Of these, and, indeed, of all which have yet been manufactured, the most esteemed are those of the three Cremona makers, Antonio Stradivario, Giuseppe Guanererio, and Nicolo Amati, who flourished in the latter half of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century. The Violins of these makers unite in themselves, especially if well preserved, all the advantages of a good instrument, viz: a strong, full, and rich tone, perfect equality in the tones of each string; and a free emission of every sound from the lowest to the highest.
They differ, however, in form, and in the characteristics of their tone. These excellent instruments are dispersed throughout Europe, but, being mostly in the hands of rich amateurs, are scarce and dear; and as they yearly become more so, a young beginner will seldom meet with an opportunity of purchasing one. For most people, the price you pay will depend to a large extent on what you can afford, but with the violin it is really worth remembering you get what you pay for.
The price of an instrument will generally determine the quality. However, it can be possible find a cheaper violin that sounds good, and sound can be improved by the set-up of the bridge and sound post, quality strings and various other adjustments. The value of a violin depends on several criteria: Who made it, where and when it was made and its condition. Generally new violin outfits that cost less than RM1, are not worth having.
Some beginner sets can look like good value; you get a violin, a bow, spare strings, rosin and a case for what looks like a bargain. Eastman sets are good, and violin shops will usually have their own brand of beginner violin too. New student violins depreciate in value, particularly those that were cheap new.
Another option could be a good quality used instrument. As Louis Spohr explained in his treatise, a violin that has been played for some years works better than a new instrument. A new violin always needs playing in, whereas an old one can provide a gratifying tone and help develop your playing right from the start. The best way to buy a violin, whether new or old, is from a reputable, specialist violin shop. It should also be possible to hear someone at the shop play the instruments for you so you can gauge how they sound from out front.
A general music store is unlikely to employ a member of staff to show the instruments like this, but a violin shop will do. Save for a bit longer. Really cheap violins are no good. Imagine buying any household appliance and going for the cheapest option. The better beginner violins cost more than of RM 2, You can get a really good beginner outfit for RM 2, A violin that costs above RM 5, will have a better quality of workmanship and wood.
It will usually have a better sound and more evenness over the strings than a cheap model. For handmade violins made by one maker, prices normally start at around RM 7, These instruments would suit advanced players who were looking to study music.
Once a violinist enters the profession and needs a really good violin, the sky is the limit. Professional instruments start at around RM 10, and can go into the millions. No two violins will sound or feel the same. The Vienna is made in Romania from spruce and flamed maple and is fitted with Overture Ultra strings. The Daube is very similar but is finished in an oil varnish and is fitted with a Wittner tailpiece and Overture Premium strings.
These are good quality Chinese violins that have been set-up in an Ann Arbor workshop. They have a clear and bright sound that projects well. They are made from top quality maple and spruce and the fingerboard and pegs are made from ebony. The composite tailpiece has four adjusters for ease of tuning. They are beautifully finished and represent good value for money.
The Lamberti Sonata violin is a good quality Chinese violin. It is well constructed from maple and spruce and has an ebony fingerboard. The chinrest is also made from ebony in the style of Guarneri. It has a composite tailpiece with four integrated fine tuners and is fitted with Thomastik Vision strings.
This model can be purchased as a violin outfit with accessories which will include a Toshira Deluxe case and pernambuco bow. The Lamberti Guarneri model is also made mainly from spruce, maple and ebony. However, the chinrest, and pegs are made of boxwood. This is an attractive violin that is finished with a spirit varnish giving it that old, antique appearance.
Lamberti also has a Birdseye model made of similar materials but only in full size and no kit. It is fitted with an Aubert Mirecourt bridge and good quality Dominant strings giving it a nice warm sound.
The Lambert Symphony model is also made from spruce and maple with ebony fingerboard and pegs and the Guarneri style chinrest. Top of the range is the Lamberti Classic. This is perhaps a little more expensive than other violins at this level but, nevertheless, is one of the most popular models.
It is based on a Stradivarius and constructed from European spruce, aged flame maple for the scroll, neck and back along with ebony for the fingerboard and pegs.
