Should You Buy a New or Vintage Violin? Pros and Cons
Choosing the right violin is an exciting journey, and one of the biggest decisions you’ll face is whether to buy a new or vintage instrument. Both options have their own unique benefits, and the best choice depends on your personal preferences, playing style, and budget. Let’s explore the advantages of each.
Pros of a New Violin
Consistent Condition – A new violin comes in perfect condition, with no past repairs or wear to worry about.
Modern Craftsmanship – Advances in violin-making techniques ensure that modern violins are built with precision and care, leveraging centuries of research and science behind what makes a great sounding violin.
Easier Maintenance – With a new violin, you don’t have to worry about the effects of age-related wear and tear or expensive replacements like worn down fingerboards.
Custom Set-Up – A new instrument can be tailored to your playing preferences, including the choice of strings and adjustments.
Bespoke design – You have the opportunity to commission an instrument that is catered to your ideal sound, and unique body features.
Costprice – the pricetag to purchase of most new instruments by contemporary makers is far better than equivalent sounding antiques, which means the insurance value and premium is also a lot lower than on comparable sounding antiques.
Cons of a New Violin
Tonal Development Takes Time – A new violin needs time to ‘settle’, ‘open up’ and develop its full tonal potential through playing. If you would not relish the chance to explore and shape the sound potential of a new violin, you might be better suited to a more settled, older instrument.
Value not universal – New and contemporary violins are linked to the reputation of the maker, and rehoming one for the right price is not easy. It is not a devaluation exactly, it is more an issue of ‘value: unknown’ to most other violin trade professionals.
Pros of a Vintage Violin
Matured Sound – Over time (a 100 years worth of exposure to oxygen to be exact), the wood of a vintage violin stiffens up, creating a warm, complex tone that many musicians have grown to love and recognise.
Character and History – Vintage violins often come with a story, whether they’ve been played by past musicians or crafted by renowned makers. Often the premium price of an older instrument is directly related to the fact there is a historical significance with the instrument as well.
Potential Investment – A well-preserved vintage violin, especially one made by a respected luthier, may appreciate in value over time, but be careful to also facture in inflation and insurance cost before you think quitting your day job. As always, the saying that ‘successes of the past are no guarantee for future earnings’ applies here as well.
Cons of a Vintage Violin
Possible Repairs – Older instruments may have undergone repairs or restorations, which can affect their condition and playability. And not every repair may have been carried out by an expert. You can always check with modern endoscopes to see what the quality of repairs is looking like on the inside. This is non invasive.
Higher Maintenance – A vintage violin may require more care and attention due to its age or may need more expensive services and part replacements after decades or centuries of use by other players.
Price Variability – Prices can vary significantly depending on the maker, age, country of origin, and condition of the instrument. Not to mention the desirability of this instrument by other people, and place and time of sale. An auction house has only one opportunity moment of sale and you hope you have the right buyers looking at that exact moment. A shop with an instrument for sale has the luxury to show it until the right buyer discovers it.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to what feels right in your hands. A new violin offers reliability and room to grow, while a vintage instrument carries a unique character and matured sound. At Bridge Street Violins, we have a carefully curated selection of both, and we’re here to help you find the one that speaks to you.