A look at five of our best student violin packages for novice students that provide everything they need to start learning.
Choosing the Best Student Violin: The Only Purchasing Guide You Need
Top 5 Student Violins for Beginners Reviewed
1. Cecilio CVN-300 Ebony Fitted Violin with D’Addario Prelude Strings
2. Mendini MV300 Solid Wood Violin with Hard Case
3. Crescent Student Violin Starter Kit
4. Bunnel Premier Clearance Violin Outfit – Full Size
5. Cecilio CVN-100 Solid Wood Student Violin
Compare Featured Student Violin Models
Conclusion: Which Student Violin is the Best for You?
Choosing the Best Student Violin: The Only Purchasing Guide You Need
Great Student Violin Selections at a Glance:
Product |
Feature Image |
Rating |
Relative Price |
#1 Overall Best Value!Cecilio CVN-300 Solidwood Ebony Fitted Violin Outfit |
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#2 Best Budget ModelMendini MV300 Solid Wood Satin Antique Violin with Hard Case |
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#3 Best Cheap ViolinCrescent Student Violin Starter Kit |
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#4 Best Premium DealBunnel Premier Clearance Violin Outfit |
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#5 Second Best ChoiceCecilio CVN-200 Solidwood Violin Outfit |
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Have your kids told you that they are interested in learning how to play the violin?, but you are worried that the interest is fleeting, and don’t want to spend a lot of money on an expensive instrument?
There are plenty of quality violins available that are perfect for beginners and students, and many cost less than $250. In this article, we’ll take a look at five of our best student violin packages that give a novice student everything they need to start learning, and decide if this is the instrument for them.
We certainly hope you benefit from the information we provide in this article! Just so you know, we may receive compensation if you use the links on this page. If you do, thank you so much!
Top 5 Student Violins for Beginners Reviewed
1. Best Student Violin: Cecilio CVN-300 Ebony Fitted Violin
Cecilio CVN-300 Ebony Fitted Violin
Here is one of the most popular student violins from Cecilio. The CVN-300 is made with a solid spruce top, with maple on the back, neck, and sides. There is also inlaid purfling with an antique varnish.
The fingerboard is made from ebony, along with the pegs and chin rest, and there is a tailpiece with four detachable, nickel-plated fine tuners.
Overall, this is a good violin for the beginner or student, and it even comes quality D’Addario Prelude strings, which are already installed (note, there is no extra set of strings included).
Features
- This is a bundle package that includes the CVN-300 violin, a Cecilio chromatic tuner, a lightweight hard case, two Brazil wood bows with unbleached, genuine Mongolian horsehair, a rosin cake, an adjustable shoulder rest, an additional bridge, and a lesson book
- Enjoy awesome sound clarity and terrific responsiveness. The tone is bright and warm, so it is exciting yet smooth at the same time
- This is a durable instrument that is particularly good for younger students who often have a tendency to be rough on things
What are Cecilio Customers Saying? >>
Pros and Cons
Cecilio CVN-300 Violin Review
What We Like
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- This violin comes with a one-year warranty that protect you against any manufacturer defects. If there are any issues, you can contact customer service for repairs or replacement
- This is a violin that was made with the student in mind, and has been crafted to meet and exceed the needs of beginners and early students
- The antique varnish finish makes this a very attractive violin, and the quality wood tones provide excellent sound quality
This is considered an “orchestra” violin, making it perfect for kids who are interested in joining the school band
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What We Don’t Like
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- The bow is low quality, and often cannot be tightened enough to be used properly. You may want to consider using a different bow
- There can be a problem with this violin staying in tune, because the tuning pegs have a tendency to slip. You will need to use peg drops or liquid rosin to correct the problem
- The strings that come with this violin aren’t of the greatest quality. We recommend purchasing a better set of strings and replacing the ones that are already on it
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What Do Cecilio CVN-300 Violin Customers Think? >>
Verdict
Not all student violins are actually teacher-approved, but the Cecilio CVN-300 is loved by teachers of beginner and intermediate students.
It comes pre-strung with a set of quality D’Addario Prelude strings, and the Cecilio tuner even has a metronome, which is going to help students stay in time while they are practicing.
Overall, this is a great package for any beginning violin student, and many students who have been playing for a while also like it.
For more information, read our full review on this student model violin here.
2. Best Budget Violin for Students: Mendini MV300 Solid Wood Violin with Hard Case
If your kids are old enough to handle a full-size violin, the Mendini 4/4 MV300 is a great option. It is also a violin that produces a quality sound, which is necessary when learning in order to be able to correctly hear what is being played.
Priced at less than $75, this attractive violin has a satin antique finish. The top is made from hand-carved, solid spruce, and the sides, back, fingerboards, chin rest, and pegs are made from maple. The alloy tailpiece has four integrated fine tuners.
