Butterfly Primorac vs Nittaku Violin: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Primorac | Nittaku Violin | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | medium, classic all-wood, long dwell and high control | Soft, warm and flexible with long dwell, premium hand-crafted Japanese all-wood feedback |
| handle | FL/ST | FL |
| plies | 5W (all wood) — Limba/Limba/Ayous/Limba/Limba | 5-ply all wood (Kiri core with White Ash outer plies) |
| speed | OFF- | ALL+ |
| thickness_mm | 6 | 5.3 |
| type | — | ALL+ |
| weight_g | 85 | 86 |
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These are close cousins, both flexible all-wood blades built around control, dwell and spin rather than speed. The Primorac is a durable Butterfly classic with a Limba-Limba-Ayous-Limba-Limba layup, excellent control and a long satisfying dwell, forgiving and versatile with everything from European tensors to tacky Chinese rubbers. The Violin counters with premium Made in Japan craftsmanship, a warm, soft, flexible Kiri-core build and pinpoint placement that comes alive with Tensor rubbers.
In play they are similar but not identical. The Primorac is a medium-feel OFF- blade with classic all-wood feedback, while the Violin is thinner at 5.3mm against the Primorac’s 6mm and feels softer and warmer with long dwell. Neither is fast: the Primorac has limited top-end speed that players may outgrow and can feel underpowered with the plastic ball, and the Violin is weak at long-distance pace and needs a break-in period plus harder or tackier rubbers to reach its potential.
Choose the Primorac if you want a forgiving, durable first serious blade with proven versatility and value, noting that some reviewers cite it as a cheaper alternative to the Violin. Choose the Violin if you want premium craftsmanship and a refined warm touch and are willing to pay more and break it in. The Violin rates 8.4 to the Primorac’s 8.3.
FAQ
Are the Primorac and Violin very different to play?
They are similar in goal, both flexible all-wood blades with long dwell and high control for looping, but the Violin is thinner and feels softer and warmer, while the Primorac offers a classic medium all-wood feel. Both are control-first rather than fast.
Which is the better value?
The Primorac is often the value pick; reviewers even cite it as a cheaper alternative when questioning the Violin’s premium price. Both are durable, but the Violin charges for its Made in Japan craftsmanship.
Does either need breaking in?
The Violin is relatively stiff when new and benefits from a break-in period, and it needs harder or tackier rubbers to reach its full potential. The Primorac is forgiving and easy to play from the start, though it should be sealed before mounting rubber.
Which suits a developing looper better?
Both suit developing loopers. The Primorac is forgiving and versatile, ideal as a first serious blade, while the Violin is a great technique-building blade and a strong first custom blade for intermediates leaving fast carbon setups.