How Much is a Good Violin?

To answer this popular question, we’ve created a guide that will provide useful guidelines for choosing a good instrument for yourself, or someone who has just started playing the violin.

You can find violins that start from around $100, then go up to tens of thousands of dollars. As a result buyers often get confused when it comes to the relationship between quality and price.

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Buyer’s Guide: What to Know When Purchasing a New Violin

There’s a lot to discuss regarding the various aspects that determine any violin’s price. From its build quality to accessories and sound quality, every violin is a mixture of multiple elements.

Depending on how you’ll use your instrument and how often you practice, you can decide whether an instrument is a worthwhile investment or just a hobby.

Craftsmanship

The craftsmanship of any violin is one of the best indicators of its quality and durability. A well-crafted instrument doesn’t have rough edges, and its varnish is impeccable.

When you see exquisitely carved scrolls and precise lines, that’s what a master luthier can create out of one chunk of wood.

To get the best wood, luthiers need to spend around $500. They then start working with the wood to create the body and neck of an instrument.

Sometimes, they use fine ebony to customize the fingerboard according to the future owner’s needs, or more likely, they’ll use a standard fingerboard.

One of the best examples of 100% fine ebony fingerboard, pegs, and fittings is the Fiddlerman Soloist outfit.

Fiddlerman Soloist Violin Outfit

Of course, depending on the amount of work, the average violin price can start at around $1,000 and rise to astronomical heights.

As far as beginners’ violins go, your budget should be between $1,000-$2,000 if you want a premium instrument.

Fortunately, there are several great violins and violin outfits that fit that budget.

Origin

For some, this might be a shock, but almost all modern instruments come from the Far East. In the period between 1995 and 2010, nearly all the violins came from Chinese workshops.

The only other country that still produces high-quality violins is Germany, but European violins are too expensive for most players.

Classification

One of the most common classifications among violin sellers is the method of grading instruments according to the level of technique

A beginner’s violin is usually a synonym for a low-grade and low-quality instrument. Before, they were made from substandard wood as their sound was nothing but average.

Typical violin classifications are: beginner, intermediate, advanced, and professional.

Today, there are much better and ideal for anyone unsure whether they want to pursue violin or it’s just a phase.

Students dedicated to playing the violin and who don’t have the means to get an expensive outfit can find various mid-range, fine quality instruments with many useful accessories.

What’s more, all of these violins have been checked by a violin master to ensure their suitability.

Violin Sizes

One of the critical features of any violin is its size because it determines whether you’ll play comfortably or you’ll struggle with every note.

The size depends on the average arm length, and even if a 4/4 is a full-size model for adult players, there are ones that use ¾ to give their best performance.

Children often start with the 1/32 model until they grow up and start using the full-sized instrument.

Violin Brands

When we compare the craftsmanship, sound quality, and price, several brands offer some of the best violins for beginner and intermediate violin students.

We’ll focus on seven of them to explain what makes them affordable.

Mendini

Are you’re looking for an affordable instrument? If so, you should see what Mendini has to offer.

With a fair price on a cheap student violin, they are among the most famous brands for beginners.

Mendini MV400 Violin Outfit

The company’s goal was to produce low-cost instruments with quickly replaceable strings and easy maintenance.

Mendini’s violins are factory-made, which means that their sound is not high-quality compared to handmade instruments.

Even so, they offer decent value for the money and are considered to be good beginner violins.

Cecilio

Originating on a ranch in California, the brand got its name from St Cecilia.

What makes Cecilio’s instruments stand out are the instrument sizes, as the smallest ones are 1/32, ranging up until the 4/4.

Cecilio CVN-500 Violin Outfit

This is what makes them an ideal choice for children as well as music students.

Cecilio violins are for players of all levels, from beginners to professionals.

Most music professionals and educators use Cecilio violins with their students as they produce a fantastic resonant sound.

Fiddlerman

Pierre Holstein started with testing and curating violins. Today, he’s two steps ahead of the competition because of the way the Fiddlershop helps customers find exactly what they’re looking for.

Fiddlerman Master Violin Outfit

The Fiddlershop currently offers hundreds of instruments, including many of their own, from some of the top violin brands like Ming Jiang Zhu, Scot Cao, Nicolo Gabrieli, and Peter White.

Scott Cao

Another brand with an excellent reputation among violinists is Scott Cao. Some of the finest handcrafted violins came out from their Chinese workshop.

