The Post Your Thoughts of the Moment Thread 2

[Nebbles]

I figured guitar is cheaper, but I know I'd still enjoy violin more though...

[Maelstrom]

but it's so gooooooooooooooooood

The music or the games themselves?
I hate/stink at bullet hell games, and from what I've heard, the community is....... a little too strong, for lack of a better phrase.

[Dude]

Haha.

There's official fighters and this pokemon clone thing with Touhou characters!!

I made a really sucky competitive team already and it probably sucks lol.

[MaestroUGC]

I figured guitar is cheaper, but I know I'd still enjoy violin more though...

Please understand. When it comes to buying an instrument you're doing more than just buying a tool for making music, you're buying a piece of art in and of itself. Instrument makers are artisans, very much in the same vein as sculptors and other forms of art and craftsmanship, and in some cases you are buying something that was years in the making (often with anything dealing with woodwork).

Since you're just starting out, and you're intending to be rather serious with the craft, I suggest finding something in the middle range of price as a sort of "starter instrument". You can always set aside money to buy a higher quality model at a later time.

[Nebbles]

Ahh, okay. I need to find a good starter then.

[AwesomeYears]

I personally prefer Chimchar.

[Pianist Da Sootopolis]

Instrument makers are artisans, very much in the same vein as sculptors and other forms of art and craftsmanship,

Do tell that to all of the Asian piano factories overseas.
If you are intending to be serious, though, he's right, middle of the road price range will do you fine. It's not like a piano, where it's nearly impossible to get a good price on it (as most everyone who's buying either knows what they're doing and tries to rip you off, or  doesn't know the first thing about it) and a pain in the ass to move.
But it could turn out that you absolutely detest playing the violin, then you've lost money.
Try renting an instrument for a while- see about going to a place that takes the rental money you've payed and applies it to a purchase of that model. That way if you find it abhorring, you haven't shelled out hundreds of dollars for something to stare at every day.

[mikey]

Do tell that to all of the Asian piano factories overseas.

like Yamaha?

[Olimar12345]

Renting is also a great option. Many music stores offer a rent-to-own program, so definitely inquire about that.

[Nebbles]

Ooooh, I could try that too.

[Pianist Da Sootopolis]

like Yamaha?

Yamaha, Kawai, Samick, Weber, and all pianos that are supposedly made in the US in the last two decades that aren't Steinway, M & H, Or Charles R. Walter.
Most of the names you'd see on pianos that sound very american are actually stencil brands- where importers will rename their pianos to sound more american or European. There are also fake "american brand" pianos- allegedly there are auctions with pianos that have the Steinway logo stamped on them (but without the name cast into the plate- the only true way to tell if your piano is authentic) and bid up really high. The first is typically seen as a legitimate importers right (as a marketing tactic, seeing as the competition is fierce), the second is criminal.
That said, Yamaha and Kawai also do produce hand built instruments, and those are definitely quality pianos along the lines of Steinway, Bosendorfer & co. But to say that the cheap factory pianos are made by "artisans" (read: machines overseen by people) is untrue.

[MaestroUGC]

I shoud've qualified that by saying "quality instruments", because thats something that occurs across all instruments, speed over care. Of course I thought that was obvious, but...

Besides you should do as much research as possible into as many intsrument makers you can before you start shopping to buy.

[Nebbles]

Gotcha.

[Dude]

I personally prefer Chimchar.

[AwesomeYears]

How I feel right now (me_irl)