The Hows and Whys of Choosing a Viola
A Few Listening Considerations
What kind of strings are on the instrument? If you are not acquainted with the type of string on the viola, ask about its properties. If you like the viola but want, for example, more brightness on the A, try a thicker gauge string.
When was it last played, and by what sort of player? A Strad that has been unplayed for years or only played from time to time by an indifferent amateur may take months to regain its full properties.
How does the instrument sound in an acoustically dead space? Take into account the acoustics of the room you are in. From a dead practice room to a lively concert hall, the environment has an impact on how you perceive the sound of the snstrument. Try violas in an acoustically dampened space so that you hear them on their own merits and more easily separate one from another. Anything that sounds good in a dead space will sound splendid anywhere else.