Scott Cao 750 Violin

It’s considered one of the top violin brands with a wide range of instruments for novices and music professionals.

Should you decide to buy a Scott Cao instrument, you can rest assured you’re getting the best value for your money.

Stentor

Another famous brand is Stentor. Their violins come with top-quality accessories.

Stentor 1500 Violin

Stentor has been around since the early 19^th century, but they were mostly known for importing instruments.

Today, they’ve built a reputation among music educators. For that reason, a lot of children spend their first days learning how to play Stentor violins.

Yamaha

Yamaha is a Japanese brand know for a variety of instruments, not only violins.

However, their instruments are not for the beginner and intermediate players as it takes a lot of skill and knowledge to play them.

The standard Yamaha violin is suitable for music scholars and advanced students, or professional violinists.

Yamaha V3 Series Student Violin Outfit

Some of their best violin models are inspired by well-known violins created in Europe by great luthiers.

They have a modern look, but they’ve managed to keep some exquisite features.

Knilling

If you’re looking for a classical student violin, the brand everyone will mention is Knilling.

They created a workshop in 1922 and soon became one of the most favored brands among violin students and adult learners.

All of their products go through thorough inspections, and they dispatch their instruments customized and tuned.

Knelling 11VN Sebastian Violin

An average violin price is far from low as this brand guarantees the quality of their instruments.

That’s why if you decide to get one of their violins, make sure you order their famous pegs.

Violin Prices and Ranges

When it comes to prices, the differences between similar-looking products could be thousands of dollars.

If you start searching for a new or upgrade violin, you need to know what to look for.

Depending on the brand, craftsmanship, and features, the prices can vary. Nonetheless, we can give you a rough idea of what to expect.

Violins up to $500

If you are devoted to learning the violin, you can find a decent factory-made instrument in this price range.

When you’re looking for a low-cost violin, you might find a few surprisingly good models for up to $500, but we don’t recommend going under $300.

Keep in mind that when your technique improves, you’ll have to consider upgrading for better sound and projection.

Violins Between $500 and $1000

You can find excellent student violins that feature quality strings, fingerboard, and sound significantly better in this price range.

You can opt for a violin outfit that includes all necessary equipment like a bow, rosin, tuner, and a hard case. Students usually start with outfits and later upgrade only their instrument.

Depending on your progress and budget, you can’t go wrong with Fiddlerman Artist Outfit or Scott Cao 017 Outfit.

Over $1,000

Once you’re serious about playing the violin, it’s probably the best time to choose a more serious instrument.

Around $1,000 is the best violin price for a student or semi-professional musician.

In this bracket, you can get nicely crafted instruments that allow you to develop your technique and use them in an orchestra or for a solo performance.

Violins $2,000 and Up

The more you spend on a violin, the more you’ll have to practice achieving the best sound quality.

If you’re serious about committing your time to it, your technique will advance faster than on a cheap instrument.

If a violin costs more than $2,000, that means luthiers made it with precision by hand.

Exceptionally skilled artisans, such as Nicolo Gabrieli, Peter White, Francesco Pierotti, Klaus Heffler plus many others, spend significant time and energy making these superb instruments.

Klaus Heffler La Passione Violin

Guide to Finding a Good Violin

Once you’ve decided to pursue the violin as your preferred instrument, you might wonder what constitutes a good violin for your specific needs?

In this guide, we’ll summarize everything you should look for in a good violin. Plus, we’ll show you some of the best-reviewed violins and violin outfits.

Violin Build Quality

Like any other physical product made by people, the quality of materials and amount of hands-on time put into an instrument will be reflected in it’s price.

Therefor, a good quality violin built by skilled professionals should have a reasonable balance of the two.

Wooden Violins

Wood is the essence of every violin. The older the wood, the better the sound will be. Usually, luthiers use maple and spruce that has been dried for at least five years.

However, the wood has to be dried for more than ten years to be considered a premium instrument.

Maple has a specific texture with flame-like lines, and you can see how wonderful it looks on a premium instrument like Ming Jiang Zhu 907 Violin.

Ming Jiang Zhu 907 Violin

Some violins are even made from pear wood or two wood types for a more refined look.

Composite Violins

Nowadays, you can also find different types of violins made from carbon composite like the Glasser Carbon Composite and don’t have any wooden parts.

