Thank-you! I purchased my Glasser Carbon Composite violin (same as the one in your video) from you back in July '23. I'm VERY happy with it! I fiddle and bought it for playing outdoors, and its great for that (other players enjoy trying it too)! Its an easy to play instrument, has a very decent sound and holds its tuning well; also the geared tuners are great! Its been to outdoor woodsy moist gatherings and was played on the beach for a week-ish. And now, it will also be my winter travel-to-jams instrument. For my setup, I changed out the Larsen strings for Helicores, and I changed out its chin rest to a Wave (I have a long neck). 🎻🙂
So nice to hear, a big thanks for sharing. Yes, carbon composite instruments are perfect for playing outdoors. We are so happy that you are enjoying your Glasser violin! Music to our ears 😍
Thank you so much for your comparison video. I ended up buying the Glasser AEX 5 string violin from your store yesterday. I've been using glasser braided carbon bows for many, many years, and love them. I am sure the two will sound great together! I can't wait to receive the AEX from you! ❤
I have the exact Glasser from the video, and it has served me well my past two years learning the violin. I live off grid with degrees in the negatives through 110F depending on the season.
I've read every article and watched every video I could find on various carbon fiber violins, and I kept being drawn to the Glasser. I especially like y'all's videos comparing the different brands and models, and I ultimately decided to order the Glasser from your website last night (along with a case and a bow). I look forward to playing it once it arrives. Thanks for all the videos about it. They were even more helpful than our local violin shop that also sells it.
I love it. Rich, resonant tone, no dead notes anywhere in the frequency range and most importantly, consistency from one instrument to the next. You know what you're getting.
Something in the back of my mind noticed a visual difference between the first violin and the last two but I couldn't exactly tell what at first. I eventually realized that the dearer two don't have the sharp "corners" at the waist, it's more of an acoustic guitar body shape. I can't unsee it now but I think I really like that!
I wish these comparisons had included at least one traditional wooden violin so that one can get some idea of the tonality of the microphone's sound pickup. That way one could sort out whether the nasality I hear in all of these models comes from them or the combination of microphones and my speaker frequency responses. I know my speakers aren't flat and I bet that the mikes used aren't either.
The carbon fiber gets better at higher frequencies because of its stiffness, but the lower you go the more nasal it sounds. It just doesn't have the richness of lower frequencies.
With no doubt the mezzoforte sounds better and even way better than wodden instrument from the lower third of the regular price-scale (excluding really expensive violins)
@@ThomasTVP Hi, Thomas. I hope you're doing well. I wanted to follow up on your posts in which you seem to prefer issuing insults rather than contributions to the discussion. Is there a purpose to your posts and, if so, what is it?
@@LRPhotographer I just made clear that because of the limitations imposed on carbon fibre instruments by the material (that no luthier can change) especially in terms of resonance, they're only usable for specific purposes, eg. playing outside.
i just bought one from you through reverb the e and a strings the d finally tuned to pitc but the g string broke and c stringthe never would tune to standard low c
Were you saying that one of the qualities of the carbon fiber models is their resistance to weather? If that's the case they might perhaps be a much better choice for students and beginners.
Thanks for watching! I wouldn't say that. There are working musicians that may play more outdoor events or gigs than indoors that would benefit greatly from a carbon fiber violin for those reasons. Taking out your good violin in humid or dry conditions can have adverse effects on wood instruments, which could lead to costly repairs.
Yes, that would be another great video to cover. The majority of properties still translate to viola. But let us know if you'd like to give a carbon fiber viola a try!
@@Fiddlershop It would be great to hear if there is any difference in sound quality from a 15” or even 15.5” carbon fiber viola to a 16” carbon fiber viola. And also to hear your opinion on whether the trade off in sound quality (if any) is worth the additional difficulty of getting around a bigger viola. Yes, I “can” play a 16”, but if I have to play for 6 hours or more in one day 15” is a better choice.
I know it's hard to appear objective, but in my opintion Mezzo Forte instruments are pretty close to Luis and Clark instruments. The advantage is that MF's are more easily available, L&C intruments have (last we heard) been out of stock everywhere or been on backorder for months if you order directly from them. Carbon Klang instruments are very nice, albeit significantly more expensive, so the very slight difference in sound quality is hard to justify for the price compared to Mezzo Forte. (-Gibbles)
To my ear (which is aging and missing upper register overtones), the sound of the instruments is somewhat dead - an incomplete array of frequencies. So far, these instruments seem like they'd make good band instruments, especially to replace the standard electric violin, but they are not something for even semi-professional or good amateur groups. Student-level setups are pretty inexpensive (and sound it). It would be interesting to hear how a cheap carbon-fiber student level violin sounds and how much it costs in comparison. Another important issue is resonance. If the carbon-fiber instruments resonate too much (it doesn't sound like they do), then there will be frequency interference between notes which increases as speed increases. Also, what do they sound like in high registers? This demo shows instruments that would be good for Celtic, folk and C&W music, but not classical music. Cost is really the key indicator here, along with the need for durability (the most prominent of the secondary issues). What kind of sound do you get for your money?
