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How to Find the Best Violin to Learn On

Let’s start with a few hand-picked starter violins and outfits to give you an idea of what’s available. This short list is sure to make a great reference for finding the best violin to fit your particular needs:

Starter Violin Comparison Chart

Product	Feature Image	Rating	Relative Price
#1 Overall Best Value! Cecilio CVN-300 Solid Wood Ebony Fitted Violin	No products found.	(4.2)	$$$
#2 Best Budget Model ADM Full Size Handmade Acoustic Violin Outfit		(3.7)	$$
#3 Best Alternative Choice Mendini MV500+92D Flamed 1-Piece Back Violin	No products found.	(4.3)	$$$
#4 Best Build Quality Cecilio CVN-500 Solidwood Ebony Fitted Violin			$$$
#5 Superior Sound Stentor 1500 Violin		(3.9)	$$
#6 Good Value Mendini MV400 Ebony Fitted Violin		(3.8)	$$
#7 Comes with Electronics Cecilio CVNAE 330 SR Acoustic Electric Violin		(3.9)	$$
#8 Great for Girls Merano MV300P Violin with Case		(3.8)	$
#9 Best Premium Outfit Ricard Bunnel Full Violin Outfit		(4.7)	$$$$
#10 Great for Kids ADM Handcrafted Beginners Violin		(3.8)	$

Our Top Five Best Violin Choices Reviewed

1. Overall Best Violin: Cecilio CVN-300

The best overall combination of instrument, accessories and price point.

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Cecilio CVN-300 Violin Outfit

The Cecilio CVN-300 violin is a beautiful handcrafted wooden instrument that produces great sound and a tone that is described as warm and pleasing to the ears.

It’s a great set for students and other beginners because of its affordability and the completeness of the outfit provided which makes it a reliable and great choice when you are looking for quality and affordability.

Features of the Cecilio CVN-300

• It measures 32” x 12” x 5” and weighs approximately 5 lbs.
• Full size (4/4)
• Features hand carved top made of solid and aged spruce, for the sides and back part, aged maple is used
• Ebony fittings (chin rest, fingerboard, pegs, tailpiece)
• Includes 2 Brazilian wood bows with unbleached Mongolian horsehair and a hard case outer shell to keep your instrument properly secured
• Stock strings are D’Addario Prelude strings
• Other accessories included in the outfit: CD/DVD tutorial/lesson book, shoulder rest, rosin cake, 2 extra bridges, spare set of strings and a tuner
• With 1-year warranty for manufacturer’s defects

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Read the Latest Cecilio CVN-300 Violin User Reviews >>

How Does the CVN-300 Violin Sound?

Cecilio CVN-300 Violin Review

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What Do Cecilio CVN-300 Violin Customers Think? >>

Product Summary

The Cecilio CVN-300 is an affordable and reliable beginner’s violin. It is made of quality materials to ensure that each piece is durable and will last you a few years.

This Cecilio violin, and the inclusions the package offers, are also great bonuses because they have undergone the right process to maintain quality even with the affordable price point.

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Check Out Our Full Cecilio CVN-300 Review Here >>

2. Best Budget Violin: ADM Full Size Handmade Violin Outfit

A great violin for a student on a tighter budget.

ADM 4/4 Handmade Violin Outfit

As a beginner, if affordability is one of the top considerations that you look for in choosing a violin, then the ADM Full Size Handmade Wooden Acoustic Violin Outfit is suitable for you.

Not only is it considered the least expensive violin available online, it also sounds remarkable and is beautifully crafted.

ADM stands for All Days Music, a professional supplier of musical instruments known for their quality beginner violins that are offered at a low price.

Features of the ADM Violin Outfit

• Solid wood violin. For the body of this violin, hand-carved tone woods were used with the addition of inlaid purfling so the instrument can withstand the stress of continued dailyuse
• Produces pure and decent sounds
• Ebonized solid hard wood. For the fittings, blackened solid hard wood is used to mimic the appearance of genuine ebony fittings. This applies to the fingerboard, chin rest, and pegs
• The top part of the violin is made from hand carved solid spruce while the back and sides are hand carved from maple
• For the tail piece, alloy is used with 4 built-in fine tuners
• Other accessories in the outfit include: shoulder straps, a shaped foam casing, Brazilian wood bow with horsehair, rosin and digital tuner
• Measures 32.3” x 10.6” x 5.9” inches and weighs approximately 6.4 ounces

Click Here for ADM 4/4 Handmade Violin Outfit Reviews

How Does the ADM Violin Sound?

ADM Full Size Violin Outfit Review

What Are ADM Violin Customers Saying? >>

Product Summary

The complete ADM Full Size Acoustic Violin Outfit is excellent if you have very limited budget or you are buying an instrument for a child.