Glasser Carbon Composite Violin

They require a similar amount of menial work as the handmade violins, but the materials are mostly polyurethane foam and carbon composite.

For many, carbon is a quality alternative to wood as it offers a lot of possibilities for instrument development.

Key Points of Well Built Violins

What’s excellent about well-built violins is that their worth is slowly rising; therefore, they are a sound investment.

After ten or twenty years, the instrument will either hold or significantly increase in value.

One of the best aspects of owning a beautifully made instrument is the quality of its varnish.

Whether you prefer red violins like Holstein’s Traditional Red Mendelssohn violin or high-quality yellow varnish, all of them have a refined look that you can’t replicate on cheaper models.

Holstein Traditional Red Mendelssohn Violin

Another lovely example of a wood pattern is Ming Jiang Zhu 909 violin, one of the best violins from Ming Jiang Zhu’s workshop.

Top Features

• Beautiful varnish
• Strong body
• Lifetime warranty
• Growing value
• Slow aging process

Build Qualities to Look For

Overall, all models will feel relatively strong once you take them in your hands. Granted, they’ll move while you play them, but that’s one of the best qualities of aged wood.

Another upside of these valuable instruments is their superior sound that has layers and deep overtones.

With radiant and joyful projection, the sound you’ll hear can’t compare with violins made from other materials or cheaper wood.

That’s why the best violins shine on solo performances, in string quartets, or with an orchestra.

Only in front of an audience will a well-made, handcrafted instrument show its depth and real value.

What You Should Be Aware Of

When you take everything into account, it’s more than sensible that a premium-quality instrument can’t have the same price as one made from cheap components and assembled in a factory.

That’s why an average violin price rises depending on the materials used.

Another downside of wooden instruments is their sensitivity to humidity, rain, or extreme warmth or cold.

Fine wooden instruments need extra care to guard against the elements.

That’s why you’ll hardly ever hear and see pricey violins outside, as they’re mostly used in concert halls.

Lastly, maintenance is a rather big issue since wood changes over time, and you’ll have to polish it regularly to maintain the color and fine lines.

Build Quality in Summary

Sound Quality

If you were wondering how much a violin costs, it often has a lot to do with sound quality.

Since you now have electric and acoustic violins, this question becomes even more complicated.

Overview

The real difference between the sound of the student-quality violin and a professional one makes all the difference to the audience and the performer.

It depends on the quality of wood, or in the case of the electric violin – the amplifier.

Inexpensive student violins often sound good in small rooms or enclosed spaces, but once they’re in a concert hall, it becomes hard to dazzle everyone with their sound.

Violins that cost more than $2,000, like the Sima Traian Violin, produce a beautiful sound in all ranges and spectrums, and their projection is robust even in a large concert hall.

What matters most for electric violins is the volume intensity, and once they’ve set the amplifier and all the equipment, everyone will be able to enjoy the sound.

Its properties are different from the wooden instrument, but they’re great at concerts or outside performances.

In terms of sound qualities like tone color, beginner violins are one-dimensional, while more expensive instruments are far more versatile.

What’s more, they sound solid even when they’re playing deep tones, and noticeably, they can easily switch registers.

Key Points Regarding Sound Quality

Every violinist wants to play an instrument that offers room for experiment and trying out new techniques.

Wooden instruments like Holstein Workshop by Ming Jian Zhu Violin are more expensive, but they encourage virtuosity.

Holstein Workshop by Ming Jiang Zhu Violin

Electric violins are slightly sturdier, and their sound is more aggressive.

Bottom line – it’s a matter of preference whether you enjoy one instrument or the other.

However, as long as the sound you’re creating is complicated and nuanced, you are holding the right instrument.

Best Features

• Great sound uplifts any performance
• Strong projection
• Provides clear tone
• No unpleasant sounds
• Warm undertones

What to Consider Regarding Sound Quality

Overall, the more expensive the violin, the better the sound. If you apply this way of thinking, you can’t go wrong.

You should consider every violin’s brand and origin and the type of wood used to ensure you’re getting the best instrument.

What To Be Aware Of

For many people, the quality of sound is very arbitrary and subjective to the individual. While some music educators and players agree on the basics, there’s no consensus.

Sound Quality in Summary

Violin Accessories

When you’re looking to buy or upgrade your violin, the second thing you need to check is its accessories.

