As a beginner violin student, you might be looking to buy a violin to practice; if so, you have come to the right place because we have prepared a list of the best violins for beginners.
For the untrained person, any violin could seem to be the same, but that is not the case. There are several reasons that determine the sound quality of the instrument.
Each choice in this list takes into consideration features such as materials used, craftsmanship, and brand reputation.
In this post, we also briefly cover which features determine the quality of a violin plus we talk about the best violin brands in the market.
Features That Determine The Quality Of A Violin
Before we dive in the reviews of the best violins for beginners, it’s essential to understand what makes a violin to be of good quality.
Some violins cost less than $100, while others could be in the thousands of dollars. This price difference is due mainly to a couple of reasons, materials, and craftsmanship. Let’s explore each one in more detail.
Materials Used to Build the Violin
All violins are made out of wood, except for a few models that are made out of plastic or carbon fiber. Since their invention in the 16th-century, violins have been manufactured using different types of woods.
In the last 500 years, luthiers have gained lots of experience in choosing the right types of wood to obtain a specific timbre of sound in the violin.
Anyone who studies violin or has read about its history would know that Antonio Stradivari made the world’s best violins.
This Italian luthier found a combination of woods and used different techniques to cure and store the wood so that the violins he produced had a very special timbre of sound that is known by professional violinists around the world.
One of Stradivari violins was sold in 2010 at an auction for $3.600.000, a world record price for a violin.
Although Stradivari used different techniques to treat the wood before making violins, the types of wood he used included spruce for the top, willow for the internal blocks and linings, and maple for the back, ribs, and neck.
So one of the aspects to consider when buying a violin is to look for ones that are made from solid spruce and solid maple body. Keep in mind that a violin for beginners is relatively affordable, which means that the solid spruce or maple is not going to be of the best quality when compared to a professional violin.
Another characteristic to keep in mind about the woods used for building instruments is that luthiers allow several years for the wood to dry and age, the oldest the wood, the more expensive it tends to be.
The reason is that when the wood is aged and dried properly, the sound it delivers is completely different than an instrument build with woods that have been dried quickly using modern techniques.
We don’t recommend buying a violin cheaper than $100 because it will be made with the most inexpensive materials, and it will have construction defects. Cheap materials and flaws negatively impact the sound.
It is recommended that a beginner student get a decent violin made from solid woods so that it sounds better, helping in the development of his/her musically ears.
Craftmanship
Another critical factor that plays a vital role in the sound quality of a violin is how it is constructed. The way each part is shaped and put together considerably impacts the sound quality.
In the past, luthiers would cut each piece of wood, and then manually, they would carve and cut out each piece very carefully. This process would take weeks and months to make one complete violin.
Nowadays, most violins, especially violins for beginners, are manufactured by CNC machines in big factories, and they can cut and carve out all the pieces for violins very fast.
In a modern violin factory on a regular production day, they can produce hundreds of violins. This is why they are affordable, only costing a few hundred dollars.
Modern luthiers still use traditional violin building techniques, cutting and carving pieces by hand. Such violins are considered professional grade not only because they are handmade but because they use high-quality materials.
Artisans pay attention to every detail until the finished product is a masterpiece. This is why these types of violins run in the thousands of dollars for one violin.
Best Violins for Beginners – Reviews
The best violin for a beginner should be one that is made by a reputable brand following high-quality standards for choosing materials and manufacturing techniques. Let’s take a look at each one of them.
Bunnel Pupil Violin Outfit By Kennedy Violins
An excellent and one of the best violins for beginners is the Bunnel Pupil violin from Kennedy Violins. This violin is of high quality, and it offers a great sound. Professional luthiers do its final assembly in Washington state in the U.S.A.
The Bunnel is handmade using tonewoods. The top plate is hand-carved from solid spruce; the sides and backplate are also handmade from solid maple wood. All fittings are made from 100% ebony. Its finish is a natural oil satin giving it a great look, and because it’s not a thick layer of paint, it aids in having a better sound.
Each string on this violin produces a resonant, rich sound projecting warmth in each note. Even with a light input from the bow, the sound is clear and is projected well for the audience.
Features
- One of the excellent features is that Kenny Violins offer the best customer service in case you have a problem with your violin.
- The Bunnel violin comes with D’Addario Prelude strings installed.
- It comes with installed fine tuners for easy tuning.
- The final assembly of all Kenny violins is performed by expert luthiers who are also violin teachers, meaning that everything will be correctly set and ready only to tune and play.
- Each violin is backed by a lifetime warranty and a 45-day money-back guarantee.
- Good quality Giuliani Brazilwood Violin Bow made with high-grade Mongolian horsehair, 100% ebony frog, genuine leather grip, and silver winding. The bow comes pre-rosined and ready to play.
