In Review: A Violin Inspired By Classic Italian Luthiery, Meet The Cremona SV-500

Cremona SV-500 Premier Artist Violin

Getting to Know the Cremona SV-500 Premier Artist Outfit

Cremona’s SV-500 Premier Artist Outfit is an affordable violin that comes with limited accessories. Hand carved violin features quality tone woods and a worn-in feel thanks to the shaded varnish on top.

Available in four sizes ranging from ¼ to 4/4, the SV-500 is a lightweight, Stradivarious-style instrument. With surprisingly big tones and comfortable feel, Cremona’s SV-500 is a quality first or second violin.

As part of Cremona’s Premier Artist series, the SV-500 represents an affordable and rich sounding alternative to higher priced options.

Each Premier Artist series instrument is set up in Cremona’s California factory and inspired by historical, high quality Italian luthiery.

Coming in at the mid- to low price range, the SV-500 features quality tone woods, transparent varnish, and quality figuring. Despite some mixed reviews of the build quality, the Cremona SV-500 remains a popular option for new students.

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Who is the Cremona SV-500 Best Suited for?

With a price that generally falls in the $300-400 range, the SV-500 remains a great first or second violin. For beginners, the SV-500 is an affordable option with quality sound and a lightweight feel.

Furthermore, it comes with the bare bones essentials that each student needs to get playing right out of the box. The outfit designation in the name is meant to indicate you’re not getting a lot of extras, but you’ll be outfitted with a quality instrument, bow, and case.

For players not too concerned with getting extras, like more experienced players, this also makes an excellent 2nd violin. And certainly makes a great choice as a good violin for an intermediate player. Especially if you’re moving up in size or quality from another model.

What’s in the Premiere Artist Outfit?

Cremona’s SV-500 Premier Artist Outfit comes with a really nice, durable case, a Brazilwood bow, and a shoulder rest. Unlike some of its competitors, they aren’t a lot of extras included, not even rosin or extra strings.

To be fair, the case seems to be nicer than the average carrying case included with most affordable violins. But otherwise, the cost is kept down by the bare bones accessories.

Cremona SV-500 Artist Features

The Cremona SV-500 is crafted from figured solid Maple for the back and sides. A hand carved solid spruce top gives the SV-500 that classic, archtop appearance.

Above the wood, a transparent red/brown varnish is faded to give the appearance of an aged instrument. While the varnish no doubt looks great, some SV-500’s have had varnish clumps around the f-holes, creating a vibrating sound.

The neck and scroll are also made of figured Maple, while the bridge is made of composite. Four built-in-fine tuners and pegs meet the Ebony fingerboard, though the pegs have been known to slip easily.

Genuine D’Addario Prelude strings come stock on the SV-500 as well. Lastly, the bow is a Brazilwood bow with carbon fiber and horse hair materials.

• Worn-in, transparent varnish
• Loud, full sounds from quality tone woods
• Comes stock with D’Addario Prelude strings
• Lightweight, comfortable body
• Ready to play out of the box

Is the SV-500 Ready To Go?

Beginner’s looking to hit the ground running should have no issues with the SV-500. Despite some build quality issues, the SV-500 sounds great, is comfortable to play, and fairly affordable.

Do note that the Cremona SV-500 doesn’t come loaded with extras like an extra bow, pack of strings, or rosin that others may include.

Competing Violins and Beginner Packs

For comparison shoppers, there are a wide variety of options to check out, all above or below the Cremona SV-500’s price tag.

For a similarly priced beginner instrument with upgraded tone woods, check out the Ricard Brunnel G2 Violin Outfit. The high quality, hand carved instrument is made from Spruce, Maple, and Ebony.

If you’re still looking for a more affordable option, consider the Cecilio CVN-600. The one-piece back of the violin provides excellent sustain and resonance.

The construction is solid, and the hand rubbed oil finish creates this great, aged-look that matches up nicely with the aged tonewoods.

Bunnel Pupil Violin Outfit 4/4 Full Size Clearance...

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Cecilio CVN-600 Hand Oil Rub Highly Flamed 1-Piece...

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D Z Strad Violin Model LC101 Full Size 4/4 with...

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D Z Strad’s Model LC101 is a high quality option that makes a great first or second violin. The excellent tone woods and build quality lead to clear, brilliant sounds and a very playable instrument. Plus the Model 210 comes with all the same features as the SV-500 plus rosin.

