We got a very very...

I N T E R E S T I N G

episode today where we're going to be...

Basically, we bought a bunch of...

cheap stuff on Amazon and AliExpress.

Well, depends on your definition of cheap, but...

compared to the typical violins.

So we've got some gadgets that are meant to help you

learn and get better at the violins.

We also do have a small toy size 1/8 violin,

- and we also bought a... - A...

- full size violin because... - full size.

some of these gadgets, we're not putting on our instruments.

- Yes, I think we- yeah! - I refuse to do that.

I don't wanna take that risk.

So should we start with the violins first?

- Yes, let's open it. - We'll now open it.

So this is... I believe, the 1/8 size violin.

at an affordable price of

Oh wow!

Yeah.

Dude, that's...

bargain!

- Help! - Take it out.

Wait, wait... No, no, no.

ASMR.

Oh yeah...

Here we go, guys. We're opening it.

Pfft!

OH MY...

- Dude... - Dude, it's broken!

- No, the bridge is packed here. Is that the bridge? - Oh...

- Why are the strings like packaged on this side? - Packed down.

- That's so weird! - It smells funny.

*cough*

The D string is off its grid.

- The grooves are just- - They were wrong.

They look like someone just scratched it

- with a freaking nail. - Dude, this violin is not a violin.

- That is not a violin. - It's not even wood.

Dude, this looks horrible.

It looks... not good.

This colour is artificial AF.

What is this?

- It's a million- It's got glitter! - No, I think it is wood.

- It's just painted. - Wait, it's glittery. Don't...

Do you have glitter on you hands? Oh...

This comes with no manual.

How is a beginner meant to figure out how to install a bridge?

- I know. - Something luthiers trained years and years for.

I also get a feeling the pegs are gonna snap.

Dude, there's no...

HA HA HA! There's no-

- There's no string um... - It's so flat! It's the flattest bridge I've seen!

The flat bridge society, guys, there you go.

There's no string grooves!

We need to get a knife.

- No, we have to do it as it is. We have to do this as it is. - We cut it open.

- This is a scam. You can't play this. - Yeah.

Dude, the bridge is not cut well. Look at that!

- That's a wrong- Yeah, that's a wrong shape. - That's not a bridge.

Here they kinda shaved it off,

but here they shaved even more, so it's so uneven.

How is a beginner meant to know which side to install it?

This is not a bridge.

By the way, the G string side is the higher one,

- but I don't think this is right. - I don't think they knew.

Half a millimeter off bridge placement affects the sound,

and then you expect-

- Is it gonna snap? - ...break.

- Should I do the pegs a little bit? - Yeah, do the pegs down. It's gonna snap.

I'm scared it's gonna snap, like, pop in our face.

Dude, can you hear how the note goes...

Do you wanna get the bow out while I tune this?

Disaster of an instrument.

This bit is missing. There are meant to be grooves here.

Dude, the leather is not made well.

It's like they just cut it.

You know, it's not like melted on.

Yeah.

- It's just cut. - It's just put on. Yeah.

I'm scared this will pop.

Yeah.

Oh...

Is there a rosin?

Looks like pee.

I'm not tuning the E string any higher. It doesn't feel right.

I'm gonna put some rosin on this... fantastic bow.

This bow is not even varnished.

That's so dangerous.

- Ha ha ha ha! - The wood could like scratch you.

OH, LOOK AT THE TIP!!

Ugh... This is disgusting!

Wait, what? I can't see.

- It's weird. - Look at the wood, it's not cut properly.

Alright, I'm done with this violin.

Oh, you forgot to use oil, not rosin.

This is how Henry Lau does it.

Wait, don't- Get outta shot!

Oh! Sorry!

Can I try your bow on this? Cos it might be a rosin thing.

I don't know if I want my bow touching that monstrosity.

Alright, have fun.

It's not playable!

It sounds like a dying...

something.

Dude, the bridge's too flat

You can't play it.

People quit!

You just quit!

- This is what you hear when death approaches you. - They wouldn't even try! Yeah, it's like...

- Alright! - Moving on!

Moving on. That took a while.

Here we have the full size violin

that is at the price of

- Wow, what a bargain! - What a great bargain!

I can't wait to see what they...

And just to give you some context,

student violin typically begins at around 400 USD?

- Yeah, I'd say 400, 500 to... That's like just playable. - And it's up to like 3, 4000?

- 3, 4000 is like pretty decent that has- - Professional modern violin's usually... 20 to 50k?

Yes.

Soloists usually play on 1 to 10 million...

- Or half a million to like 10 million dollar, yeah. - Yeah.

- So that's the typical price range. - Yeah.

- And here we have a bargain of a $67. - $67.72!

WOW...

"A natural acoustic violin fiddle craft violino with"

"case mute bow strings 4-string..."

Hey, you know what else is priced at $67?

Our TwoSet hoodie!

Oh yeah guys, that's right!

100% cotton.

- Mm... - Except ours is actually...

the best of the best quality.

You guys should see Eddy opening it. He's like-

Hurts my precious violin hand...

Hello guys! Check out the merch while we're at it.

Practice 40 hours in case you haven't.

Please... OH!

Here we go...

- It looks like a viola. - Dude, it looks like a viola. Are you sure it's a violin?

This looks like a viola case!

- It's too big! - When you pay $67, you get a viola instead.

What the f***!!

This **** again?

Hey guys, $67.72!

Pow-

- Look at this. There's a freaking hair! - The bow is not even on the side.

That bow is way too long!

Hair sticking out.

Why do they always pack the strings beneath?

Is that a thing?

Again, the bridge is packed inside, so they expect you to...

- Dude, there's literally wood chips like falling- Aw yuck! - I know.

Brett: It's actually like-

*cough*

- Smell it! - It smells weird. I don't wanna smell it. I don't-

I don't know if you can see there's literally wood filings...

Brett: I think I scratched myself.

It's your turn.

Ah, I don't...

Did you hear that?

That's the pegs.

Eddy: Oh my god, it sounds...

Dude, this is not gonna work.

Dude, these pegs look so big!

- Dude, they're like cello pegs in a viola. - I know.

It's gonna snap.

Nah, don't put it on.

Okay, let's see the bridge.

I mean it's a bit more curved,

but there's still no lines on it.

Dude, the height is wrong.

Brett: Dude, this is not a violin.

It's a viola for sure.

And the fingerboard is way too short!

Who is out here making these stuff?

- That's all I wanna know. - Why is this passing protocol?

- Like... you're not allowed to sell this stuff. - Yeah! It should be illegal!

Yeah.

Look at that great division of strings.

Yeah, cos there's no freaking bridge grooves,

- So uneven, right? - so we don't know...

Good enough!

Now, for the gadgets.

Our first one here,

"The Virtuoso Wrist Practice Aid"

Okay, we just put this on the ground.

So seeing how this is wrilist-

Uh... a wrilist... I can't talk.

"Place the wrist aid on the top of wrist"

"just above your thumb."

Wait, wait, say it again.

*sigh*

- "facing..." - Huh?

Here, like this, like this.

Oh...

- This is so- It's like some torture device, man. - Yeah, this is not how you teach, guys.

Dude, this is terrible!

- It's so bad. - I feel so stiff.

No, play on this one.

I don't think that's playable to be honest.

Not to mention I have this thing between my thumb

- which is horrible. - Dude, the fingerboard is f***ed up.

Eddy: No, look.

Brett: A ha ha ha ha! You can't shift!

- I can't shift. - That's the most horrible thing!

I guess it's meant to prevent you

- from doing this or that. - But how are you-

- But not really, I can still do this. - Not really. Yeah.

- It's horrible. I hate this. - It's so useless.

"$15.50 to never do vibrato ever again!"

"$15.50 to ruin your technique."

Let's see what else can ruin your technique.

"Arm Bow Corrector!"

Yeah, I'm not putting that on my violin.

Great number!

WOW...

Look, there's a kid behind it with the direction.

Poor kid.

Probably not playing violin anymore.

Oh, you can't even open it!

Dude, that's gonna destroy the instru-

Okay well, we got something to destroy.

Can you hold this?

- Wait, is that actually meant to go on like that? - Yeah.

Dude, that is so messed up! Don't...

clip that **** on the fingerboard!

Oh...

Oh guys, I'll never bow crooked again! Look at this!

Oh my god!

This is so bad.

That is so bad.

I think because this bow is useless and doesn't work,

- We're not gonna... - and it needs hours of rosining.

This time we sacrifice my bow.

Are you sure?

I can't play straight, man.

But thanks to this bow corrector, I can now.

Brett: You can see it, guys.

Too bad it's too thin, my bow won't fit through!

- No, put... - Nah, I'm not... ugh...

- Ohh! It scratches the wood! No, I'm not... nah... - Ooh... okay. Nah, okay, never mind...

Alright, you know what, ABC Bow Corrector...

But it's not even fitting through. Why you-

- So dumb. - Does it wanna to meant to do like, chainsaw the wood,

like, as it plays?

Dumbest thing ever! Next!

Pfft!!

What is this?

"3/4 Size Violin Bow Straighten Collimator Corrector"

I don't know who invented this. This is...

the dumbest invention.

For $7.99.

Oh, this needs to get on the small one

- cos it won't fit on a big one. - Oh my god...

- We don't recommend anyone- *cough* - This disgusting...

- Dude, the str... oh... That's nasty! - Oh wow... that's messed...

Got it, guys.