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What is a Good Price for a Beginner Violin?

A good price for a beginner violin is only a guess if you don’t know what to look for. Is it a hundred dollars? Five hundred dollars? Or two or three thousand dollars?

The answer is actually somewhere in the middle.

Depending on where it’s made, the price for a good quality, new violin outfit for a beginner should be between $400 and $700.

Of course there are decent starter violins that are much less expensive, and we’ve reviewed many of them, but for those who are more serious about purchasing a better-made violin, the mid-hundreds offers the best range of quality instruments.

There are underlying details that influence the price of a good beginner violin: the cost of raw materials, the cost of labor to craft the instrument, and what the manufacturer thinks is a reasonable profit on top of those costs.

For example, due to higher wages and material costs, good quality student violins traditionally made in Europe will be a little more expensive, ranging between $600 and $900.

5 Major Factors That Affect How Much A Good Beginner Violin Costs

1. The Brand

A reputable, well-established violin brand has a lot at stake when they attach their name to an instrument.

Compared to brands that are interested in quick profits only, better companies rely on happy referrals, good reviews and repeat sales.

Though reputable brands may not manufacture their own violins directly, they will partner with factories that are known for producing better quality violins.

Maintaining high quality control standards is a key factor. And that covers every step of the manufacturing process from the quality of source materials to final inspection.

Lesser companies may offer a cheaper violin at a lower price tag, but it can come at the cost of reduced quality and customer service.

Is a Setup Included?

Believe it or not, a good setup is a huge factor in whether you (the end user) will be able to fully enjoy the violin – or not!

In other words, a setup will make sure the instrument is fully playable and trouble free for the owner.

Because violins are a stringed instrument under pressure and usually made from natural materials that are sensitive to temperature, they require certain adjustments to work properly.

The setup process on its own is a very detailed process that requires a lot of skill and finesse, and as a separate service, can cost a significant amount of money.

Purchasing a violin that comes with a complete setup, ready to play out of the box makes for an excellent deal and is definitely money well spent.

What About Warranty?

How much you spend on a violin will also depend on the quality of care from the manufacturer.

As mentioned, better brands will take care of their customers with a solid warranty and customer service after the purchase.

Do Violin Reviews Matter?

If you’re buying your first violin, you’re probably trying to find out what others think about instruments that meet, or seem to meet your needs.

Violin reviews go a long way in validating your decision on a particular purchase.

Moreover, the number of reviews can be a very strong indicator to the popularity of a particular violin model within a certain price range.

For example, a violin that has a relatively high number of positive reviews will be a safer choice over an instrument with only a few reviews and little history.

To help you make better decisions, the team at NewViolinist.com carefully researches the best violins at various price points to make sure they’re the best possible fit at a given price.

Recommended Beginner Violins

Fiddlerman Apprentice Violin Outfit

(5 / 5)

Current Price: $449

Fiddlerman Apprentice Violin Outfit

Includes:

• Solid-carved slightly flamed spruce and maple tonewoods
• 100% ebony fingerboard, pegs & fittings
• Carbon tailpiece with 4 fine tuners
• Hand-carved French Despiau or Holstein 1-star Bridge
• Spirit-based durable dark brown finish (no thick lacquer)
• Wood dried a minimum of 5 years
• Case: Sturdy light weight high-quality oblong violin case
• Bow: Carbon Fiber Violin Bow
• Shoulder Rest: Wood Violin Shoulder Rest
• Rosin: Select Dark Rosin
• Mute: Rubber Practice Mute
• Cloth: Polishing Cloth
• Tuner: Digital Tuner AV10
• Full Setup: ready to play out of the box

(Available in multiple sizes)

Fiddlerman Concert Violin Outfit

(5 / 5)

Current Price: $519

Fiddlerman Concert Violin Outfit

Features

• Solid hand-carved, beautifully figured spruce and maple tonewoods
• 100% ebony fingerboard, pegs & fittings
• Carbon composite tailpiece with 4 fine tuners
• Hand-carved Despiau or Holstein 1-star Bridge
• Hand-rubbed, oil/spirit-based finish (no thick lacquer)
• Antiqued wood – dried a minimum of 6 years
• Case: Sturdy light weight high-quality FC30 oblong violin case
• Bow: Carbon Fiber Violin Bow
• Shoulder Rest: Wood Violin Shoulder Rest
• Rosin: Select Dark Rosin
• Mute: Rubber Practice Mute (not available for 1/2 and smaller sizes)
• Cloth: Polishing Cloth
• Tuner: Digital Tuner AV10
• Full Setup: ready to play out of the box