Although the quality is great, this instrument is more commonly considered a violin-shaped object (VSO) which, according to reviews, may not be as good in sound as a real one.

Check Out Our Full ADM Violin Outfit Review Here >>

3. Best Alternative Choice: Mendini MV500+92D Violin

A beautifully constructed instrument considering the price.

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Mendini 4/4 MV500+92D Violin Outfit

The Mendini 4/4 MV500+92D Flamed Violin is among Cecilio’s factory-made instruments that combine affordability and quality. This instrument is known to produce medium-quality tones, which are great for beginners.

Although factory made, Mendini instruments are also handcrafted and tested for quality control by skilled technicians before they are shipped.

Features of the Mendini 4/4 MV500+92D Flamed Violin

• Measures 32” x 6” x 13” and weighs approximately 5 pounds
• Violin is full size, 4/4
• Top: Made from solid hand-carved spruce
• Back and sides are made from one piece of maple wood with flamed design
• Has inlaid purfling and finished with a glossy varnish
• Features ebony fingerboard, pegs, chin rest, and tailpiece with 4 built-in fine tuners that can be detached if needed
• Other inclusions: lightweight hard case, 2 Brazil wood violin bows using unbleached horsehair, 2 bridges, adjustable shoulder rest, rosin cake and a spare set of violin strings
• With 1-year warranty for manufacturer’s defects

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Read the Latest Mendini 4/4 MV500+92D Violin Reviews

How Does the Mendini MV500 Sound?

Mendini 4/4 MV500+92D Flamed Violin Review

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Are Mendini MV500+92D Violin Customers Happy? >>

Product Summary

For a factory-made violin, the Mendini 4/4 MV500+92D Flamed Violin is a great choice to consider for good quality beginner’s violin that produces great mid-level tone quality without the high price tag.

It’s also durable and can hold up from constant use as you practice to become more skilled in playing the violin.

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Read Our Complete Mendini MV500 Review Here >>

4. Best Build Quality: Cecilio CVN-500 Violin

Hand crafted with a focus on longevity. This instrument is built to last.

Cecilio CVN-500 Violin Outfit

The Cecilio CVN-500 violin is a step up from the usual beginner’s violin. Aside from being constructed using high quality materials, this model can also be used by more advanced players looking for an affordable violin with the ability to produce a reliable sound.

This violin also offers a great package that has all the important extras you need for your violin outfit.

Features of the Cecilio CVN-500 Violin

• Measures 32” x 12” x 5” and weighs approximately 5 pounds
• Violin size: 4/4 (full size)
• Top: Made from hand-carved solid spruce top
• Sides and bottom are made from a single hand-carved maple wood with a flamed design for an added effect
• Finished with a satin antique varnish
• Fittings like the fingerboard, chin rest, tailpiece and pegs are made of ebony
• Has inlaid purfling
• Features 4 built-in nickel plated adjusters located at the tailpiece
• Stock string set used are D’Addario Prelude strings
• Outfit inclusions: form fitting hard shell casing, includes 2 violin bows made from Brazilian wood and genuine horsehair, shoulder straps that are easily adjustable, chromatic tuner with metronome, 2 bridges, lesson, rosin cake
• It also offers a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty if ever you find defects that are caused by the manufacturer

Read the Latest Cecilio CVN-500 Solidwood Violin Reviews

How Does the CVN-500 Sound?

Cecilio CVN-500 Violin Review

What Do Cecilio CVN-500 Violin Customers Think? >>

Product Summary

The Cecilio CVN-500 is a great option for a first violin or second one. It will not cost you much and you can still use it after you have gone past the beginner’s stage.

Reviews for this instrument are positive, and for the negative ones, most issues can be resolved easily.

Read Our Complete Cecilio CNV-500 Review Here >>

5. Best Sounding Violin for the Money: Stentor 1500 4/4 Violin

Considering the price, this is a great sounding instrument.

Stentor 1500 4/4 Violin

Teachers highly recommend this versatile violin for students who are looking for their very first violin because the Stentor 1500 4/4 violin is best known for its reliable sound and budget-friendly price.

This violin features a responsive sound with a good tone, thus you are sure that what you pay for is worth it with regards to the violin’s overall performance.

Features of the Stentor 1500 4/4 Violin

• The violin has a measurement of 6.2” x 31.5” x 11” with an approximate weight of 4.4 pounds.
• Spruce is used for the top part of the violin, while maple is used to construct the bottom, ribs and neck of the violin
• Features a gold brown varnish for the finishing
• Fittings are made from ebony (fingerboard, pegs) while a composite is used for the tailpiece
• 4 nickel-plated fine tuners are built into the composite tailpiece
• The outfit includes a violin bow with horsehair, violin case with interior wraps and pockets for accessories, as well as two holders provided for the bow

Click Here for Stentor 1500 4/4 Violin User Reviews

How Does the Stentor Violin Sound?

