Can i use a 17" viola if i use a 15"?

Question

Can i use a 17" viola if i use a 15"? I use a 15" viola now and have my eye on a 17" electric viola. would i be abe to play it vary well or would it be too big?

Answer 1

There is a lot of difference between a 15" viola and a 17" viola. I suggest you go to the nearest violin shop and ask to see some 17" violas.  Try them for size and see if you feel comfortable. Better yet if you can try out the one you have your eye on.

You may want to take a look at a 5 string viola while you are at it. They are different from 5 string violins.

Answer 2

Ebay is a huge problem in itself, in terms of buying instruments, but a 17" viola is just outlandish.  16" is probably as large as you should go;  even a 16 1/2" is too big for me, and I'm 6'3"  tall.