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Comment by Wistar | Hacker News Reader

Is the experience of playing a very expensive violin more enjoyable? Is it easier to express the music on such an instrument? I ask because, for me, a pianist, an older Steinway B that has been meticulously maintained is so much … nicer, even easier, to get the sound I want out of the instrument, when compared to almost any other piano (with some exceptions, such as Grotrian, some Mason & Hamlins, Fandrich & Sons Custom and a few others).

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As someone who plays violin and piano, it's a similar experience. The more expensive violins will certainly sound better (at the minimum, they are usually more resonant), and it's much easier to evoke the emotion you'd like. The diminishing returns hit hard though, above a certain price you're paying for the history and brand.

The steinway's are wonderful instruments aren't they! I've been dreaming about it and recently had the opportunity to buy a personal NY model B and I don't regret it. The joy it brings you when complex sounds are so easy to get out the instrument, it's priceless.

It's a law of diminishing returns type of thing. I haven't played on any super super expensive violins, but there is definitely a big difference between ~$100 violins and ~$1000 violins. Generally, the more expensive the violin, the more resonant (as opposed to squeaky) it is.

Maybe I should have phrased it as “exalted” rather than “expensive.“

I play a new Bosendorfer and it’s a crazy good experience. Nothing like a Steinway though. I just don’t like Steinways but obvs not dissing them.

Violins feel markedly better at about the $3K, $5K, and $15K levels, but I’m so bad at violin that my $1K antique is perfectly fine. But bows, strings (and separately the E string) also play huge roles. Much bigger than say guitar strings for that instrument.

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