How much a good violin costs is also determined by the quality of features and the brand.

Violin accessories are there to help musicians uplift their performances and use their instruments to their full capacity.

The use of accessories helped beginners to enhance their playing skills and learn new ones.

At the moment, every violin comes with around sixteen accessories that have become a standard in the industry.

The Bow

The first and, according to some people, the most essential addition of all is the bow.

The bow, though technically an accessory, is in fact a critical component requiring just as much consideration as the instrument itself. It’s essentially an extension of the violin.

While entry-level and intermediate kits will include bows for the price-point, individual premium bows will often cost many hundreds of dollars.

JonPaul Carrera Violin Bow

In use, the bow creates a mellow sound when you move it over the strings. In construction it has five different components that make it strong and light.

Regardless of the variety of materials used to make bows like carbon, bamboo, boxwood, or Brazilian wood, they all work the same way.

One of the notable features of any well-made bow is the quality of its hair, which usually comes from horse.

Depending on the breed, horse hair can be silky or slightly brittle, and of course, the hair has to be taut, but it mustn’t be too tight, or it will break.

Dealing with the pressure correctly and learning how to apply it on the strings is essential for sound quality.

Usually, students learn about fixing the bow in their first violin lessons, and it remains one of the most important aspects of any performance.

Violin Rosin

Rosin’s primary function is to keep the bow’s hair highly frictional. That’s why it’s essential to use it regularly so that your bow won’t slip from the wires and create an unpleasant sound.

Bernardel Rosin For Violin – Viola – Cello

Once the player has more experience, they can continue playing without an unpleasant, squeaky noise.

Case

Since violins are extremely sensitive, a case is a must-have item. They come in distinctive designs, shapes, and sizes as they need to store your instrument and everything else you need to play it.

Usually, you can place one bow, violin, notes, strings, maintenance kit, rosin, and whatever else you might need.

However, in the case you can get with Fiddlerman Master Violin Outfit, you have space for up to four bows and several other accessories.

Fiddlerman Oblong Violin Case FC50

Basically, there are two options to choose from: a case or a backpack. For people who travel from one concert to another, backpacks are often more comfortable as they can store many other things.

Most of the cases are a bit more stylish and made from waterproof materials to protect your instrument and everything else you have in the bag.

Chin Rest

This accessory is vital as it provides a comfortable place to put your chin. It’s attached to the violin and facilitates long hours of pain-free playing.

Guarneri Violin Chinrest

Shoulder Rest

The shoulder rest is an additional cushion to make sure you’re comfortable while playing.

It’s made from cotton, wood, or plastic, and it has soft lines to allow the violin to sit comfortably between your shoulder and chin.

Kun Original Violin Shoulder Rest

It’s not always easy to find the perfect shoulder rest, so be sure to find one that suits you best.

Both children and adult violin players use them to prevent shoulder or back pain after long hours of practicing.

Violin Strings

One of the essential elements that determine the sound of your instrument is violin strings. Different wires can produce an entirely different feeling on the same instrument.

Thomastik Dominant Violin String Set

It heavily depends on the materials, quality, and gauge. Before buying strings, make sure you do your research and know how everything will sound with those wires.

On modern violins, you’ll usually get an instrument equipped with strings, but you might need something different.

Tailpiece

Another valuable accessory that secures strings and holds them in their place is the tailpiece.

Its position and grip are heavily influenced by the wires. Plus, it’s great for correcting the overall sound and vibration of the strings.

Harp Model Ebony Professional Violin Tailpiece

The tailpiece is often used to improve the resonance, and that’s why violinists have at least four or five tailpieces depending on what they’re playing.

As tailpieces are made from wood, ebony, or even carbon, they can enhance your violin’s appearance. Depending on their shape and weight, your violin can look quite different.

Bundled Accessories

Nowadays, there’s an abundance of brands that sell accessories for good beginner violins, and it can be hard to find one brand that gives you all the best features.

If you feel overwhelmed, you can buy a complete outfit and get all of them with your violin.

With outfits like the Fiddlerman Symphony Outfit or Tower Strings Rockstar Violin Outfit, you’re getting everything you need.

Luckily for you, once you buy most of the accessories, they will last for years.

Since most of them are made from hardened and resistant materials, you might have to change some of them after years of constant use.

In the case of the Mendini MV400, you can get two bows. If one accidentally breaks, you can use the other one.