- Good quality lightweight Portland Oblong violin case that comes equipped with a hygrometer for humidity measurement uses durable YKK Zippers, Shoulder rest compartment, and a spacious accessory compartment for your extra strings, rosin, straps, etc.
- This line of violins comes in sizes between 1/16 through 4/4.
Cons
- Some customers have complained that the hygrometer stopped working after a few months. This is not vital for the violin, but it’s good to know the level of humidity inside the case.
- Few customers complained about some hairs coming out of the bow. To some extent, it is ok for the bow to lose a few strands with use.
What’s in The Box
The Bunnel violin comes with everything you need to start playing right away. In the box you will get the following:
- A violin already setup with pre-installed steel-core D’Addario prelude strings.
- One Giuliani Brazilwood bow with Mongolian horsehair.
- It comes with an additional full set of Portland Violin Strings.
- One Giuliani Rosin.
- Soft String polishing cloth.
- One portland carbon fiber shoulder rest.
- A Portland Oblong violin case.
Cremona SV-130 Premier Violin
The Cremona SV-130 by Saga Music is one of the best violins for beginners. It comes with high-quality features usually offered in more expensive violins.
The top plate of this violin is made from hand-carved solid spruce. The sides and back are made from hand-carved solid maple.
It comes with Ebony fittings and fingerboard. Thanks to the high-quality craft, the violin is lightweight.
Its sound is warm, meaning that it provides an adequate balance between low and high frequencies. The sound is not as thin as you would expect with an affordable student violin. Instead, it sounds excellent for a violin on this price range.
Sound Demonstration
Features
- It comes strung with U.S. made D’Addario Prelude strings.
- High-quality composite tailpiece with 4 fitted fine tuners for easy tuning.
- The chinrest is comfortable because it is of low profile.
- For a better feel, while playing, it comes with an oiled, painted neck.
- The bow is well balanced, making it easier for beginners to adapt and play.
- Its bow comes with Mongolian horsehair
- It is available in sizes between 1/4 through 4/4.
- It comes with an installed bridge with the right height and correct string spacing ready to tune and play.
Cons
- The bow is not of the best quality. It doesn’t come pre-rosined, which means that it would take some time for rosin to stick to it. Some customers complained that hairs could get loose.
- If you don’t buy the violin pack, it doesn’t bring rosin, and you would need to order it separately.
- Some customers complained about getting a small amount of black dye on their hands after using the violin for extended periods and sweating. This is normal with new violins.
What’s in The Box
You get two options when buying. You can get the violin or the violin pack. If you choose to get only the violin, it comes with the violin, bow, and carrying case. NOTE: this option doesn’t include rosin, you should buy one because you will need it.
If you choose the violin bundle, it comes with everything you need to start: extra D’addario Prelude string set, fretless finger guides, shoulder rest, VP-55 mute, instructional DVD, rosin, case, and bow.
Mendini MV500 Violin by Cecilio Violins
The Mendini line of violins from Cecilio Musical Instruments is another excellent option for beginner violinists. Cecilio is a U.S. brand, but the violins are manufactured in China.
The Mendini MV500 is a handmade violin with an excellent record of quality control. Each Mendini violin is double-checked at the factory before they are shipped to make sure they comply with quality controls.
The top plate of the MV500 is made from hand-carved good quality solid spruce. The back, sides, and neck are made from hand-carved solid maple. The fingerboard, pegs, chin rest, and tailpiece are made from ebony.
It comes with inlead purfling instead of painted ones giving it a beautiful touch. It is varnished to give it an elegant natural bright look.
This violin produces a deep, rich, powerful tone that resonates and projects well. By upgrading the strings to a better quality set, it will provide a warm, bright sound in each played note.
Sound Demonstration
Features
- The bow is made from Brazilwood with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair.
- It comes with four detachable fine tuners.
- Lightweight hard case for easy transport.
- 1-year warranty for defects.
- Available in 1/2, 3/4, and 4/4 size.
Cons
- Some customers have complained that the strings that come with it aren’t that good. It is recommended that you invest in better quality violin strings.
- The tuner that comes with it is not of the best quality.
- Other customers have complained that the bridge needs to be adjusted. If the bridge is not correctly aligned, it can affect the sound.
What’s In The Box
This violin bundle comes with everything you need to start playing right away. I the box you will find:
- The violin
- Cecilio 92D chromatic tuner with metronome
- Two Brazil-wood bows with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair
- Lightweight hard case
- Adjustable shoulder rest
- Two bridges
- Rosin cake
- An extra set of violin strings.
- 1 Year Warranty.
Cecilio CVN-300 Violin
The Cecilio CVN-300 is another excellent violin for beginners because it offers good quality and lots of features without breaking the bank.