It depends on how often you would use the violin, and whether you think it’s worth it or not. If you’re going to be using the cf violin in performances and practice on it daily as if it’s your main instrument, then i think the pi will be plently worth it.
In the vocation, these are known as VSO: violin shaped object. They have none of the tonal qualities of a classic violin. I suppose you get what you pay for: $1000 for a carbon VSO that may or may not be adequate for gigs, depending upon the demands of the gig; eg. fiddler. I suppose this could be useful as a teaching/learning tool; a VSO that can be knocked about, watered, heated, etc.
The problem of ALL carbon fiber violins is the lack of resonance that is inherent in the material. There is no richness to the sound, there can't be. The Mezzo-forte does sound cleaner though.
Thank-you! I purchased my Glasser Carbon Composite violin (same as the one in your video) from you back in July '23. I'm VERY happy with it! I fiddle and bought it for playing outdoors, and its great for that (other players enjoy trying it too)! Its an easy to play instrument, has a very decent sound and holds its tuning well; also the geared tuners are great! Its been to outdoor woodsy moist gatherings and was played on the beach for a week-ish. And now, it will also be my winter travel-to-jams instrument. For my setup, I changed out the Larsen strings for Helicores, and I changed out its chin rest to a Wave (I have a long neck). 🎻🙂
So nice to hear, a big thanks for sharing. Yes, carbon composite instruments are perfect for playing outdoors. We are so happy that you are enjoying your Glasser violin! Music to our ears 😍
Thank you so much for your comparison video. I ended up buying the Glasser AEX 5 string violin from your store yesterday. I've been using glasser braided carbon bows for many, many years, and love them. I am sure the two will sound great together! I can't wait to receive the AEX from you! ❤
Great to hear! So happy for you! Thank you. Please keep us updated ❤️
So good to see you Michael doing what you love best. Thanks bud.
Thanks for watching!
I have the exact Glasser from the video, and it has served me well my past two years learning the violin. I live off grid with degrees in the negatives through 110F depending on the season.
Happy to hear, Lauren! With those kind of temperatures it's the perfect violin to have. Happy playing!
Lauren, I’m looking for one to take camping. Is this a good option? My car is available to put it in, but not always climate controlled.
Yes, this is a great one! I’ve had it in my off grid camper in below 0 and over 100 without any issues.
I've read every article and watched every video I could find on various carbon fiber violins, and I kept being drawn to the Glasser. I especially like y'all's videos comparing the different brands and models, and I ultimately decided to order the Glasser from your website last night (along with a case and a bow). I look forward to playing it once it arrives. Thanks for all the videos about it. They were even more helpful than our local violin shop that also sells it.
Thanks for watching!
I love it. Rich, resonant tone, no dead notes anywhere in the frequency range and most importantly, consistency from one instrument to the next. You know what you're getting.
There is no "Rich, resonant" tone.
Something in the back of my mind noticed a visual difference between the first violin and the last two but I couldn't exactly tell what at first. I eventually realized that the dearer two don't have the sharp "corners" at the waist, it's more of an acoustic guitar body shape. I can't unsee it now but I think I really like that!
It's a "cleaner" look, it's interesting for sure. 👍🏻
I wish these comparisons had included at least one traditional wooden violin so that one can get some idea of the tonality of the microphone's sound pickup. That way one could sort out whether the nasality I hear in all of these models comes from them or the combination of microphones and my speaker frequency responses. I know my speakers aren't flat and I bet that the mikes used aren't either.
Yes!
Yes, a head to head with traditional would have been great. 👍🏻🎻
Great playing of Danny Boy. Thank you for all of them.
I personally prefer the sound of the wooden ones.
Thanks for listening!
@@Fiddlershop You're welcome.
Absolutely. These all sound simple and flat (to varying degrees).
but i do love the fiddle do you have any recomendations for the lowc and g strings
I watched for the information👍🏻🎻, my dog watched tilted head for the music! 😂
Awww, how cute! We need a picture 😃
The carbon fiber gets better at higher frequencies because of its stiffness, but the lower you go the more nasal it sounds. It just doesn't have the richness of lower frequencies.
Why the fuck are you playing a violin for it's lows?
just my impression as well.
Because it can never have the resonance decent wooden violins have.
I want to be able to play mine like you one day! 😮
Awww, practice, practice and practice 🤗
Can u put a wooden bridge and sound post in the glasser? Is that a video in the future, with pi strings 🤞... nice instruments!
which one is better??
With no doubt the mezzoforte sounds better and even way better than wodden instrument from the lower third of the regular price-scale (excluding really expensive violins)
Complete rubbish.