The French bridge is hand crafted and the four layers of varnish give it great beauty and help bring out the warm and powerful tone. Primavera has a number of models in its range but one of the most popular is the award winning Primavera , sometimes referred to as Prima This is a good quality violin, beautifully finished with a satin varnish. It produces a nice sound and is hand carved from maple and spruce with inlaid purfling.
The pegs and fingerboard are made from ebony and the tailpiece is a new design made from a metal alloy. The fitted bridge is also made from a quality maple. The outfit comes with an oblong case with backpack straps, reflective material for safety, a music pocket as well as another smaller pocket for incidentals. A bow is also included as well as some rosin. The Primavera 90 series is very much the entry level violin in their range.
Nevertheless, it is stylish and features rosewood pegs and chinrest. The hardwood fingerboard is a little disappointing but it is still a good, affordable entry-level violin.
The and series are also good beginner violins but it is their Loreato series that is top of the range. It is constructed from hand carved spruce and maple with a fitted maple bridge. The pegs, fingerboard, and chinrest are of a high quality ebony giving it a very stylish appearance. The outfit includes a case, bow with natural horsehair, and some rosin. They also offer an accessory pack which includes a tuition book and CD, a chromatic tuner , a music stand, and spare set of strings.
Primavera have been making instruments since the 90s specifically for elementary school students. The Windsor have a couple of models which are ideal for beginners with a limited budget. The MI model is really aimed at small children aged about 5 years old or so. It has a spruce top but the fingerboard is only colored to look like ebony. The MI is a slight upgrade for older children. Again, it has a spruce top but the fingerboard is not ebony, simply hardwood painted black. These German sounding violins are actually made in China.
They are hand crafted from top quality spruce and maple with ebony fingerboards and pegs. Their Bucharest outfit is one of the more popular models.
It is made from spruce on the top, maple for the back, neck, and scroll and the end button, pegs and fingerboard are all ebony as is the Guarneri-style chinrest. The tailpiece is a composite and includes four integrated fine tuners. It produces a clear sound with a warm tone. It may be a little more expensive than some other beginner violins but is still good value for money.
The Prelude model is well constructed using spruce for the top and maple for the back, ribs and scroll. The fingerboard, pags, and end button are all made from ebony as is the Guarneri style chinrest.
It is beautifully varnished in a golden brown color which helps aesthetically as well as producing a warm, open sound. These violins can be purchased on their own or as an outfit.
The outfit may include a case and bow but there are also options to upgrade both the case and bow. The Etude model is also made from top quality spruce, maple, and ebony.
They project a good sound with an even tone and are easy to play. Merano violins are definitely amongst the cheapest violins on the market. They make violins in various shapes, sizes, colors, and even a silent electric violin. Since , they have become very popular due to their affordability.
The Merano MV10 is one of the most popular models and comes in a variety of funky colors. Although this is a very cheap violin, the tone is surprisingly not too bad. It is only available in brown and is made from good quality spruce and maple. The outfit includes a light weight case with strap and a wooden bow, some rosin, and a spare E string. For students looking for a little color in their practice routine, you might consider the MV This comes in a variety of fun colors such as pink, red, white, purple, grey, green, black, and blue.
Definitely an entry-level violin but the sound quality is adequate. Another violin in their range is the MV Again, this is crafted from spruce and maple with ebony fittings and produces an adequate tone. It is available as an outfit which includes a wooden bow with genuine horse hair, pitch pipes, rosin and a spare set of strings. The lightweight case has a pocket for music and adjustable straps for ease in carrying.
Scott Cao is widely regarded as one of the best contemporary violin makers. His designs are based on the old Italian masters such as Guarneri and Stradivarius. His violins are quite expensive though and tend to be at the top of the price range.
However, if you start on the model STV you will have a violin of exceptional quality, based on a Stradivarius that was once played by Itzhak Perlman. The highest quality materials are used and the violin produces a wonderful tone in all registers. This is a top quality instrument that may well last you a lifetime.
At a more entry level, Scott Cao has a model. This violin is hand crafted from European spruce for the top and a two piece maple back. The fingerboard and pegs are made of ebony and it is finished in a beautiful varnish which not only looks good but sounds wonderful too. The model is a step up and may not be truly a beginners violin. It is constructed from high quality Italian maple and spruce with ebony fittings. This is actually custom made so you may have to wait a while to get it but it may be worth the wait.