(Available in multiple sizes)

Fiddlerman Artist Violin Outfit

(5 / 5)

Current Price: $719

Fiddlerman Artist Violin Outfit

Features

• Solid hand-carved, figured spruce and maple tonewoods
• 100% ebony fingerboard & pegs 
• Carbon composite tailpiece with 4 fine tuners 
• Hand-carved French Despiau or Holstein 3-star Bridge
• Hand-rubbed, oil/spirit-based finish (no thick lacquer)
• Antiqued wood – dried a minimum of 7 years
• Only available with a 2-piece back
• Case: High Quality Oblong Violin Case FC50
• Bow: Carbon Fiber Violin Bow
• Shoulder Rest: Wood Violin Shoulder Rest
• Rosin: Holstein Premium Rosin
• Mute: Rubber Practice Mute (not available for 1/2 and smaller sizes)
• Cloth: Polishing Cloth
• Tuner: Digital Tuner AV10

(Available in multiple sizes)

2. Build Quality

The price of a new violin can be directly related to its build quality: the materials used and the experience and training of the craftsmen and luthiers that put it together.

The overall price of a violin is influenced by such things as:

• The quality of the top, back, sides, neck and bow materials
• The type of material used for the fittings – bridge, pegs, tailpiece, chinrest etc
• The type of finish – lacquer, varnish, oil rub, or synthetic clear coat
• The manufacturing methods and experience of the builder

How The Violin is Made

These days, modern manufacturing methods such as CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining is a popular way of reducing costs by controlling time and materials through precision programming.

This is not to say violins are now entirely made by machine. But the fact is nothing beats the hands-on involvement of experienced violin makers.

In other words, the more personal attention to detail a violin gets, the more expensive the instrument will ultimately be.

Materials and Finish

Violins are traditionally made from natural materials such as:

• Spruce for the top (usually one piece) and soundpost
• Maple for the back, sides and bridge
• Ebony or Rosewood for the fittings

The type of finish has an influence on the cost of a new violin as well.

For example, a oil rub finish may be extremely attractive, but takes considerable human effort and time to apply.

On the other hand, a synthetic varnish is cheaper and can be sprayed on quickly which reduces working time and overall production costs.

The one thing we can’t manufacture, as in the case of Stradivari violins, is time.

Plastic vs Wood

It’s pretty safe to say that a violin that has plastic parts will be less expensive versus an instrument that has traditional wood (ebony or rosewood) fittings.

The same goes for the case if it’s included. With cases, man made materials are often used to keep price points at certain levels – and with very good cost-effective results.

Furthermore, violins, parts, bows and cases can be made of carbon composite materials making an excellent modern substitute for parts that would traditionally be made of wood.

The difference in price will depend again on the manufacturer and their level of quality.

3. The Size

To a degree, the size of the violin will have an impact on the overall cost. The major influence on price being related to material costs more than anything else.

For instance, a 1/10 size violin is about two thirds the size of full size 4/4 violin. Therefor there are less overall materials used to make the violin, plus other components directly related to size such as the case and the bow.

On the other hand, the time and effort to bring all the pieces together, craft the instrument, package and ship it are about the same – regardless of violin size.

4. Accessories and Inclusions

Compared to purchasing just the violin on its own, it makes much more sense for a new violinist to buy a an outfit that has all the essential items needed to get a good start.

The overall price of the outfit will depend on the quality of the instrument, along with the related quality, type and number of accessories included.

At the very least, a the most basic violin kit should have the violin itself, a bow and rosin.

Additional accessories typically found in a violin outfit can include:

• Case
• Rosin
• Extra strings
• Hygrometer
• Extra bow
• Mute
• Cleaning cloth
• Tuner
• Chin rest
• Shoulder rest
• Educational materials

Unless it’s included, purchasing any additional violin accessory on its own will undoubtedly increase your overall cost.

Therefor it makes sense that selecting an outfit that includes as many of the essential accessories that meet your needs makes for an overall better buy.

5. Where You Buy It

If you’re reading this you’re probably familiar with how easy it is to find a source for purchasing a violin – whether new or used.

Online shops and services allow you the freedom of doing your own research on your own time, but also deliver an extraordinary number of choices to try and filter through.

