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FIONA DRIVER - violins & bows for sale - repairs - lessons - books & CDs - commissions - bookings

VIOLINS AND BOWS FOR SALE Inverness, Highlands



NOTE: If you are looking for a beginnner fiddle outfit I recommend a Primavera 200 violin with a VIVA shoulder rest and a D'Addario clip on tuner - all available from Ness Music, Academy St, Inverness. This combo will get you started very nicely and they have a good resale value compared to cheap but virtually unplayable instruments you might find on Amazon (ugh - avoid!).

I currently have a number of quality violins for sale, as well as a nice selection of bows.

BOWS CURRENTLY IN STOCK
(scroll down for violins)

These three are superb carbon fibre bows. When you're looking to spend hundreds rather than thousands, carbon fibre bows are far better and perform brilliantly. I have tried all three of these and am very impressed.



Left:
this grey beauty is similar to the famous Arcus bows but it's £380 instead of several thousand.

Middle:
this is a veneered bow with a wooden snakewood effect. I have sold a lot of these; they are very good and a great upgrade from your beginner bow. This one is £240.

Right:
If you're on a budget, this one at £150 is a really good choice. You'd need to spend a few hundred to get a wooden bow to play as well as this one does. 

I also have antique violin bows, and a very nice cello bow too.


NOTE: please do come and try a few bows with your own violin - the relationship between you, the instrument and the bow is important. Also, surprisingly, the bow you choose changes the way the instrument sounds, and I can also play them so you can hear the difference. 

VIOLINS!

They include new instruments by the wonderful modern maker Colin Cross as well as some lovely antiques.

I have tried to capture the varnish colour as closely as possible but would always recommend you come for a look and a play.

Here are some of the instruments I have right now:

French full size violin c.1900
Newly set up, this attractive antique French violin is ready to go! It's quite a chunky one, and has a big sound to match. Nice and even, its tone is strong and powerful. Light golden brown varnish.
£2,000. Case available if required.










German Lion's Head Antique full size violin, c.1880
In great playing order and freshly set up, this violin has a clear tone and is very playable. Popular for their cute lion scrolls, these violins are fairly common and I have managed to source this one after the last one sold. Dark brown slighly glossy varnish.
£1,800.
Case available if required.








Colin Cross 1987 full size violin

Something very special here - this is the second ever violin made by superb luthier Colin Cross. It is dated 1987. I was very excited to try this one - and I was not disappointed! It's a superb violin and a total steal - it's mellowed into a very playable, sweet, powerful instrument that will take you wherever you want to go. I wish I could keep this one! 
£3,000. Case available if required.













Colin Cross Tenor (extra large) violin

I'm delighted to have this incredible new instrument for sale - it's a Colin Cross Tenor Violin! Imagine a viola and a violin had a child... it's an extra large violin with the standard tuning, but it's got the deep resonant tone of a viola and uses viola strings. It's great for folk with really long arms.... or big guys with big hands... or just so you can be the coolest person in the session, with the only tenor fiddle for miles! It does harmonies and chords really well and is a really playable and versatile instrument. I'm adding a video here as well, but it was only recorded on a phone, so please get in touch if you fancy a trial! NOTE: the Orkney chair I used in the photos is a child size chair... the fiddle isn't THAT big!!
£7,000 with a free case





Click the text below for the video::
VIDEO of Tenor Violin by Colin Cross (I'm playing the Orkney tune 'Orcadia')


Antique German 7/8 size violin, 1920s
Perfect for ladies with shorter arms who might struggle with a full sized violin, this still has the volume you want and it just a little easier to play. I have had several adult pupils move down to either a three quarter or a 7/8 size instrument, with great success. Set up by a top luthier and ready to play.
£1,900 with a free case.



15.5 inch Viola
This viola is 15.5 inches, and was made in Hungary or Romania around 1960. It is finished in an attractive red varnish and has a super sound, warm and strong. A lovely instrument for a student moving up from their first viola. Set up by a top luthier and ready to go
£1,250 with a free case






Colin Cross full size cornerless violin
This one is purfled and very lovely. It's got a strong, clear, sweet tone and is very easy to play. The last two of Colin's curvy instruments sold really fast, they really are gorgeous and sure to create a stir!
£6,000 with a free case







Chinese full size violin, made in 2008. This violin is a powerful and versatile instrument, in new condition, and professionally set up by one of the country's top luthiers. It's perfect for serious music students, and plays folk and classsical music with ease. Super if you don't always want the worry of a more fragile antique, but you want something that will perform in any situation. The varnish on this is 'antiqued' which means it's been made to look old.  
£1,800, with a free case




RECENT SOLD INSTRUMENTS

An old German violin, c.1900, lovely sweet tone, easy to play and very attractive. Comes with a free case, professionally set up and ready to go.
 ****SOLD****

This is a German antique in excellent and professionally set up condition. Lovely fiddle, it is very attractive with a nice warm strong sound.
Comes with a free case.
*******SOLD*******

Here's a real character - an old Saxon lion's head fiddle! As usual this violin is in perfect playing condition with a professional set up, and the tone is clear and strong. Dark varnish which is also quite shiny, and problematic to photograph! Come and have a look! Comes with a free case.
********SOLD********

Colin Cross curvy violin - a gorgeous new violin with a sweet and strong tone, so playable and something a bit different! Made by one of the UK's top luthiers. Comes with a free case.
*****SOLD*****

A curvy viola to match the curvy violin - an absolutely delightful viola, very easy to play and a fabulous tone. Newly made by Colin Cross, this instrument is really special.
******SOLD******