This model has won awards for tone quality from the Violin Society of America. The and models are the top of the range. Again, may not be a true beginners violin as they are quite pricey but are constructed from top quality materials with excellent craftsmanship.
All violins in this series are fitted with Dominant strings. They are top quality strings used by many professional violinists. These instruments are a good investment and come with a lifetime quality guarantee. The intention of this company is to make contemporary violins, often beautifully painted and sometimes engraved. They have been made in China since They are usually painted with floral, custom designs or drawings.
They can also have floral designs engraved into the body. As their focus is on producing these fun looking violins, the tone quality invariably suffers. You may also enjoy: How to Maintain Your Violin. In general, a student violin is made from lower-quality wood and involves less hand work.
These violins usually have some parts made of plastic, such as the pegs and chin rest. Student violins are great for children who are interested in learning music , but are not yet sure if they will play for very long.
While they are certainly not top of the line, these are a great, affordable option for new violin students. Violins classified as intermediate are a good compromise between student and professional instruments.
Intermediate violins are great for musicians who want something better than a beginner instrument, but are not quite ready to invest thousands of dollars in a professional violin. Professional violins are usually constructed from highly-quality wood, hand-built and assembled by a luthier, and finished with high-quality components, such as an ebony fingerboard. Follow along with this tutorial:. Purchasing a beginner violin is a very exciting and personal experience. What one person may see as a must-have feature, others are not so keen.
And a student violin that feels exceptionally comfortable for you to play, may not do the trick for someone else. Every violinist is unique with different preferences and priorities. Keep in mind that you may want to get advice from a violin teacher or somebody who is experienced in buying musical instruments before you make a purchase.
When you sign up for online violin lessons , you can connect with your private teacher on our virtual platform. Using your smartphone, laptop, or computer and webcam, ask your instructor all the questions you have about the best violin for beginners and begin working toward all your violin-playing goals.
I am a strings teacher and have been teaching over 20 years. I have never heard of Stentor. I would recommend Knilling out of the brands listed in this article. You can also look at instruments from Shar Music or Southwest Strings, which both specialized in string instruments and have been around for years.
I hope this helps. My first music teacher played a stentnor and that was 40 years ago. Knilling is a heavier student violin, Projection is okay but not great and that may be why a teacher would recommend it. It is harder to play on due to the weight.
Mendini is a Cecilio brand. It is the lower end Cecilio violin. Not sure why it would make the list. Whether you buy from shar music, kk, or any other well known dealer, the instrument ships from the California warehouse with the factory set up. The set up is not exactly great.
Of everyone you have listed, The GCV is the only real choice. Despite what anyone else on this thread has said, GCV is an award winning company. Some of the best violins I have played when bought through the Fiddlershop. Owned by Pierre Holstein, a professional orchestral musician for over 40 years and his shop of master luthiers, turns out some of the best violins I have ever seen If a person was interested in a high quality instrument at an extremely affordable price, they go to the Fiddlershop.
Hi Sheraz. I would NOT recommend any of these violins with the exception of the Knilling violin for your daughter. These violins posted here are no more than inexpensive, low grade student violins that will not have the best tone qualities because they are made with poor quality woods and poor quality workmanship in large factories in China or Romania. The price might be great…but remember you get what you pay for. When any of these violins are bought, for the most part, they have not passed through a professional luthier hands to be setup to professional standards.
Most of these violins will come with setups that are horrible…pegs not fitted, nut and bridge too hi, fingerboards not smooth or shaped correctly and poor quality strings and tailpieces.
The bows that come with these outfits are very poor quality and usually too heavy and crooked. Most students will not progress on these cheap instruments and most will quit because the instrument does not sound good and it has a poor setup. We certainly do not want our kids to fail. I would suggest you going to a good violin shop and trying out violins to rent with an option to buy.
These instruments will come with a good, student bow and a proper setup and usually good set of strings.
You can find my teacher page under I am letting go of my violin.. Email me… pavethraraman gmail. Hi I am 52 and just started playing about 6 months ago I love it. I then moved up to a Rothenburg love it. Thank you Lisa Holland.
I am I have no knowledge about. Woud you somebody tell me the quality of the violin? How much can you spend? Go to a shop. Buy one That has been played for a couple of years to mellow it out.
Plan on spending to
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