Unless you have a very clear idea of what you’re looking for, you can get lost in the process of trying to decide if what you’re about to spend on a beginner violin is a good deal or not.

The alternative is to visit a local music store that sells violins and see if they have what you’re looking for.

While this is the best option for hands-on inspection, you may be faced with limited options, price points and, depending on the shop, varying degrees of expertise with violins.

Depending on what your primary motivations are – cost vs quality, we can make some recommendations.

If you’re more concerned about price point, online outlets such as eBay and Amazon would be good places to start.

The strength of eBay is in the variety of what you can find: new, used, unique, vintage, one-of-a-kinds and hard to find parts.

Amazon on the other hand, being one of the largest online retailers on earth, is also known for its customer review system – which is massive.

If your primary concern is quality and longevity, there are excellent online stores that specialize in violins and related stringed instruments such as violas, cellos and double basses.

Without a doubt, our favorite recommendation would be Fiddlershop.com, well-know for their extraordinary customer service and broad selection of violins and outfits at virtually evry price point and for all skill levels.

Other Common Questions and Violin Price Ranges

Should a beginner buy an expensive violin?

Choosing a high quality violin will always be the better choice. If you have the budget, a well made violin that comes ready-to-play will help you get started on the right foot. And help you avoid the disappointment that comes from problems associated with inferior instruments.

How much should I pay for my first violin?

As mentioned previously, a good quality starter violin will range between four hundred and seven hundred dollars.

Of course there are cheaper violins, and some of them are quite good quality, but your chances of finding a truly good instrument diminish as the price goes down.

How much should I pay for a violin as I get better?

Along with the beginner violin price range already mentioned, intermediate violins will slightly overlap starting at around $600 and go up to roughly $1,500 for university-grade instruments.

Depending on an individual’s expertise and experience, professional level violins can range from $2,000 up to many thousands of dollars.

At the highest artistic levels, price is less of a consideration. Instead, a seasoned musician will tend to be more concerned about the connection with a particular instrument.

Still, whether you’re just starting out or an experienced professional, the best violin for you represents a musical extension of your emotional self.

The violin is a fantastic musical instrument that’s been around since ancient times. Nearly every opera or classical music performer now owns one. With different makes and brands, you have plenty of choices on the table.

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!

How much does a violin bow cost?

One of the things that learners and intermediate violin players have in mind when shopping for a violin bow is the cost of acquiring one. Size, shape, material, and brand all influence the price.  So how much does a violin bow cost?

On the lower side, a violin bow could cost you under $50, while on the higher side, it could cost you thousands of dollars.  For starters, you’d want to go for something in the range of $50 to $100 or slightly more. But if you’re an intermediate player, a bow that’s in the range of $100-300 would be a good purchase.

Fiberglas violin bows are somewhat cheap and at the lower end of the price spectrum. Beginner bows cost less than $100. In between wooden and fiberglass lies the carbon fiber violin bow, which is a great all-purpose bow. One will set you back by $50 to $300.

Wooden bows, made from Brazilwood or Pernambuco, are the costliest of the four. A cheaper one goes for roughly $100 bucks, but the best wooden bow runs into thousands of dollars.

As a rule of thumb, buy a violin bow that generally costs 20-25% of the price of your violin.

Who makes the best violin bows?

The violin market is flooded with all kinds of violin bows. This market can make it hard for you to decide which bows to buy. Luckily for you, we have done all the hard work. The only thing that’s left is for you to choose from the best violin bow makers. They can supply you with quality bows.

If you’re looking for a respected handmade bow that can serve you for several years, Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Violin Bow should be at the top of your list. It’s crafted from quality carbon fiber. It has a balanced weight distribution and a beautiful arch, which provides a great bounce.

For the best balance of must-have features and design quality, Cecilio Brazilwood Violin Bow with Ebony Frog, which is our budget pick, will suffice. Strung with unbleached horsehair, it can serve as the best replacement bow for beginners.

In case you’d like to upgrade from your generic wooden bow to carbon fiber, Crescent Well Balanced Carbon Fiber Violin Bow is the safest choice. It’s lightweight and does the job it’s meant to do.

Sometimes you might need an excellent spare bow for practice. And none does a better job than the Violinsmart 3/4 Size Violin Bow.