Mendini MV400 Violin Outfit

But before you start using them, be sure to customize them to fit your performance style and sound.

Getting the Right Accessories

Every accessory influences the performance and sound of your violin. More specifically, to get a rounded and warm sound, you’ll need to get a lot of things right.

However, if you still don’t have enough experience to do it, every violin you purchase from the Fiddlershop will have everything set up for you.

All you need to do is choose or ask for their recommendations.

Best Features

• Improve the playing technique
• Make sound more resonant
• Easy and comfortable to play
• Ensure that the strings are in tune
• Protect the instrument from water and harsh weather

What to Look For in Accessories

Accessories are essential for any good violin. With the wrong strings or a bow that’s too heavy, you won’t be able to hone your violin’s potential.

Keep in mind that high-quality accessories keep your instrument in decent shape while you’re practicing your skills.

What You Should Be Aware Of

If you’re a beginner, it’s hard to find the best accessories on the first try. In terms of individual components, it takes time and effort to figure out what works best for most learners.

Of course, you need to know how to use a tailpiece or bow to make sure you’re using it the right way.

Accessories in Summary

Violin FAQ

What Is the Price of a Good Violin?

Depending on the overall prices, different violins suit players with varying levels of skill. For a beginner, a reasonable violin costs on average between $500 and $1,000.

Once you start practicing more and working on your playing technique, you can reconsider updating your violin with better strings and bow.

Any advanced student usually leans towards specific brands that offer handmade instruments with premium features like an ebony fingerboard and pegs, high-quality strings, and fine tuners.

Playing a more refined instrument can significantly improve your technique while you and your audience can appreciate a warmer sound with rich overtones.

How Much Should I Pay for a Beginner’s Violin?

Depending on your budget and options, we can say that a beginner’s violin is in the violin price range between $300 and $700.

Keep in mind that anything above $500 is considered a good violin, and the ones below that limit are fine for those who never had prior experience with the instrument.

Violins for children are much less expensive due to size and price expectations.

When it’s about how much a violin for children costs, most of them come at a fraction of the price since they’re significantly smaller than a full 4/4 model.

That’s how you can buy a perfect instrument for a lesser price.

How Much Does a Professional Violin Cost?

A professional violin can cost anywhere from $2,000 and significantly more. The price can rise to several hundreds of thousands for antique instruments.

Hilary Hahn’s J.B. Vuillaume, 1865

Those prices are different depending on the different types of violins, their origin, the master luthier that made them, and the brand.

What’s the Best Violin for Beginners?

There are many instruments suitable for new violinists from various brands, but those that music teachers often recommend are Mendini, Cecilio, and Fiddlerman.

They should be simple instruments that are easy to use.

Some of the best low price violins for novices are Mendini MV400 and Mendini MV300, as well as others since you’re getting all necessary amenities for around $100.

If you’re willing to get a considerably better outfit and a good instrument, another recommendation is the Fiddlerman Apprentice Violin Outfit.

Fiddlerman Apprentice Violin Outfit

The outfit features Fiddlerman Violin strings, a carbon fiber bow, and a nice oblong case that will protect your instrument.

For adult novices, the options are almost limitless. Hopefully, you’re spending around $1,000 because that’s how much a starter violin cost for an average adult player.

Are Cheap Violins Any Good?

Cheap violins are usually made in factories from low-quality pieces of wood.

Since the production costs are relatively low and there’s little hand labor involved, many don’t have any character or specific sound.

Cheap violins will not have as good a sound or quality as higher value instruments. As with anything, you get what you pay for.

They are suitable for novices to practice posture and technique, but as soon as they start advancing, a new violin would allow them to grow faster.

Why Are Good Violins So Expensive?

The craftsmanship that a good violin requires is the reason why its price is so high.

Since all premium instruments are handmade, that means that a luthier spends hundreds of hours making sure that every detail on it is perfect.

That’s why it’s the price has to be higher than factory-made instruments.

Another vital aspect is expensive accessories that will help the violin correctly adjust to its new player.

When you combine all the intricacies and details, it becomes clear that achieving excellent quality requires a lot of work.

Do Violins Hold Their Value After Some Time?

Student violins hardly keep their value because those instruments don’t have anything exquisite about them.

With more expensive violins that came out respectable workshops, you might get a better deal after a few decades, but often those price differences can be surprisingly small.

