We are best known for our Gligas. We have some sample comments but these are only a tiny fraction of all the positive comments we have received. We invite anyone who is sceptical to do a Google search to see what others think of Gliga. We are confident that their instruments will beat anything else you are likely to get at anywhere near the kind of prices we charge.
Gliga violins and other stringed instruments are made in Romania and sent to us from Reghin which is at the edge of the Carpathian Mountains from where Gliga obtain spruce wood as it is believed Stradivarius himself did.
We regularly send out their instruments as they come to us since unlike many makers it is unusual for them to need any real attention on our part. Despite that we never take anything for granted so everything is carefully examined and tested by us as we do our utmost not to sell anything in less than perfect condition and instruments leave us in good immediate playing condition.
There are four grades of instruments (all also available in REAL left-handed versions at no extra cost):
GENIAL
Typically sold to adult beginners or to child 'improvers'. This is the lowest level - and described by GLIGA as school instruments. All we can say is that we defy you to find anything remotely comparable in any school music cupboard! Perhaps the Romanians take music education in schools more seriously than we do. The Genial 2 competes directly with Zeller and Poller but we have yet to meet a teacher who does not agree that it is superior. We don't stock Genial 2 but we are willing to obtain them to order. Why don't we stock them? Well, our storage facility has no climate control and the Genial 2, like virtually all student instruments, has a sprayed-on nitro varnish. Cheap student instruments have a very thick layer of this varnish and they survive our storage facility perfectly well. European nitro-varnished instruments seem to have a thinner layer of varnish, which is better for the tone, but means they are prone to varnish cracks if subjected to extremes of temperature or humidity. The Genial 1 has an oil varnish giving it a matt finish and generally the appearance of a much more expensive violin (or viola, etc) and it also sounds better. Genial outfits include a student bow and shaped styrofoam case with blanket.
GEMS
Typically sold to adult beginners and returners, and children up to around Grade 5, on the basis that such children will be playing it for around two years before moving up a size. The Gems 1 and Gems 2 are a step up from the Genial 1 and the only difference between them is that the Gems 1 has more flaming than the Gems 2. Gems outfits include a Glasser advanced composite bow and shaped styrofoam case with blanket.
People frequently ask us about set-up. When we get the instruments from Gliga we lubricate the pegs, restring the instruments (except Gamas which already have Donminant strings), fit four adjusters (except for the Gama Plus) and check the bridge height. Nearly always the bridge height is fine for most players. Some players have a preference for a lower bridge and a very few prefer a higher bridge. We are not able to deal with bridge height adjustments ourselves. Instruments are ready to play when they leave us.
We accept that any violin can be improved by a high level professional set-up but the complication here is that set-up can change the tone. With this in mind we have now introduced the Gama Plus (see below).
GAMA
Typically sold to adult improvers, folk fiddlers, teachers, freelance professionals as a backup instrument, young players of Grade 5 up to Grade 8. We will not make silly claims and describe this instrument as suitable for first instrument study at a conservatoire but we will and do say confidently that it will be entirely adequate for anything below that level.
The Gama comes in a number of varieties, and is available in normal or antiqued finish. The cheapest is the Gama 2 which has a two-piece back. The Gama 1 comes in one-piece and two-piece back versions. The two-piece back version has an ebony horseshoe where the neck joins the body and a pin construction identical to that found on the Maestro (below) and is apparently connected with a more accurate method of construction. As far as tonal difference between these different versions is concerned, the jury is still out! We do find that with small sizes (3/4 and below) the Gama 1 generally sounds better than the Gama 2 but this has not been consistently the case with the full size. We very much doubt that it would be possible to obtain a one-piece cello!
The Italian Gama is rather specialist; it has flatter arching giving it a brighter and louder tone. This only comes with a two-piece back and looks like a Gama 2, but priced as a Gama 1.
The standard model is the Strad. Guarneri models are available for full size violin only. It is larger than the Strad (slightly over 14") and will not fit in all violin cases. The tone is very different - louder, darker (almost like a viola), more 'masculine'.
Improved Gama 1 (full size only): this is an antiqued finish Guarneri Gama 1 (one-piece back) which has had a top professional grade set-up. One effect of the set-up is to make the tone much brighter and louder. As it comes to us, the Guarneri model is very dark in tone rather like a viola, but is also louder than the Strad model. Changing the bridge to a top quality professional bridge and soundpost, along with other adjustments, brings the tone to a point where it is actually slightly brighter than the Strad model. The end result is a violin with the typical Gliga sound but with far more volume and response. This outplays the Maestro and we are confident it will outplay anything else at anything like the price. As well as the bridge and soundpost the following adjustments are made:
Fingerboard is planed to ensure no bumps,
Bridge and nut height are checked,
High quality tuning pegs (and matching tailpiece) are fitted making it as easy as possible to tune the violin on the pegs alone,
This set-up is also available on the Strad model but this does lead to a violin which is brighter than other Gligas. We have successfully treated a Gama cello similarly including a high level tailgut and spike, and Larsen strings. The result can be heard on our Soundfiles page.
All small size Gamas (1/4 and below) are available on special order and not sent on approval.
MAESTRO Some players prize a violin with a certificate of authenticity with the maker's signature. Such players may wish to consider the Maestro. There appears to be little difference in the tone between Maestro 1, Maestro Extra and Gama. Maestro 1 has a two-piece back with ebony horseshoe and pin construction. Maestro Extra has a one-piece back with ebony horseshoe. Maestro Special are individually priced and have some special feature such as relief carving, animal head scroll, double purfling, etc. We do not stock Maestros - every one is obtained to order and photographs obtained from Gliga. Maestro Specials, and all small size Maestros, are available on special order only and not sent on approval.
The top level professional set-up described above for the Improved Gama can also be applied to a Guarneri model Maestro. We do not normally stock Maestros but the unimproved version is always available quickly on special order.
WHATEVER NEXT!? We are planning something new, jokingly called the 'spikey-ola'. Suzuki or Colorstrings cello teachers will be painfully aware of the difficulty of getting very small cellos. Well, we heard of a time when it was the norm to teach very young cellists on a large viola, but no-one actually seems to make a large viola with a cello spike ... yet. We are planning to fit a 17½" viola with a spike. The viola will be a Genial 1 and the project was inspired by the amazing cello-like tone of the large Gliga violas. We would be interested in any initial expressions of interest from teachers who might like to try out this instrument. Ballpark figure (which could change!) is £350 including a case but not a bow.
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Please email us or telephone. As this would be a special order we would require a deposit before obtaining the instrument. |