The little sister of the Model LC101, D Z Strad’s Model 101 is a more affordable option that comes with all the same accessories. However, the Model 101 has lesser quality tone woods and a less clear and loud sound.

Furthermore, it requires the bridge to be set into the instrument before it can be played. However, the cheaper price and warm, rich tones make it an appealing option for budget-minded players.

Pros and Cons

Cremona SV-500 Premier Artist Violin Review

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Cremona SV-500 Violin Final Thoughts

Cremona’s SV-500 is another quality sounding, beginner friendly violin. While buyers should be aware there are some quality control issues with the pegs and transparent varnish, it is not a bad value overall.

The pleasant tone, size options, and hand carved construction are key highlights. Another highlight is the durable, oblong travel case. Better yet, the Cremona SV-500 is ready to go right out of the box for beginners and students.

While it may not beat the D Z Strad Model 210 overall, it’s a cheaper, still satisfying option.

What Do Ceremona SV-500 Customers Think? >>

Cecilio CVN-600 Violin Review: Is It The Perfect Intermediate Violin?

CVN-600 Violin Outfit by Cecilio

Cecilio CVN-600 Overview

The Cecilio CVN-600 Hand Oil Finish Violin Outfit is a remarkable premium intermediate violin that is not only great to look at but is also amazing to play.

Built for performance in mind, it is an outstanding violin that’s ready for the stage. With an intricately designed neo-classical styling and an amazing tonal quality, this is an excellent violin to own and play if you are willing to spend a little more.

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Founded in 2004 in California, Cecilio Instruments is a maker of high-quality orchestra instruments for the mass market. The instruments range from brass to woodwind to string instruments.

Never compromising on quality, they produce mid to high-quality instruments but keep the pricing affordable enough for students and intermediate players to purchase. The Cecilio CVN-600 Hand Oil Finish Violin Outfit is no different.

The violin offers a premium priced violin that looks and sounds as good as custom-made pieces that tend to cost much more.

A Performer’s Choice Violin

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With its high-quality handmade finish, the Cecilio CVN-600 Outfit is made to stand out from the crowd. Cecilio built the violin for the discerning performer who wants a beautifully made instrument with no compromise in tonal quality.

The violin is made from the finest materials. The CVN-600 is built to last decades, to be passed down from one generation to the next.

Professional VNC-60C Oblong Carrying Case

The first thing you’ll notice when unboxing the CVN-600 is the VNC-60C oblong professional carrying case it comes delivered in. The case is inlaid with a soft velvet interior over the soft protective foam to protect the violin while you’re on the move.

It features a storage compartment, padded neck restraint, bridge protector, hygrometer, and a beautiful velvet blanket to protect your beautiful violin. Latch on the adjustable strap with soft foam padding, and you can carry around your violin with ease.

There’s more to talk about than the premium carrying case. The package also comes with 2 VNB-60B Brazilwood bows which have a distinct mother-of-pearl inlaid frog in addition to unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair, which performs beautifully straight out of the box.

On top of that, you will also find a spare violin bridge, a quality rosin cake, and a Cecilio chromatic tuner.

Ready for Stage Performances

Cecilio built the body of the violin from fine grain solid spruce for the top. A single piece of solid maple forms the back and sides with undulating patterns, both cured for at least seven years.

The violin is topped with a hand inlaid purfling and hand rubbed oil finish, which brings out the vibrant natural wood markings. The fingerboard, pegs, and chinrest are made of highly durable ebony, complete with an ebony tailpiece inlaid with mother of pearl, and four fine gold-plated tuners.

Finally, it comes pre-stringed with D’Adario Prelude strings and includes a set of spare strings. With so much attention to detail, the Cecilio CVN-600 Violin is a finely crafted product that lives up to Cecilio’s reputation as a manufacturer of premium classical instruments.

An Excellent Premium Violin Outfit

The Cecilio CVN-600 Violin Outfit is an outstanding premium violin package worthy of its price tag. Packed full of accessories right out of the box, you can bring it out for performance without having to worry about much else.

Cecilio made the violin for the discerning musician who has a taste for more exceptional quality violins.

