won't look good, it may run or get bumby and pretty much devalue the instrument since it can hardly be undone. There's a fellow in my community that makes his own violins but doesn't apply the varnish because he knows it can be a make it or break it deal. I'd advise against selling unvarnished instruments unless you are selling them to somebody you know will varnish them expertly and distribute them. Just like I wouldn't sell unlacquered trumpets to the average guy, since the average guy couldn't adequately do a lacquer job in their garage unless they've been doing it for years.

I have a chinese violin... value of 800 USD, got it for free from where I was renting it because the shop went out of business (possibly because they were a mess and never sent out the rental bills... ). Violin was made by some place called Oxford, as indicated on the tag inside, I've otherwise never heard of them. I've had the fiddle since I started... it's served me well but it does rather sound like crap. Very bright sound, doesn't project well... not a lot of depth to the tone. I wouldn't advise such an instrument to somebody who's serious or has been playing for more than 8 or so years. I'm sure there are chinese models that are much better, perhaps these "professional" grade instruments you refer to. I'm not sure what the difference in construction would be, other than perhaps the materials used, the aging of the wood, ect.