Stentor 1500 4/4 Full Size Violin Review

Are Stentor 1500 Full Size Violin Owners Happy? >>

Product Summary

The Stentor 1500 violin is a reliable instrument to invest in for your very first violin. Although the price is a little bit high when compared to other entry-level violins.

The construction of this violin is solid, and it is well-made, which means that it will last you quite a while, something that is very practical for beginners.

Aside from practical reasons, this model is also known for the quality of its sound, which is also an important aspect to consider when choosing your first violin.

Read Our Full Stentor 1500 Violin Review Here >>

Starter Violin Buying Guide: What to Look For

Why Start With Violin?

An enchanting instrument that has been around for literally centuries, the violin has an incredibly rich history.

Classical greats such as Strauss, Vivaldi, Paganini and many more laid the foundations for modern masters.

Popular cutting edge artists such as Lindsey Stirling are taking the instrument into previously uncharted territory thereby reaching a whole new audience.

There would seem to be no end to the creation of beautiful music that comes from the violin.

A violin is a wooden stringed musical instrument which has four strings. It is a hollow, wooden box that has a protruding neck at the top.

Violin Construction

Although it is mostly made of wood, different kinds are used to make the whole violin. For the front body, the bass bar and the sound post, spruce is used as it lightweight but strong.

A harder wood like maple is used for the neck, ribs, pegbox, back, and the scroll.

Another type of wood, ebony, known to be dense and very hard, is used for the parts where stress is frequent. This is used in making the fingerboard, pegs, tailpiece and end button.

Musical Style

The violin belongs to the string family which includes the cello, viola, and the bass – sometimes called “the doghouse” by some performers.

Among its members, the violin is the smallest and the most high pitched.

In an orchestra, the violin is commonly used to convey the melody because of its carrying sound.

Aside from the orchestra, different musical genres also use the violin.

Folk music, jazz, Western classical tradition, and country music are just some of the genres that you can hear the violin being played.

Quality and price range

Quality intermediate violins are usually priced around $500. For professional types, violins can start as high as $3,000.

For beginners, it would be best to bring your teacher along with you or a violinist friend when choosing one.

Having someone with experienced ears will help you decide which ones are low-quality violins, and which ones are good.

Also, don’t inform the dealer of your budget; this way, you will avoid having the prices marked up if no tag is displayed.

Set your budget

Start by setting a budget based on how you will use the violin. Will you use it as a hobby or as a means for your future career?

Do your research and look for options that you would want for your violin.

When choosing within your budget, don’t change your price range just because the shop you are looking into does not have one that fits your price range.

Don’t let yourself be pressured to buy; take your time and check out other shops to find the best violin for your budget.

Make a smart decision, learn more about the various features of the best beginner violins:

Playing the violin

Using your right hand, the violin is played by drawing a bow at correct angles across a string causing it to vibrate.

By choosing the string that comes in contact with the bow, pitch is controlled, while the length of the sound is regulated by pressing that string down onto the fingerboard with one of the fingers on your left hand.

You can also pluck the strings to make a sound, this method is called as pizzicato.

Of course, to fully enjoy this beautiful instrument, there’s much much more you can learn about how to play a violin:​

Try it

When you see a violin that you like, try playing it first and try playing other violins as well.

Some dealers may also lend you the violin for up to two weeks so you can try it at home where you can practice comfortably with it.

You can also bring it to your teacher to have it checked out as well before you decide to purchase it or not.

Beginner vs professional

If you are buying a beginner or a student’s violin, it is recommended to buy it online where it costs less compared to buying one in a violin shop.

These types of violins are usually made by a machine using lesser quality wood and a spray-on finish.

For a professional violin, visit a reputable shop. High-quality violins are commonly carved by hand using premium-quality wood that has been aged and set up by a professional luthier (stringed instrument maker).

Test the sound from afar

Bringing a violinist friend will also let you test the sound of the instrument from afar.

Have your friend play, and listen from afar, as some violins sound great under your ear but do not project well from a distance.

Buying vs renting

If you are buying for a child not big enough to own a full-sized violin, renting one is the best option. Buying a small-sized violin can be expensive since you may have to change it often as your child grows.

Also, smaller sizes may not be as high-quality as full-sized violins.

In general, buying a violin is a more cost-effective option in the long run as renting one will usually cost you the same if you’re going to use it for a long time.

Wrapping It Up: The Best Violins to Start With

Considering price, features, build quality, warranty, reputation and overall value, here are our top three choices of violins to start learning on:

Best Violin to Start With

Cecilio CVN-300 Solidwood Ebony Fitted Violin with...