Features
- The Brazil wood bow features unbleached, genuine, Mongolian horsehair, whereas other inexpensive violins come with bows that have synthetic hairs
- Bundle package includes a lightweight hard case, bow, rosin, an adjustable shoulder rest, two bridges, and extra strings
- This violin comes with a one-year warranty that protects you against any manufacturer defects. Contact customer service if there are any manufacturing issues with this product
Click Here to Check Mendini MV300 Availability >>
Pros and Cons
Mendini MV300 Violin Review
What We Like
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- For the price, the sound quality is much better than one would expect, and better than that of other violins in this price range
- The bundle package gives the beginner everything they need to start learning how to play the violin right away
- The solid spruce top is hand carved, and the back and sides are made from quality maple, making this an attractive violin with a nice sound
- This violin comes with a one-year warranty protecting you against any manufacturer defects. Contact customer service if you have any issues
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What We Don’t Like
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- This violin is not always in tune upon arrival, but that is actually a good thing, because being fully tuned during shipping could damage the neck
- The tuning pegs have a tendency to slip, but this can be fixed by using some peg drops or liquid rosin. If not fixed, this can cause the violin to come out of tune frequently
- The bridges are not the best quality, and there are no grooves for the strings to sit so they don’t move around
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What Are Mendini MV300 Violin Customers Saying? >>
Verdict
Obviously, you are not going to get a symphony-quality violin at this price, but the Mendini MV300 is pretty impressive overall, for the price. This is a great violin for the beginner, and it is also popular with students who are not quite ready to move up to a more expensive model.
All in all, if you are looking for a violin that costs less than $100, this is an excellent option. It comes with everything needed to start learning right away, so you don’t have to go out and buy any extras before you send them off to their first violin lesson.
Read our full review of the Mendini MV300 here.
3. Best Cheap Violin for Students: Crescent Student Violin Starter Kit
If you want to spend as little as possible but still get a decent violin for your kids to learn on, the Crescent 4/4 full size student violin starter kit is definitely one to consider. This is a full size violin that is ideal for beginners.
It’s not expensive, so if they do lose interest, you won’t be out a lot of money (and maybe you or someone else in your family might decide to take it up). Everything needed to start learning to play the violin is included in this student package, including the bow and carrying case.
Features
- This is a full size, 4/4 violin that is ideal for most beginners and students, with the exception of smaller children who may need a smaller instrument to start out with
- Made from quality materials, this violin has a solid maple back and sides, with a solid spruce top, and an alloy tailpiece with four fine tuners
- This is an attractive violin with a smooth, glossy finish. It plays well and has a better sound than one would expect at this price point
- Available in a rainbow of colorful choices
Click Here for the Latest Crescent Reviews >>
Pros and Cons
Crescent Student Violin Starter Kit Review
What We Like
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- This bundle package includes everything the beginner needs, including a bow, rosin, a carrying case (interior color may differ from the photo), and a Crescent digital E-tuner.
- The bridge is not set up prior to shipping, to ensure that there is no damage while the instrument is in transit
- This violin has a smooth, rich tone that is ideal for beginning violinists who need to train their ears. The sound will not be “off”
- It is easy to set up this violin and start playing it right away. All you need to do is install the bridge and put on the strings, and it is ready to use
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What We Don’t Like
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- There have been some problems with the bow breaking after one or two uses. It may be necessary to purchase a higher quality bow
- As with many inexpensive violins, this one is known to come out of tune easily because the pegs slip. Solve this problem with peg drops or liquid rosin
- There can be a problem with the bridge staying in place, and it is not very easy to adjust
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What Do Crescent Student Violin Customers Think? >>
Verdict
When it comes to a beginner violin, many students and teachers are impressed with the Crescent 4/4 Beginners Violin. It’s well-made with materials that you would find in more expensive models, and it works as well as many that cost twice as much.
This is an attractive violin that delivers excellent sound quality. The biggest drawback is that it doesn’t come with a shoulder rest, but you can add one to your order for just $5, so it isn’t that big of a deal.
4. Best Premium Violin for Students: Bunnel Premier Clearance Violin Outfit
Bunnel Clearance Violin Outfit
If you’re worried that a violin priced at less than $100 isn’t going to have the sound quality that your budding musician needs, particularly for ear training, you can spend a bit more and purchase the Bunnel Premier Clearance Violin Outfit, 4/4 full size.
This is actually one of the highest-rated student violins on Amazon, and it is backed by not only a lifetime warranty, but also a 45-day money-back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied with this violin, which is not something you will find in most other stringed instruments.