A good brand-name violin or fine instrument will always have a reasonable resale value.

On the other hand, quartet musicians and orchestra players’ professional violins can be worth up to six figures because they come from some of the best luthiers’ hands.

Lastly, violins worth the most were made in the 18^th century by Italian masters.

Final Thoughts on Violin Prices

Buying a violin can be a lengthy process, especially when you’re unsure what to buy and where.

You’ll have to spend some time researching to make sure you’re getting the best instrument that suits both your needs and budget.

And when it comes to figuring out how much a good violin costs, we’ll have to conclude that it depends on the player’s needs and requirements, as well as the quality of build and accessories.

Many known brands whose violins are premium quality offer mid-range prices.

When it’s time to purchase your violin, remember to check the size you need and whether you want to get a violin outfit or only the instrument.

Of course, make sure that you’ve heard the instrument’s sound and that it’s appropriate for your skill level.

Listen to the instrument and use your ears to guide you toward the models you’ll be willing to settle for.

Of course, the most challenging part will be to assess your budget and make the right decision.

What is the Best Violin Brand for a Beginner? Read the Reviews:

Committing to buy a starter violin should only be done after you’ve researched the instruments you’re interested in.

Since violins aren’t necessarily the most affordable musical instrument on the market, the advice In this article will help you discover some of the best violin brands. You’ll also be able to pick up some useful tips about making an informed decision in selecting a violin that’s right for you.

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!

The Top 6 Best Brand-Name Violins Compared:

Now that you know what to consider when purchasing a violin, it is time to get to know the best brands of violins and why they are considered among the best.

1. Yamaha Violins

Although most of the best violins are handcrafted by an artisan, there are still some commercial brands that offer great choices when it comes to violins. Yamaha is one of these brands and they are known not only for their violins, but other musical instruments too.

For a beginner, it may not be best to purchase an artisan violin because they still need a lot of practice to play it. Most often than not, the best-quality violins are more difficult to play and learn from.

Top Yamaha Violin Choices:

Yamaha V3 Series Student Violin Outfit 3/4 Size

Yamaha Electric Violin-YEV104BL-Black-4 String...

Yamaha V3 Series Student Violin Outfit 4/4 Size

Yamaha is a Japanese manufacturer and their violins are known to be sturdy and reliable. They have violins for players of different levels. The “Standard” line is meant for students and beginners.

They also have more professional or higher level violins that even the more experienced players will greatly appreciate. Some of their violins are inspired by the famous handcrafted violins that well-known luthiers have crafted in the past.

2. Cremona Violins

Cremona is a brand that was founded in 1899 and is currently controlled by Saga Musical Instruments who maintain an exceptional level of quality standards for all of the many different instruments they offer.

They provide various models of violins suitable for beginners and more intermediate players alike. They produce high-quality violins because the makers were trained by the Italian and German masters themselves.

They are a well-recognized brand and are recipients of multiple honors and authentications because of how they create their products. They not only create quality violins, they also manufacture bows.

Top Cremona Violin Choices:

Cremona SV-75 Premier Novice Violin Outfit - 4/4...

Cremona SV-130 Premier Novice Violin Outfit - 4/4...

Cremona SV-500 Premier Artist Violin Outfit - 4/4...

They make use of high-quality wood and are careful in their assembly to make sure that the product is properly made. This may be the reason why they price their violins at a higher price than other brands.

The great thing about buying a violin from this well-known brand is that you can easily resell it as a used violin if you decide not to pursue playing it. There are many people who would love to buy this kind of violin, even if used.

3. Stentor Violins

Another very popular brand, and one of the best is Stentor. They provide high-quality violins that are also very durable, which may be one of the reasons why it is one of the most recommended brand by teachers.

Stentor has been around since the late 1800’s but it was in the 1960’s that they first crafted their own violins instead of previously importing them. This means that the quality of their instruments has improved and since then, they have built a great name for themselves.

Top Stentor Violin Choices:

Stentor, 4-String Violin, Brown, 1/2 (1500

Stentor 1400 3/4 Violin

Stentor, 4-String Violin, Brown,Red (1500 3/4)

Most Stentor violins, such as the Stentor 1500 model, are meant for beginners, but they also have other higher quality violins that are meant for orchestra play. It makes it possible for students to practice with them, as well as grow with their violins as they reach higher levels of expertise.