Do you have kids who want to learn how to play the violin but don’t want to spend a lot of money getting them a beginner’s bow? Look no further than the Crescent 4/4 Balanced Brazilwood Violin Bow as it’s a low-cost design.

Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Violin Bow 4/4

Cecilio Brazilwood Violin Bow with Ebony Frog in...

Crescent Well Balanced Carbon Fiber Violin Bow 4/4

For more information on choosing an appropriate bow, you may be interested in our comprehensive guide: Top Five Best Violin Bows for Intermediate Players and Beginners.

How to buy a violin bow

When shopping around for a violin, you need to keep a few things in mind so you can get a quality bow while saving time and money.

The shape of the bow: Violins are available in either octagon shape or round shape. The latter is a good shape as it is less stiff and simultaneously more comfortable to configure.

Materials: Violin bows are made from four kinds of durable but lightweight material: Pernambuco, Brazilwood, carbon fiber, and synthetic material.

Weight and balance: Each bow comes with a distinct weight and balance. A heavier bow will create a deeper sound while a lighter bow will create pure sounds with every stroke.

Violin size: Ensure that violin size matches your body size. If you’re an adult, the full size (or 4/4 size) violin might suit you. But if you have shorter arms or body, consider the 7/8.

Strength: A good violin bow should be reasonably reliable yet sufficiently flexible, so the material used should carry both properties.

Final thoughts

Your violin bow is more than an accessory, so you should give it much thought before you buy one. Get a good bow, and it will serve you right for many years. Get a poor one, and it will belt out sorrowful strokes to the chagrin of your audience.

Buying a violin bow shouldn’t be a problem if you know what you’re looking for in a violin. A good bow should cost roughly a 1/3 of the price of a violin.

Working on your violin bow hold is an essential part of perfecting your technique. “What is the proper way to hold a bow?” and “How can I improve my violin bowing?” are two questions that we hear a lot. In this post, we’ll attempt to answer both of those questions for you.

How to Hold a Violin Bow

Learning how to hold a violin bow is not all that complicated. We recommend that you attend at least one lesson so that you can learn good habits from an instructor. Once you form bad habits, it’s difficult to unlearn them.

The Thumb Position

You’ll bend your thumb to close to a 90-degree angle. The right corner should be inserted into the gap that’s formed between the leather section of the grip and the frog. Do NOT place it in the frog’s notch.

You’ll know you have it right when you can feel the metal clip holding the hair in place under your thumbnail. You should be able to feel a little of the hair in the bow as well.

The Position of the Fingers

According to Strings Magazine, the rest of the fingers should be quite easy to position. They’ll curve naturally into the right shape. Your middle finger should be draped over. You’ll be able to feel the leather grip on your knuckle. The tip of the finger should be on the metal clip.

Your ring finger should also be draped over your bow. You will even feel the stick against your knuckle. The tip of your finger should cover the frog’s center dot.

Your pinky should barely touch the bow. It should rest on top of it. Keep it bent and away from the adjusting screw.

Your index finger is draped similarly, but your knuckle will feel the metal winding. This figure is meant to wrap around the body, and the tip should touch the leather grip. This is the most critical finger position.

The index finger should never be straightened while playing. It is this finger that is going to do most of the work here.

Try and space your fingers as evenly as possible. The gap between the middle and index fingers can be a little wider, but the rest should be equidistant.

How Tightly Should I Hold it?

You need to keep a good grip without holding on too tightly. The more relaxed your hand is, the better control you can exercise. That’s especially important in getting your best performance possible.

The Contact Point

Positioning is essential when you’re using the bow to play as well. You need to put the midsection either on the A or the D string. It should be held parallel to your violin’s bridge and the fingerboard’s end. The hair should connect at the fullest section of the F hole.

This will be about half of the way between the fingerboard and the bridge. This position should be more comfortable as your elbow and wrist should be level. Keeping your arm higher will increase the tension. This, in turn, makes it harder to control the movements.

It’s common for beginners to place the hairs too close to the violin’s fingerboard. You could try stopping up the hole with a straw so that you remember not to do this. Your wrist should stay flexible, and your arm should be relaxed.

Final Notes

Getting the right position is essential. Not getting this right will mean that playing will be more difficult. If you’re not sure that you are getting the position right, consider practicing in front of a mirror.

Now that you know how to hold a violin bow, you can learn more about its construction. This article will provide you with a rundown of what materials make up the bow and how to choose the best one for you.