Features
- This violin is set up and ready to play. The final assembly and setup is performed by the professional luthiers at Kennedy Violins in Washington state
- This instrument is hand-crafted using solid maple and spruce tone woods. The fittings are 100 percent ebony, and the violin has a nice oil finish
- This is a clearance violin, meaning that it does have some minor imperfections. These are generally only with the appearance, and do not affect the playing quality
What are Bunnel Clearance Customers Saying? >>
Pros and Cons
Bunnel Premier Clearance Violin Outfit Review
What We Like
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- Enjoy Bunnel series sound quality without having to spend a lot of money. You can buy this quality violin for less than $250
- All Kennedy Violins stringed instruments are purchased directly from the manufacturer. Only the final setup is done at the Kennedy facility in Washington state
- The bridge is hand-carved from solid maple, and is custom fit to this violin, holding the already installed Portland strings tightly in place
- The string height is precisely measured for playing comfort. It is not too high to make pressing the strings difficult, and not so low that it creates a buzz
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What We Don’t Like
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- There have been issues where the strings have not been properly centered, so they are off to one side rather than in the middle of the neck. It is possible that the bridge and tail piece may have been out of alignment
- The sound quality is not the greatest, but it could be because of the strings. A higher quality set of strings might make all the difference in the world
- This is not an ideal choice for intermediate to advanced students, although it is ideal for beginners who are taking their first lessons
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Are Bunnel Premier Clearance Violin Customers Happy? >>
Verdict
When you want to make sure that your kids have a quality instrument to learn on, but you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars, The Bunnel Premier Clearance Violin is a great choice.
his bundle package comes with everything students need to start learning how to play the violin, including a durable, high-grade Brazil wood bow with genuine Mongolian horsehair, an oblong case with straps and compartments, Kennedy Natural Rosin, and extra strings.
Read our full review of the Bunnel Clearance model here.
5. Our Alternative Best Choice for a Student Violin: Cecilio CVN-200 Solid Wood Student Violin
The Cecilio CVN-200 violin is a perfect violin for beginners or students. It includes a hand-carved maple back, hand-carved solid spruce top, and sides completed with attractive varnish.
This violin is tailored with a chin rest, maple fingerboard, and alloy tailpiece comprising of four detachable fine tuners.
Accessories included with the violin are a two Brazilwood bows with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair, modifiable shoulder rest with soft foam stuffing and soft rubber feet.
Also included is a light hard-shell case with straps and pockets (making it ideal to carry if you’re in an orchestra or to school), violin bridge, rosin cake, and additional strings.
Features
- Size 4/4 (Full Size)
- Maple back & sides and hand-carved solid spruce top
- Boxwood Pegs, Maple fingerboard, chin rest and includes four fine tuners
- Consists of: Cecilio tuner, 2 Brazilwood bows, hard case, rosin, two bridges, adjustable shoulder rest, extra set of strings, and lesson book
- 1 Year warranty
Click Here to Read the Latest Cecilio CVN-200 Reviews
Pros and Cons
Cecilio CVN-200 Student Violin Review
What We Like
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- The CVN-200 is lightweight which makes it ideal for beginners
- Has a solid construction which is difficult to find in cheaper student models
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What We Don’t Like
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- The strings are average and might need replacing as they are not as strong as compared to similar models
- There is not much instructions on how to set everything up so some searching on YouTube might need to be done.
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What Do Cecilio CVN-100 Student Violin Customers Think? >>
Verdict
So, it is a nice idea to buy the CVN-200 for yourself if you’re a beginner or student at playing the violin. It is definitely good enough for somebody who’s taking small steps to becoming an immediate to advanced player.
It can be a great gift if you have a son or daughter that is eager to learn how to play.
Based on how it works, its appearance and with the case and accessories that accompany it, this is a great violin for students.
Compare Featured Student Violin Models:
Conclusion: Which Student Violin is the Best for You?
As you can plainly see, there is no need to go out and spend a fortune on an instrument that you aren’t even sure will be used by next year.
There are plenty of quality violins priced at well below $250, and they come with all of the accessories needed to jump right into learning how to play the violin.
Any of the above packages will be ideal for your little learners, and if they decide to keep on playing, you can always upgrade to a higher quality instrument later on
In our humble opinion, if you have the budget for it and the student has a committed attitude, the Bunnel Premier Clearance Violin Outfit 4/4 offers the best overall value as you’re getting an exceptional instrument at a reduced price.
But, as most parents of new students are naturally more sensitive to the combination of price point and commitment level, our top pick is the Cecilio CVN-300 as the overall best choice for a student violin outfit.
Editor’s Pick
The Cecilio CVN-300 Violin Outfit
What Do Cecilio CVN-300 Violin Owners Think? >>
- Build Quality
- Sound Quality
- Value Factor
Summary
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