They make use of high-quality tone woods which produce a warm sound. Most models, if not all, make use of ebony fingerboards and pegs, which not only improves the sound, but the appearance as well.

4. Cecilio Violins

Cecilio gives you a taste of what a handcrafted violin can do, at a fraction of the cost of an artisan violin. The company has built a name for itself as one of the best violin brands for beginners because it offers a range of options at reasonable prices.

They pride themselves on offering solid workmanship, and a wide range of different violins. The company may not be one of the most famous violin brands just yet, but that’s changing fast.

The company takes its name from the patron saint of musicians, St Cecilia. The techniques used by the luthiers have been handed down by craftsmen over the centuries.

Top Cecilio Violin Choices:

Cecilio CVN-200 Full Size Violin with D'Addario...

Cecilio CVN-500 Solidwood Ebony Fitted Violin with...

This is the best violin brand if you want a decent instrument at an affordable price, such as the top selling Cecilio CVN-300. The company prides itself on giving you access to higher quality instruments at reasonable rates.

So, if you have a kid who is just starting, you’ll find that this is one of the best violin brands to start with. These instruments provide reasonable performance and are perfect for honing your craft.

Can you do better? Yes, but not without paying a lot more money for one of the more established violin brand names. These instruments come very close to professional-level instruments. If your child becomes serious about playing, they’ll want to upgrade later.

Until then, though, they get a high-quality instrument without you needing to mortgage your home.

5. Mendini

This is one of the most popular budget violin brands. Cecilio makes the instruments on behalf of Mendini, but they come in at a lower price point. The advantage of this set-up is that you get the quality that you’ve come to expect from Cecilio at an excellent price.

If you’re a beginner, unsure whether or not you will continue, this is a good option. You’ll usually get everything that you need to get started with most instruments this brand offers.

What you’re not getting here is a hand-crafted, artisan instrument – the Mendini MV300 is a perfect example of this. But then, at this price point, you cannot expect that. That said, these do produce a good sound and are ideal for beginners to practice on.

Top Mendini Violin Choices:

Sale

Mendini By Cecilio Violin 4/4 Full Size for...

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One of the areas where the company does cut corners is with the strings. We’d recommend replacing the strings with something of better quality as soon as possible.

Nine times out of ten, you’re also going to want to look into upgrading your bow at some stage. The bows supplied are fine, but they’re not the highest quality.

Generally, though, this brand wins points as being the best budget-friendly option. You’ll find it necessary to upgrade as you advance. That said, if you decide that playing the violin is not an option for you, you won’t feel as bad sticking these models in the back of the garage or selling them.

6. Knilling Violins

Knilling has established a solid reputation since they started in 1922. It’s one of the most popular violin brands amongst students and teachers because of the high-quality craftsmanship they offer. They have established themselves as one of the leading brands of student violins.

Every instrument that leaves the premises is thoroughly checked to ensure that it is up to the high-quality standards that Knilling maintains. You’re not going to get a dud if you’re ordering a Knilling. As part of the inspection process, the violin is also set up for you.

Top Knilling Violin Choices:

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That means that beginners can get started right away, without going to the extra expense of getting the instrument set up first. The price tag does reflect their popularity. These are not the cheapest on the market, so do expect to pay a little more.

That said, the extra cost is a worthwhile expense for a student who is eager to make progress. The pegs that Knilling makes are unique and one of the best selling points for their instruments.

The pegs have gears incorporated into the shank, which allows tuning to be as painless as possible and is one of the reasons that beginners love these models.

You can order the precision pegs, or request a model without them, as you prefer. We’d recommend sticking to the precision pegs because they make tuning so much simpler.

Worth Mentioning: Bunnel Violins

Bunnel is a range that is supplied by Kennedy. Kennedy Violins is based in Washington state and is a reasonably new name in the market. That hasn’t stopped them becoming extremely popular in the time they’ve been open.

The instruments are excellent quality and reasonably affordable as well. They are typically received with rave reviews. This is hardly surprising considering the care and craftsmanship that goes into every model.

They typically use spruce tonewoods and good-quality solid maple instead of composites. This does add to the cost a little, but it does make for instruments that are more durable and that sound amazing.

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The company was initially started by a music teacher who saw a big gap in the market. At the time, student violins didn’t offer the kind of performance needed for students to get the best out of their lessons.

Now, while there is a saying that a poor workman always blames their tools, quality does make a difference for a student.

