Zeller 16" Viola

Advantages: Potentially beautiful sound
Disadvantages: The squealy noises to start off with

...I have been a musician for many years, you could say it is embedded as part of me as I can't go more than a day or two without trying a tune out on some instrument or another. In my time of musicianship I have dabbled on many instruments and the violin is still one of my favourite sounds. I have to confess that the piano is my first instrument, and I have never actually taken lessons for the violin, but have on the viola. So my violin playing is self taught from a combination of all these things. The viola is similar to the violin, a few inches bigger, and it's range is a fifth lower. Introduction ~~~~~~~~~ So, to recommend violin to a beginner? A common misconception is the idea that only classical music is played on the violin. In my years of playing I have come across a wide range of music available for the violin, indeed... Read review

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Advantages: Looks like a Beatle Bass
Disadvantages: Doesn't really sound like one

...I have been playing bass guitar for 10 years and the Viola was my second bass. It's a very attractive instrument, with a really nice finish and is based on the Hofner Violin Bass as used by Paul in the Beatles. Unfortunately, the Hofner was a cheap instrument for its time and it's not a good idea to copy something that's bad to start with. If you want a Beatles sound, better go for a solid body instrument as you won't be able to get the sound you're looking for without a heap of studio effects. The main flaw of the instrument is the weak neck - you won't even be able to put medium gauge strings on without it warping. Also, it has a very short scale length with makes it very twangy. The bridge is held in place by string tension, and often comes loose when tuning, and it's very difficult to get a decent action. Fortunately its very... Read review

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Advantages: Great fun
Disadvantages: Very large to store and transport

...My family are all rather musical and we have acquired quite a collection of instruments over the years. For a significant anniversary I decided to buy a double bass. In his younger days my partner had played the electric bass in various bands and had always said one day he would like to have a double bass. Well now he has. ♫ ♫ What is a double bass? ♫ ♫ Well I suppose the short answer is that it looks like a giant violin, although it’s actually descended from an instrument called the viol. It dates as far back as the 16th century and is the largest and lowest sounding instrument in the string family of instruments. The other instruments in this family are the viola, the violin and the cello. No one seems quite certain where the name comes from but one theory suggests it is because the double bass... Read review

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