Glorious sound from carbon fibre - I have become a believer in this technology.
Happy to hear! Thanks for watching! 🤗
Glorious sound. Are you deaf?
@@ThomasTVP Hi, Thomas. I hope you're doing well. I wanted to follow up on your posts in which you seem to prefer issuing insults rather than contributions to the discussion. Is there a purpose to your posts and, if so, what is it?
@@LRPhotographer I just made clear that because of the limitations imposed on carbon fibre instruments by the material (that no luthier can change) especially in terms of resonance, they're only usable for specific purposes, eg. playing outside.
i just bought one from you through reverb the e and a strings the d finally tuned to pitc but the g string broke and c stringthe never would tune to standard low c
Hi Tim! We don't sell via Reverb. May I ask what issues you are having, and which instrument?
Great info! Can one change the bridge on the Glasser to a wooden one? Thanks! 😎
You can do whatever you want to it
Were you saying that one of the qualities of the carbon fiber models is their resistance to weather? If that's the case they might perhaps be a much better choice for students and beginners.
Thanks for watching! I wouldn't say that. There are working musicians that may play more outdoor events or gigs than indoors that would benefit greatly from a carbon fiber violin for those reasons. Taking out your good violin in humid or dry conditions can have adverse effects on wood instruments, which could lead to costly repairs.
What about the carbon fiber violas?
Yes, that would be another great video to cover. The majority of properties still translate to viola. But let us know if you'd like to give a carbon fiber viola a try!
@@Fiddlershop It would be great to hear if there is any difference in sound quality from a 15” or even 15.5” carbon fiber viola to a 16” carbon fiber viola. And also to hear your opinion on whether the trade off in sound quality (if any) is worth the additional difficulty of getting around a bigger viola. Yes, I “can” play a 16”, but if I have to play for 6 hours or more in one day 15” is a better choice.
@@alicebish9956 Did you get one ?
@@jameschristiansson3137 no. I did buy a carbon fiber bow though
I knew a lady who had a carbon fiber cello. Tonally, I couldn’t tell it from any wooden cello.
How would you compare these two with Luis and Clark and Carbon Klang instruments?
I know it's hard to appear objective, but in my opintion Mezzo Forte instruments are pretty close to Luis and Clark instruments. The advantage is that MF's are more easily available, L&C intruments have (last we heard) been out of stock everywhere or been on backorder for months if you order directly from them.
Carbon Klang instruments are very nice, albeit significantly more expensive, so the very slight difference in sound quality is hard to justify for the price compared to Mezzo Forte. (-Gibbles)
To my ear (which is aging and missing upper register overtones), the sound of the instruments is somewhat dead - an incomplete array of frequencies. So far, these instruments seem like they'd make good band instruments, especially to replace the standard electric violin, but they are not something for even semi-professional or good amateur groups. Student-level setups are pretty inexpensive (and sound it). It would be interesting to hear how a cheap carbon-fiber student level violin sounds and how much it costs in comparison.
Another important issue is resonance. If the carbon-fiber instruments resonate too much (it doesn't sound like they do), then there will be frequency interference between notes which increases as speed increases.
Also, what do they sound like in high registers? This demo shows instruments that would be good for Celtic, folk and C&W music, but not classical music.
Cost is really the key indicator here, along with the need for durability (the most prominent of the secondary issues). What kind of sound do you get for your money?
Those are my feelings too, almost exactly. Very well stated.
The look of that Glasser instrument is quite beautiful.
Thank you, Sasha!
I need one.
You are not alone 😃
Is it a good idea to use a set of PI strings on the MF violin?
It depends on how often you would use the violin, and whether you think it’s worth it or not.
If you’re going to be using the cf violin in performances and practice on it daily as if it’s your main instrument, then i think the pi will be plently worth it.
In the vocation, these are known as VSO: violin shaped object. They have none of the tonal qualities of a classic violin. I suppose you get what you pay for: $1000 for a carbon VSO that may or may not be adequate for gigs, depending upon the demands of the gig; eg. fiddler. I suppose this could be useful as a teaching/learning tool; a VSO that can be knocked about, watered, heated, etc.
@iiiiiiiv thank you for confirming the tonal quality is dissimilar to a fine wooden violin.
please help thanks tim
I can't believe the price tag on these instruments. 😮
Good or bad, Jane?
@@Fiddlershop I don't know if it's good or bad I just had an expectation of a lower price point for them.
@@janesmith8316
A decent quality wooden instrument (new) starts at 30K Euro these days...so...
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
😍😍😍
The carbon fiber violins sound like a wooden violin without sound post.
smash
The problem of ALL carbon fiber violins is the lack of resonance that is inherent in the material. There is no richness to the sound, there can't be. The Mezzo-forte does sound cleaner though.
Thanks for watching!