Best Budget Model

ADM Violin 4/4 Full Size Solid Wood Polishing...

Best Alternative Choice

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The Stentor 1500 Violin at a Glance:

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Stentor 1500 Violin

Stentor II 1500 Review: Is It The Best Starter Violin?

For quality and reliability, the Stentor 1500 4/4 violin does come highly recommended by teachers for students and beginners. Made from quality tonewoods, this Stentor model produces a good tone, a responsive sound, and is ensured to be highly capable of performing well.

Built in the company’s workshop, the Stentor 1500 is a good choice for your first violin as it is reliable and durable enough to withstand even rough handling.

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Features of the Stentor 1500 4/4 Violin

• Product dimensions: 6.2” x 31.5” x 11”
• Product weight: 4.4 pounds
• The top is made from carved, solid spruce top
• The back, ribs and the neck are carved from solid maple wood
• For a traditional effect, the violin is finished in gold brown varnish
• Ebony is used for the fittings such as the fingerboard, pegs, and tailpiece
• The composite tailpiece has four integrated adjusters
• Features inlaid purfling
• Outfit inclusions: violin bow made with natural horse hair, lightweight case with reflectors, with an interior that wraps the violin snugly, shaped interior with pockets for placing accessories, case blanket and two holders for the bow

Read What Users are Saying About the Stentor 1500 4/4 Violin

What We Like About It

Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced player, you will certainly find this violin suitable enough for your needs.

And because it accommodates playing for an intermediate level, this violin is a cost-effective investment that you can make since you will be able to use this after the beginner’s stage.

Music teachers recommend this violin because of the quality of its make, which is uncommon considering the affordability of this violin.

In crafting the violin, the company uses premium quality materials like aged spruce for the top part to ensure good sound transmission, and for the bottom and sides, aged maple is used, mainly because of its durability.

For the fittings, like the fingerboard and pegs, ebony is used because of the durability of this wood.

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Click Here Check Stentor 1500 Availability >>

All hardwood used in making this violin has been dried well and aged adequately to prevent it from warping, and also to maintain the process of keeping the sound produced reliable.

Other inclusions of the outfit are: two bows made from Brazilian wood and horsehair, two bridges, a lesson book, and a hard case to safely store your instrument. Defects caused by the manufacturing process are also covered with the 1-year warranty provided.

How Does It Stand Up to Other Violins?

In comparison, the Cremona SV-500 comes with a violin bow made from Brazil wood or Pernambuco. It comes supplied with D’Addario Prelude steel strings, hard shell casing, and violin care items.

It also features a neat and artistic purfling with the scroll remarkably cut. Before it leaves the workshop, each piece undergoes professional set up.

A more affordable alternative that you may want to consider is the Cecilio CVN-300 violin. It is styled as a 1/8th orchestra violin with inlaid purfling, and finished with an antique varnishing for an old violin feel.

What sets this violin apart from other entry-level models is the amount of detail that the manufacturers considered when making this.

Overall, the Stentor 1500 is a great choice for students who are slowly making progress in playing the violin. It is an affordable but still reliable instrument that is recommended by teachers. The violin also looks beautiful and elegant.

Read the Latest Customer Reviews Here

Pros and Cons

Stentor 1500 4/4 Violin Review Review

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What Do Stentor 1500 Violin Customers Think? >>

What’s the Build Quality Like?

For serious beginners who want to start with a premium quality beginner’s violin, a great option is the Cremona SV-500 violin. It produces a clear and bright tone that is very pleasing to the ear.

Like the Stentor 1500, it is also made from high quality tone woods to ensure that the sound it produces is reliable and has a strong carrying power.

For the top, solid spruce is used, with the back and ribs made from maple, with a flamed look using a clear, transparent varnish that highlights the straight grain of the spruce being used. It also features Swiss style genuine ebony fittings for the fingerboard and pegs, while composite is used for the tailpiece which has four built-in adjusters.

How Does the Stentor 1500 Sound?

Compare Featured Violin Models:

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

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

Final Verdict: Is The Stentor 1500 Violin the Right Fit For You?

Although the Stentor is a fine instrument, we would have to say the Cecilio CVN-300 violin may a better choice because of it’s combination of affordability and quality.

The CVN-300 model is also known for its versatility, allowing the instrument to grow with the student. For more information, read our full review here.

Regardless of which violin your choose, these aspects are great considerations especially for beginners who are not yet sure if they are in for the long haul, and if they have limited finances when purchasing their own instrument.

The choice is up to you:

Are Stentor 1500 Violin Owners Happy? >>

Manufacturer Info:

Website: https://www.stentor-music.com/

About: Instrumental in music manufacture and distribution since 1895

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