Getting Started with the Cecilio CVN-600 Violin

The CVN-600 is entirely ready for the stage right out of the box. It delivers exceptional tonal quality with no additional setup required.

With a simple round of tuning with the accompanying Cecilio chromatic tuner and an excellent application of rosin on the Brazilwood bow, you’re ready to play. Any violinist with a couple of years of experience will be able to bring out the best of this violin effortlessly.

Pros and Cons

Cecilio CVN-600 Violin Review

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Alternatives to the CVN-600

Antonio Giuliani Etude Violin Outfit 4/4 Full Size...

For those looking for a premium starter violin, you may consider Cecilio CVN-300 Starter Violin. The violin offers beautiful quality sound for a more affordable price. It sports the same D’Adario Prelude Strings that the Cecilio CVN-600 Violin has to offer.

Another choice for a reasonable student violin outfit would be the Mendini MV500+92D. It’s a step up from the CVN-300, well built, and comes with everything a progressing student needs to advance.

Or, if you’re looking for something closer to the Cecilio CVN-600, you may consider the Antonio Giuliani Etude Violin Outfit. This violin provides a more classic look with comparable sound quality but in a similar price range.

For more information, you also may be interested in our article on choosing the best Intermediate violin here.

Final Thoughts on the Cecilio CVN-600: Should You Give it Serious Consideration?

Cecilio built the CVN-600 for the performance violinist in mind, with its exquisite handmade finish, coupled with top-notch tonal quality for a violin of its price range. For the intermediate violinist who is looking to step up their performance game, this is the perfect violin for you.

What Do Cecilio CVN-600 Violin Owners Think? >>

Once you’ve established that violin playing is something that you really enjoy, and you’ve advanced to an intermediate level, it may be time to get yourself a better violin.

What is the best intermediate violin on the market though? How can you be sure that you’re looking at the best violin brands for intermediate players?

Below we’ll do our best to answer common questions those shopping for a violin ask, as well as provide a review of the top intermediate violins on the market today.

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Best Intermediate Violins & Brands: Ultimate Guide with Reviews

Quality mid-level violins at a glance:

Product	Feature Image	Rating	Relative Price
#1 Best Intermediate Violin Fiddlerman OB1 Violin Outfit		4.8	$$$
#2 Best Value Model Antonio Giuliani Etude Violin Outfit		4.5	$$
#3 Best Tone Cremona SV-500 Premier Artist Violin Outfit		4.3	$$$
#4 Most Complete Package Cecilio CVN-600 Hand Oil Rub Violin Outfit		4.5	$$
#5 Highest Quality Louis Carpini G2 Violin Outfit		4.6	$$$$

Our Top 5 Intermediate Violins and Makers Reviewed

1. Best Intermediate Violin: Fiddlerman OB1 Violin Outfit

Fiddlerman OB1 Violin Outfit

This Fiddlerman OB1 comes in at an excellent price as well, so if you are on a tight budget, it is well worth considering. We felt that the darker brown varnish used here added a more vintage look overall, and we loved that.

It is hand-carved – the back is made from maple that has been aged for at least four years. The front is made from spruce. Everything is beautifully finished and presented in a decent-quality case.

The case does have a detachable shoulder strap and handle and various useful compartments.

Click Here to Read the Latest Fiddlerman OB1 Reviews

The tailpiece is Wittner-style and has four fine tuners built into it. The fittings are all made from real ebony and designed with maximum durability in mind.

Each violin is fitted with D’Addario Prelude strings and is carefully inspected during setup. The company uses a ten-point checklist to ensure that everything is in order before shipping the instrument.

You will be able to play it straight out of the box. The tone of the OB1 outfit is rich and clear and ideal for the intermediate user to improve their playing on.

It comes in two sizes:  1/4 and full. No premium is charged for ordering the smaller size.

Fiddlerman OB1 Violin Outfit Review

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2. Best Value Model: Antonio Giuliani Etude Violin Outfit 4/4 Full Size

Antonio Giuliani Etude Violin Outfit

Antonio Giuliani is famous for producing great quality musical instruments at exceptional prices. Add this in with their lifetime warranty, and their 45-day money-back guarantee and you know that you can buy one of their violins with complete confidence.

This model is extremely popular for intermediate students and is highly rated.