The better the quality of the instrument, such as the Ricard Bunnel G2 Violin Outfit, the better the performance. Students using sub-standard instruments might well be put off because they sound flat.

Another aspect that we like about this brand is that it does offer great options for the intermediate user as well. So, as you advance, you can stick with the brand that you’ve come to know and trust.

How to Choose a Good Violin for Beginners

In selecting a violin to purchase, it is very important to consider the following:

Skill or level of expertise

One of the first things to consider is the skills or capability of the player. There are violins that are meant for beginners and there are also others that may best for more experienced or intermediate players.

It’s best to match the level of the player with the violin design so that the beginner player doesn’t get to frustrated in trying to play a violin meant for a more experienced one.

It also prevents the more experienced player from being limited with what they can do with the beginner violin.

Budget

The budget is another very important aspect to consider in purchasing a violin. Violins come at different prices and this depends on what materials are used, how it is constructed and even the brand that makes them. It is very important to compare the price with what you are exactly getting.

The most expensive violins are handcrafted and are mostly from Europe. Although they can be the most sought after for violin enthusiasts, there are also some lower priced ones that can be a great instrument too.

Make sure that the budget is realistic because violins don’t come cheap. You also wouldn’t want a very low-priced violin that is also low quality; you’ll just end up replacing it and spending more just to be able to play.

Type of playing

Some may want to learn how to play the violin for classical music, while others may want to play it, fiddle style, for folk music. Either way, the player should identify how they want to play so that they can find a violin more suited for them.

Violins that have a flatter bridge are best for folk music while those with an arch bridge are best for classical music players.

Usability of the violin

Another thing to consider is how long the player can use the violin. Although it is great that there are beginner violins, it is still best that the violin grows with the player. With that, the player won’t have to change and upgrade violins every few years.

Choose the Right Violin Size

With any brand of violin that you choose, you should also make sure that the size fits the intended user. Violins actually come in many sizes, with full sizes for adults, also known as 4/4 size, to the smallest for children, known as 1/32.

Measurements of the extended arm of the player from the base of the neck to the wrist will be taken to make sure that the right size is purchased.

If you are already an adult, then it will be much easier to buy a violin in the right size because you won’t have to change the violin every couple of years to accommodate growth.

What About Acoustic vs. Electric Violins?

The traditional acoustic violins may be more common to us but there are also electric violins. Just like electric guitars, they are fitted with electric pickups.

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Traditional acoustic violins produce a warmer and rounder sound because of the tone woods used. On the other hand, the sound produced by the electric violins can be easily enhanced or edited.

When it comes to appearance, the acoustic violins come in their traditional shape. Electronic violins, on the other hand, can come in different shapes. Due to the lack of the bulk of the violin, it can be very lightweight and modern looking.

In Closing, How Do Violin Brands for Beginners Stack Up?

Purchasing a violin should be carefully done and with research in order to end up with a worthy purchase. There are a few well-known brands in the market such as Yamaha, Stentor and Cremona, as well as Mendini, Cecilio and Ricard-Bunnel which all offer great-quality violins.

When purchasing a violin, it is important to consider your budget, the skill level of the violinist, type of playing done, and the usability of the instrument. Players can also decide whether to get a traditional acoustic violin or a more modern electric violin.

Choosing a violin to purchase is a personal choice, but that doesn’t mean that you just have to rely on your gut instincts. A better way to do it is to first do some research here so you end up with the right brand and model for the player.

OUR TOP PICKS

Best Major Brand: Yamaha

Yamaha V3 Series Student Violin Outfit 3/4 Size

Four stringed acoustic violin; Black carrying case with adjustable strap; Rosin; One bow

Best Budget Brand: Cremona

Cremona SV-130 Premier Novice Violin Outfit - 4/4 Size,Traditional...

EDUCATOR APPROVED: US-made Prelude strings, the top choice for students.; PLAYER COMFORT: Kaufman-style chinrest, oiled neck, and balanced bow for easy playing.

Best Intermediate Brand: Stentor

Stentor, 4-String Violin, Brown,Red (1500 3/4)

Hand crafted with fine-grained solid Spruce top; Solid maple back; Full ebony fittings

Best Electric Brand: Cecilio

Cecilio Silent Electric Solid Wood Violin Kit with Ebony Fittings in...

Overall Ratings For Beginner Violin Brands: