Violas for sale in Canada
We carry handmade Gliga violas from intermediate to advanced level, in 15", 15.5", 16" and 16.5" sizes. Every instrument is made in Romania from Carpathian spruce and flamed maple, and set up by hand in our West Vancouver shop before it ships.
What size viola do you need?
Violas are measured in inches along the body, not in fractions like violins, and there is no single "full size" — a viola is sized to the player. The measurement to take is from the neck to the centre of the left palm, with the arm extended:
- 15" violas — smaller-framed adults and younger students moving up from a violin
- 15.5" violas — a common choice for adult players of average build
- 16" violas — the most widely played adult size
- 16.5" violas — larger players, and those wanting a deeper, fuller C string
A larger viola gives a richer, darker tone, particularly on the lower strings, but asks more of the left hand and the shoulder. A smaller one is easier to manage and still sounds unmistakably like a viola. If you are between sizes, comfort should decide it — an instrument that strains the arm will hold your playing back more than half an inch of extra resonance will help it.
Send us your measurement if you are unsure and we will tell you honestly which size we would put you on.
Coming from the violin?
Many violists start on the violin. The viola is tuned a fifth lower — C, G, D, A — reads in the alto clef, and is heavier in the hand, so the left arm and the bow both need a little adjusting. Most players make the move comfortably within a few weeks, and many never go back.
Viola bows and cases
A viola takes its own bow, slightly heavier than a violin bow, and its own case sized to the instrument:
Left-handed violas
We do not keep left-handed violas in stock, but we can make one to order at the Gliga workshop in Romania, with a typical manufacturing time of two to three months. Email us if that is what you are looking for.
Try before you decide
You are welcome to come and play any viola we have in stock at our shop in West Vancouver, by Park Royal. If you are elsewhere in Canada, we are happy to advise by email and can send sound samples so you can hear the instrument before you commit.
Buying a viola from outside Vancouver
Size is what makes people hesitate to order a viola without holding it first, and it is a fair worry — half an inch is the difference between comfortable and a strain. Violas ship anywhere in Canada from $65, arrive in seven to ten business days, and come tracked.
The seven-day home trial starts when it arrives, which is long enough to play it properly and take it to a lesson. If the size turns out to be wrong, send it back for a refund less shipping and we will talk about the next one up or down. Send us your arm measurement first and we will tell you honestly where to start.
