Review of the Xuechang Sun VN-103 "Soloist" Violin

	by Michael Sears Nanaimo, BC, Canada [First reviewed December, 2006; This review updated by Mr. Sears October, 2007]
*Michael later upgraded to a 2007 Moneff violin and a Jean Tabary L'Original bow.

Last year I was able to access and play over 30 violins for varying lengths of time, with a view to purchase.

My needs were that it be comfortable, a little forgiving, respond to my learning and development, be appropriate to various types and styles of music, sound good under my ear as well as to the listener, and display as many desirable traits of sound as my money was able to buy at the time.

I do not need a soloist’s or “Concert Hall” instrument.

The least expensive instrument I tried was around $400.00, and the most expensive a violin by Canadian maker Raymond Schryer at $12,000, with the majority ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 CAD.

My finalists were a beautifully voiced French violin from 1912 costing nearly $4000 and the Xuechang Sun VN-103 Soloist for $2500, and I ended up deciding on the Chinese instrument.

The Xuechang Sun seems a really great value for my dollar. When I first played this violin, it was basically a baby; the varnish still new and soft, the sound improving almost weekly. Now, it has settled in to itself, developing colour, tone, and a quick response.

I love its voice; it has developed a warm balance with nice overtones and an “Italian” sound overall. It is not edgy or overly bright, which is important to me.

I used Corelli Crystal strings to play-in my violin. They are a good basic, straightforward type string which helped me hear differences in sound as the violin matured. When these strings began to lose their sound I upgraded to Evah Pirazzis which are a terrific match, offering improvements in all regards.

As a note of general interest, it has been my finding that play-in time for an instrument is TREMENDOUSLY important. Oddly it seems, this does not always get the recognition it should. Older instruments which have been sitting unplayed for any length of time will require a certain amount of playing time to regain their former stature, and new instruments will change and improve for varying lengths of time; some apparently for years.

A good instrument seems to sound decent from the beginning, and only gets better. To judge a new instrument immediately out of the box is to raise the possibility of doing oneself a large disservice. A knowledgeable teacher or salesperson seems an invaluable asset here. [Read info on maturing your violin]

In summary, I found my choice great value for the money, with a sound pleasing to myself and to others. I am very satisfied with it and love how it improves with playing and the passage of time. It makes learning fun and again I will state, for the record, how pleased I am with Rhiannon and how patiently she has “taken stock” of me and matched me so well to my instrument.

- Michael Sears

 

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