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What you need to know before buying Viola:
- Know your size:
General
age guidelines are as follows:
| Age |
Viola
Size |
| 3-5 |
1/16
size -1/10th Violin strung "as" Viola |
| 5-6 |
1/8
size Violin strung "as" Viola |
| 7-9 |
1/4
size Violin strung "as" Viola |
| 8-10 |
1/2
size Violin strung "as" Viola |
| 10-11 |
14" Viola |
| 12-13 |
15" Viola |
| 13-14 |
151/2"-16" Viola |
| 14+ |
151/2"-161/2" Viola |
"Most people measure from the arm pit to mid-palm to obtain
proper arm measurement."
| Arm
Length |
Viola
Size |
| 14"
to 15 3/8" |
1/16
size -1/10th Violin strung "as" Viola |
| 15
3/8" to 18 1/2" |
1/8
size Violin strung "as" Viola |
| 18
1/2" to 20 3/8" |
1/4
size Violin strung "as" Viola |
| 20
3/8" to 22 1/4" |
1/2
size Violin strung "as" Viola |
| 22
1/4" to 23 5/8" |
14" Viola |
| 24
5/8" to 25" |
15" Viola |
| 26"to 27" |
151/2" Viola |
| 27 1/2 to 28 + |
16" - 161/2" Viola |
"In general, people try to play the largest viola they are physically
capable of because the larger the viola, the bigger and better the sound."
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2) Body Material: - Spruce. Straight-grained spruce is
used on the top of the viola because it is strong enough to handle the
stress of string pressure. Spruce also helps ensure proper resonation
and should be aged for better sound creation.
- Maple. The back, sides and neck of the
viola are often constructed from maple, which adds strength to the body
of the instrument while being aesthetically pleasing.
- Ebony. The fingerboard and pegs should be ebony or a similar wood that is both stable and dense.
3) Level:
Student violas are specifically designed for beginners and are most
often produced by a machine. They are made of materials that are durable
and can withstand the wear-and-tear of travel and play, but are
somewhat less attractive. This makes these models very affordable and
well-suited for the early stages of musical development.
Intermediate violas feature wood and workmanship that is a step up from
student violas. Most of the manufacturing is done by hand, causing the
instrument to sound better and thus accommodate the needs of a more
advanced player. Extensive hand graduation on the top and back of the
viola also helps to create a more refined sound, while ebony pegs and
fingerboard finish off a sleek look.
Professional violas are made with premium woods and are always
hand-crafted with fine attention paid to detail and construction. Very
few individuals are actually skilled enough to create professional level
violas, putting these models at a particularly high price point.
We have a few suggestions:
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