This violin is hand carved from solid spruce wood for the top. The back, sides, and neck are hand-carved from solid maple. It comes with beautiful inlaid purfling not painted like cheaper models and is finished with beautiful antique looking varnish. The fingerboard, pegs, chin rest, and tailpiece are made from ebony.
The CVN-300 offers exceptional resonance and tone, being capable of delivering bright, warm tone with extraordinary responsiveness the is smooth. These sound characteristics are usually found in more expensive units. Students learning to play will enjoy the full, rich sound this violin can deliver.
Sound Demonstration
Features
- Violin is made from solid spruce and maple.
- Tailpiece comes with four detachable nickel plated fine tuners for easy tuning.
- It comes with installed D’Addario Prelude Strings.
- Included bows are made from Brazilwood and unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair. These bows are balanced, helping beginners to adapt.
- Hardcase is lightweight, making it easy to transport.
- It comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
Cons
- In some cases, some minor adjustments could be necessary, especially with the bridge.
- Some customers have complained that the pegs were not as good as expected. Just remember, this is a budget beginner violin.
- Few customers didn’t like the quality of the bow, the hairs tend to break. To some extent, it is normal for the bow to lose some hairs under regular use, but consider upgrading to a better violin bow.
What’s In The Box
The Cecilio CVN-300 comes with everything a beginner violin student needs to start playing right away. I the box you’ll get:
- Violin with installed Prelude strings.
- Cecilio chromatic tuner.
- A lesson book for beginners.
- Lightweight hard case.
- It comes with two Brazilwood bows with genuine Mongolian horsehair.
- Cecilio rosin cake.
- One adjustable shoulder rest.
- An extra bridge.
Louis Carpini G2 Violin
The Louis Carpini G2 is a top of the line beginner violin perfect for novice and intermediate students. Kennedy Violins commercialize it, and it offers incredible features but comes with a higher price tag.
It is made from high-quality woods explicitly grown for making violins in colder climates and higher elevations. The selected woods for building this line of violins are stored and appropriately cured so that the final product is as beautiful as its sound. The minimum storage time for curing is between 6 to 7 years, and woods are naturally dried instead of oven (Kiln) dried.
Its top is made from hand-carved, tight-grain solid spruce, which improves the vibration transfer from the bridge to the acoustic box. The back is hand carved from solid high-flamed maple. The sides are also carved and cut from tonewood maple.
Keep in mind that high-flamed is not a typical grain pattern found in maple wood, which means that violin makers have to go through a lot of woods before finding this flamed pattern.
The fittings of the Carpini are made of high-grade ebony. It means that the pegs, chinrest, and fingerboard are 100% high-grade ebony. It comes with a durable composite tailpiece with four built-in fine tuners.
The Carpini G2 uses an oil or spirit-based finish helping the instrument get better acoustics instead of lacquer-based varnish, which is not suitable for acoustics.
When it comes to sound quality, the Carpini G2 produces a beautiful, dark, warm sound with a bright, resonant tone. The smooth, full ringing tone makes the Carpini a perfect violin for aspiring beginners that want a violin that would last years until they are advanced violinists.
Sound Demostration
Features
- It comes with a hand-carved, custom-fit French Aubert maple bridge.
- It has inlaid ebony purfling.
- The violin has high-grade ebony pegs, chinrest, and fingerboard.
- Included is an extra set of Portland wound-steel violin strings
- Kaplan Artcraft Rosin
- Soft string cleaning Cloth
- Luggage Tag
- The carrying case is a lightweight elite Portland with provisions for four bows, large compartments for the shoulder rest, rosin, strings, and any other accessories. Large exterior pocket with quality YKK zippers. Protecting blanket with plush on top. Smooth polyester for the bottom.
- The Giuliani bow is made from Brazilwood with high-grade Mongolian horsehair. It comes pre-rosined, ready to play. The bow frog is made of 100% ebony and genuine leather grip with silver winding.
- All Kennedy violins, including the Louis Carpini G2, comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee and a lifetime warranty.
Cons
- It comes with Prelude strings, and the extra string set is not of the best quality, make sure you upgrade to get the best sound and results. The recommended string upgrade for this violin is the D’Addario Zyex strings.
What’s In The Box
This violin comes with everything you need to start playing right away. In the box you will get:
- Carpini G2 violin.
- Portland Elite lightweight case.
- One Kaplan Artcraft rosin.
- Soft string cloth.
- Luggage tag.
- Additional Portland string set.
Conclusion
In this post, we have presented a list of the best violins for beginners making sure that the recommended violin in this list meets or exceeds the expected sound and craftmanship for a beginner violin. We hope this post can help you decide on a violin to start your journey as a violinist.
If you have any questions, please let us know, and we’ll respond within a few days, Thank you for reading this blog.