The features include an attractive oil finish, fittings made from real ebony and a handcrafted base made from spruce and maple. The maple is naturally aged, and the spruce is sourced from the Himalayas. This makes for a highly durable instrument that will last for many years.

What Do Antonio Giuliani Etude Violin Customers Think?

This outfit comes with the case, a bow made from Brazilwood, a shoulder rest made by Portland Gold, a detachable tuner, and a spare set of D’Addario Prelude strings.

The bridge is available with a German Teller or French Aubert option. Each violin is carefully inspected in the United States by experienced Luthiers before being set up in accordance with MENC standards.

The Etude comes in four different sizes: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and full size. You can expect to pay a premium for the half and quarter size.

Our overall view of this model is that it is highly playable and comes in at an excellent price. The tone is rich and well-balanced. We’re sure you’d be pleasantly surprised at the results you get with this model.

Antonio Giuliani Etude Violin Outfit Review

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3. Best Tone: Cremona SV-500 Premier Artist Violin Outfit – 4/4 Size

Cremona SV-500 Premier Artist Violin Outfit

This model was reviewed by Strings Magazine as being a good choice for those looking for their first or second violin. This is the manufacturer’s most popular option for intermediate to advanced users because of the quality of the sound it produces.

The violin features a French-made Aubert bridge with a maple and spruce body. It is lightly varnished to reveal the full beauty of the wood. It also has a chinrest that takes on the design of Stradivari violins.

Read What Cremona SV-500 Customers Are Saying >>

The case is of good quality and has a rigid foam interior. It features four bow holders and also a hygrometer. The strings are high-quality Prelude strings made in the United States.

The bow is made from Brazilwood and high-quality hair. The fingerboard is made from ebony, and the tailpiece is made of a composite to help lighten it.

Tuning is easily accomplished, and set-up is completed by professional luthiers in California according to MENC standards.

It comes in four different sizes: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and full size.

For the price, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better violin. The SV-500 is not a professional violin by any stretch of the imagination, but it is more than adequate for practicing with.

Cremona SV-500 Premier Outfit Review

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4. Good Intermediate Violin for the Money: Cecilio CVN-600 Violin

Cecilio CVN-600 Hand Oil Rub Flamed 1-Piece Back Violin

Out of all the models that we have reviewed, this one gives you the best value for money. This Cecilio model comes with several extras that most do not.

For starters, there are two bows made out of Brazilwood with Mongolian horsehair string. You also get a second bridge, a shoulder rest that can be adjusted, a case that has a hygrometer, a lesson book, and a chromatic tuner.

What Are Customers Saying About the Cecilio CVN-600?

Now, on to the actual CVN-600 violin itself. It has hand-carved and features a highly flamed back and sides in one-piece maple. The maple is allowed to age for at least seven years. The top is made from spruce. The finish is oiled giving an attractive appearance.

The fingerboard is made of ebony, as are the pegs, and tailpiece. The purfling is inlaid and highly attractive, and the back has a pretty design on it. There is also a fine tuner that can be detached.

The strings on the violin are D’Addario Prelude strings. You get a full year’s warranty against manufacturer’s defects.

Overall, some concerns have been raised about the final finish as it might be a little uneven in places. Still, considering the price paid this delivers a fantastic sound and so is still worth considering.

Cecilio CVN-600 Violin Review

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5. Highest Quality: Louis Carpini G2 Violin Outfit 4/4

Louis Carpini G2 Violin Outfit 4/4

Made by Louis Carpani, this is a high-quality, well-crafted option. It comes fully assembled and ready to play. Even the bow has been rosined for you. This is one of the only options with a full lifetime guarantee.

The sound produced is rich and true. While some models focus only on creating a louder noise, this is more in keeping with the sound produced by much more expensive models.

Read What Louis Carpini G2 Customers Are Saying >>

It comes in a range of sizes including 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and full size. What makes Louis Carpani different from most of its competitors is that they charge the same price for all the sizes they offer.

In many other companies, the smaller models command a higher price, because they are more specialized pieces.

A Louis Carpini will run you more than most intermediate violins, but you get a professional case, an extra set of strings, rosin, and the bow. Everything is ready to go straight from the case.

The case itself comes with three different colored interiors to choose from – red, blue, or emerald green. The primary design consideration was utility here. There is space for four bows, sheet music, a range of accessories, and much more.

