Need for secondary violin

Edited: May 12, 2017, 3:20 AM · Oh yes, many 'secondary' violins. And they all get played once in a while! But I always end up defaulting to my favorite.
I considered taking each week a different violin to rehearsals... Might start doing that...!
As for reasons, well, I have a violin problem! It's not as bad as my bow problem but I keep getting more violins! ;)

May 12, 2017, 1:49 PM · until a few months ago I had 2 violas and at least 4 violins. 2 I planned to sell and then the 2 I used. I decided to sell all but 1 violin and 1 viola. Now I wish I hadn't. having a nice backup was convenient. One I could travel with or leave out to grab on a whim. The other my favorite to practice on. At least I have extra bows...

Edited: May 12, 2017, 9:10 PM · I have extra bows just in case one breaks. I have had situations with fractionals where someone would lend me one of the same size that I need and it's better than my own of the same size. My own violin ends up being useless. 1 1/2 years ago I have needed a second violin to act as a viola so I could play viola parts without moving any notes. Thankfully it sounds fine and I like it a lot. Quite honestly I want a proper viola, but I have to wait, but I have no intentions of giving up violin whatsoever.

May 12, 2017, 3:00 PM · I have a Yamaha YEV as a secondary violin. I got it mainly for silent practice during downtime at work and to have a violin a keep in my house outside my practice room. The problem I've found with the electric is that I get a lot of left-hand tension when I play it, to the point of being painful. I'm not sure why, but I suspect it has to do with setup. I love my Kreddle chinrest and Korker shoulder rest, but buying extras for the electric would be awfully expensive.

May 12, 2017, 4:02 PM · All acoustic here. I keep two secondary violins, so I have three fiddles in active use. Actually, I don't consider one of them primary and the others secondary -- more like equal players, since I play on all three daily.

My reasons for having more than one: First, I like having at least one backup instrument in case another needs repair or breaks a string. Then, too, each one has its own tonal characteristics and its own string combo. I like the variety. Some repertoire just sounds better to me on one fiddle than it does on the others.

May 12, 2017, 4:14 PM · Jason, I would get a good chin rest-shoulder rest fit for your electric. It's worth it. The neck dimensions and the overall weight might come into play as well.

May 12, 2017, 4:23 PM · If you're wanting a "silent" violin for practicing, I'd recommend waiting for the new Yamaha YSV-104 due for release in July. (That's YSV, not YEV.) It's set apart from the other Yamaha silents by having a small preamp that you wear on your belt that has "modeling" circuitry, the same in principle as electronic pianos, where Yamaha sampled an acoustic violin with the microphones placed at the player's ears, so, it's claimed, you get a very realistic acoustic violin experience. I'm very intrigued and am waiting to try it.

May 13, 2017, 5:18 PM · When I upgraded my violin, I kept my student violin. But I never played it and it's work to keep two violins in playing shape. I traded the student violin for a viola. Now I still have a violin that I don't play. I should have traded in the better violin. :-(

May 14, 2017, 2:24 AM · Fortuna's wheel spins yet again for Steven!

May 14, 2017, 6:02 AM · I got carried away and bought octave strings. My secondary violin is an inherited one, therefore I do not want it becoming my guinea pig. Now I am thinking about buying a 14" VSO viola.
But actually I should concentrate on violin.... but it might be fun....

May 15, 2017, 12:59 PM · It makes sense to have "second" or back-up equipment. For outside or physically risky situations, for traveling, for some practice and rehearsals. I don't have anything that could do a decent job with a major concerto. All of my 4 fiddles are less than pro. quality and price. I have a good high-note violin for first violin parts, a good low-note violin for second parts, a loud, but monotone fiddle, a hybrid electric-acoustic fiddle that is easy playing, sounds good under a microphone, and lots of cheap bows that aren't worth the cost of a re-hair job.

May 15, 2017, 2:41 PM · I'm at a bit of a dilemma here.

The E-violin has arrived. It's not terrible, I will actually plain and shape the bridge a little bit to my liking(Whenever the bridge comes off Socia, I outline its shape on a piece of paper for reference). It's a GEWA Line 1, which is out of production a long time ago.

I don't have the time right now to leave it in a luthier's hand, as my plane leaves in less than 6 days, not to mention that I am already out of town.

The dilemma however is not of the violin. The bow that came with the e-violin is rubbish! I am selecting my JonPaul Vetta over Alfred Knoll, because Vetta is CF. Now I'm realizing that I am going to be carrying a $2000+ bow and a ~$200 violin..

I think I am going to carry the bow in separate case.

May 15, 2017, 9:03 PM · To me a separate bow case seems like just another hassle to carry and potentially lose. Buying another budget bow would seem to be a waste, but as you seem to be adept at buying and selling, you could look at it as rental of sorts.

May 16, 2017, 10:11 AM · I did look at a cheap bow, but I really really really like my bows, and want to just get more used to them

Edited: May 16, 2017, 1:30 PM · Just get a cheap synthesizer and to hell with the violin. LOL!!

May 22, 2017, 2:40 AM · Well, the joke is on me, Lufthansa said cough up $500 for traveling with a violin, so I didn't.

Both Socia and my new electric violin are sitting at my parents' house for 2 months.

May 22, 2017, 4:24 AM · So.....that electric will be getting a "for sale" sign soon?

Edited: May 22, 2017, 4:27 AM · Ive flown for three years or so to Japan and back again with my violin, and then viola (same case) as carry on.

Sorry to hear you got shut out!

May 22, 2017, 4:30 AM · They told me that I have 2 options. My backpack gets taken as extra as check-in, cough up $500, or the violin gets taken as extra as check-in and cough up $500. Just can't win.

Next time. I am flying Air Canada as they allow Veterans 3 bags up to 32kg. Thankfully I am one.

Also, Swiss International as far been money-grab at everything

May 22, 2017, 4:32 AM · I packed to stay for 2 months in Swiss, so I could not do just take backpack as check-in.

Also, considering the money I spent on the electric, I think it may stay and end up being a profit whence I return, and do sell it.

I am grumpily typing this in London, U.K. right now.

May 22, 2017, 6:39 AM · In London! Bad luck, but welcome to the stink-pot. At least the weather is great today, blue skies and about 23C. (75F for you old money lot ...)