The Instrument Doc, LLC
Professional Band and Orchestra Instrument Repair and Sales
Violin/Viola FAQs
2006 The Instrument Doc, LLC
This page is intended to answer many Frequently Asked Questions you may have regarding the violin or viola. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions not covered here. We are here to help you.
Q-What are "ebonite" and "ebonized"?
A-Ebonite is a bakelite plastic material often used to make chinrests. Ebonized is a marketing term for black paint, and is used usually for fingerboards and pegs. The Instrument Doc, LLC, does not deal in, or service instruments that have these particular "features".
Q-What sizes do violins and violas come in?
A-Vioins range from 1/32 -4/4 (full size), violas range from 13"-17 1/2". 16" and up are generally considered full size, however, some people never require or want larger than 15" or 15 1/2".
Q-What are the pitches of the violin and viola
A-Violin (High to Low): E-A-D-G
Viola (High to Low): A-D-G-C
Q- Are cases size specific? Are bows?
A- Yes to both questions.
Q-Should I purchase a discount instrument on the internet?
A-Will the internet "store" service your violin if damaged? Can the teacher contact the "store" and have any problems immediately addressed? Who holds the internet "store" accountable if your instrument is improperly set up? Our shop sees approximately 1-2 cheap instruments per week that are inadequate for educational use. Unfortunately, the customer usually has no recourse to return the "item". Some internet companies are reputable and offer a good product, please consult your child's teacher before making any decision?
Q-Do "shop adjusted", "educator approved", or "meets published standards" mean an instrument meets certain educational criteria?
A-Not necessarily. It depends on the dealer of the instrument. In some cases, if someone feels the need to drive home the point that their cheap product is up to par, it may not be. There is no agency to monitor or "certify" the setup of stringed instruments.
Q- How do I know when my child is ready for a bigger instrument?
A- Generally, the teacher will inform you. While every child's needs are a little different, there is a reasonable test you can try. For violin/viola, have the child hold the instrument in playing position, whith the left arm fully extended. Now tell him/her to wrap their fingers over the scroll. Ideally, the fingers would just reach completely around the scroll and touch the pegbox. If they are quite short, a smaller size may be in order. If the fingers wrap far over, a bigger size may be needed. Allow a professional to size your student for the proper size instrument, especially cello or bass. Viola is generally the same, the fuller size instruments (about15.5"-16" or over) are dictated by personal comfort and sound preference.