The final finish is rich and oiled. This is a musical instrument that won’t disappoint either in terms of look or sound.

Louis Carpini G2 Violin Outfit Review

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Buyer’s Guide for Choosing Good Intermediate Violins

How much is a good quality violin?

For a good quality violin, bank on paying at least $300. The models that we review here range from $300 to around $600. You might be able to find cheaper student models, but these are usually only good for absolute beginners. As an intermediate player, you’ll want better results when you play.

Expect to pay between $300 to $600 for a decent intermediate violin.

Unfortunately, that does mean paying a bit more upfront. On the bright side, though, if you look after these violins properly, they could very well last you a lifetime.

If you want the best of the best, it doesn’t get much better than a Stradivarius, but you’ll need deep pockets to get your hands on one of those – they come in at millions of dollars.

How much are violins for beginners?

Violins come in at a range of prices. You can pay anywhere between $100 and a couple of thousand dollars. At $100, though, you are getting a very basic model and taking a chance with the kind of results such a low-price bracket offers.

Those at the very low end of the market are not going to produce a high-quality sound but might be useful if you have a child who is unsure of whether or not they will enjoy playing. An alternative to consider in this instance is to rent a violin for a few weeks and then make the final decision.

Inexpensive beginner violins range between $100 to $300.

This allows your child to be sure that this is the right instrument for them without you having to waste money. From there, do consider spending a little more money on a better brand. While you might save a couple of hundred dollars by going as cheap as possible, you’ll need to replace the violin a lot sooner.

So, in the long run, you’re not saving any money, and your child is not getting a proper idea of what a well-made violin can actually do. You have to weigh these arguments when considering the potential for savings.

After all, what happens if your child turns out to have a real knack for playing but gets frustrated by having to use a poor-quality instrument? The pros and cons must be carefully considered here before you make a final decision.

For more information on beginner violin prices, read more here.

What is the best brand of violin for a student?

If you were to ask any connoisseur of musical instruments, it would have to be the Stradivarius. There is no denying that this master craftsman perfected the art of creating perfectly toned instruments. Interestingly enough, the sound a Stradivarius produces is something that we in the modern world can’t duplicate.

Of course, in case you don’t have a few million to drop on a violin, there are some other more affordable options. All the brands that we have listed below are excellent choices and won’t let you down.

We recommend Fiddlerman and Louis Carpini as the best brands of violins for intermediate students.

They’re not Stradivari, but they do offer a modern, affordable alternative. Each has been been rated in terms of the sound they produce and the value that they provide. They’ll help you to advance to a more professional level of playing.

If we had to choose the best brand out of the lot, that honor would have to go to Fiddlerman. They produce excellent quality instruments and are willing to stand behind their products 100 percent. With a full lifetime guarantee against manufacturer’s defects, it doesn’t get much better than that.

If you are a beginner, and not sure whether or not these are a good fit, check out this post to find out which brands are the best for beginners.

Compare Featured Intermediate Violins & Brands:

The Verdict: Which Is The Overall Best Violin Brand?

At the end of the day, each of the options we listed above should prove to be a good investment. When compiling our list of top options, we wanted models that sounded as good as they looked. We went for models that had been expertly crafted and that produced reliable results.

However, if we were forced to choose just one out of the whole lot, our first choice would be the Fiddlerman OB1. It does come out as one of the more expensive instruments of the lot, but has fine detailing, a fantastic case, and is backed by an excellent guarantee and warranty.

We Recommend Fiddlerman Violins

Not only that, but Fiddlerman violins as a brand come in an exceptionally wide range of price points to match every level of player. This gives intermediate players a much better choice in finding an instrument that suits them perfectly.

If you are looking for the best value for money option, the Cecilio is the best choice. It has a range of additional extras included that give you a lot more bang for your buck.

If we were working purely on finesse, the Louis Carpini would come first for us. We love the darker varnish as it is a more unusual color. It makes the violin look more like a cherished older piece than a brand-new out-of-the-box model.

Which model is right for you? Check out all the reviews above and consider your options. We do hope that this review proves to be extremely useful for you and that it makes finding your perfect intermediate violin an easier task.

Editor’s Pick

Fiddlerman OB1 Violin Outfit

What Do Fiddlerman OB1 Customers Think! >>