![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Meet Carlos
May. 3rd, 2016 09:59 amAfter my lesson on Friday, I took my violin over to Sullivan's to get a checkup (it's buzzing on the G string). Ken (Sullivan) made a dad joke about pollen and bees, and I explained that it does this when the weather shifts; it used to do it in the winter, but it was fine all winter this year. Now that it's rain season, it's buzzing again.
I said I know it's really cheap - my mom got it for me over 15 years ago, and I think she got it from some cheap novelty shop or something. He agreed; said he hadn't seen anything this cheap in ages.
Jokingly, I asked if he by chance has a rent-to-own program for his violins.
Next thing I knew, I was talking to another representative and signing papers, and forking over 3 months of payments up front (edit: and paying equity for the next year, concluding with paying off the balance within 3 months after the year's up). I walked out with TWO violins!
Ken first brought out their beginner's model, which looked a lot like mine, which was exactly the opposite of what I wanted, being shellacked on top of varnished as well as a golden honey colour. I was asked how long I've been playing, and when I said two years, I was given a step up to the advanced model (there are just three rent-to-own models - the advanced is a Modelo Italiano). I'm so glad, because it is just the lush thing I've always wanted!
And I LOVE IT! It is a lighter weight, with a longer neck, and has a gorgeous rich sound, deep varnish, and even has cute pegs! I got a nice case, with a spot just for my shoulder rest (finally, no more sticking it awkwardly in my purse when I head to my lessons) and a carbon fiber bow! The bow is great, except that the hair is set a centimeter too far to one side, and I have to push a couple of the hairs back into position when I tighten it. I might end up re-hairing my other bow. Oh, and it also came with a suspension cushion, nice new rosin with a wood base, and a (albeit, minuscule) shoulder strap!
But it's lovely! And I am not putting finger tape back on the fingerboard - my fingers should know where to go by now. :)
For comparison, here's a couple pictures of my old one. I upholstered this thing myself. I'll miss bringing out this stickered thing; I'll especially miss seeing my Sandman and (multiple) Man or Astro-Man stickers.
The old one was named Dream, because it was my dream to learn the violin, and I usually name things after the first thing associated with them, be it whatever I'm watching/hearing at the time I name it (as I do for electronic devices), or whatever I put on it - in this case, a Dream (Sandman) sticker that I've actually had for longer than I even knew about the Sandman comics.
The new case isn't going to take stickers, being a fabric case, so if I want it decorated, I'm going to have to get creative with patches. The first patch I intend to put on it will be my Welcome To Night Vale patch. And so I'm naming my new beauty Carlos, because it has dark and delicate skin, a voice like caramel, and is just beautiful and perfect.
I said I know it's really cheap - my mom got it for me over 15 years ago, and I think she got it from some cheap novelty shop or something. He agreed; said he hadn't seen anything this cheap in ages.
Jokingly, I asked if he by chance has a rent-to-own program for his violins.
Next thing I knew, I was talking to another representative and signing papers, and forking over 3 months of payments up front (edit: and paying equity for the next year, concluding with paying off the balance within 3 months after the year's up). I walked out with TWO violins!
Ken first brought out their beginner's model, which looked a lot like mine, which was exactly the opposite of what I wanted, being shellacked on top of varnished as well as a golden honey colour. I was asked how long I've been playing, and when I said two years, I was given a step up to the advanced model (there are just three rent-to-own models - the advanced is a Modelo Italiano). I'm so glad, because it is just the lush thing I've always wanted!
And I LOVE IT! It is a lighter weight, with a longer neck, and has a gorgeous rich sound, deep varnish, and even has cute pegs! I got a nice case, with a spot just for my shoulder rest (finally, no more sticking it awkwardly in my purse when I head to my lessons) and a carbon fiber bow! The bow is great, except that the hair is set a centimeter too far to one side, and I have to push a couple of the hairs back into position when I tighten it. I might end up re-hairing my other bow. Oh, and it also came with a suspension cushion, nice new rosin with a wood base, and a (albeit, minuscule) shoulder strap!
But it's lovely! And I am not putting finger tape back on the fingerboard - my fingers should know where to go by now. :)
For comparison, here's a couple pictures of my old one. I upholstered this thing myself. I'll miss bringing out this stickered thing; I'll especially miss seeing my Sandman and (multiple) Man or Astro-Man stickers.
The old one was named Dream, because it was my dream to learn the violin, and I usually name things after the first thing associated with them, be it whatever I'm watching/hearing at the time I name it (as I do for electronic devices), or whatever I put on it - in this case, a Dream (Sandman) sticker that I've actually had for longer than I even knew about the Sandman comics.
The new case isn't going to take stickers, being a fabric case, so if I want it decorated, I'm going to have to get creative with patches. The first patch I intend to put on it will be my Welcome To Night Vale patch. And so I'm naming my new beauty Carlos, because it has dark and delicate skin, a voice like caramel, and is just beautiful and perfect.
