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Editor's picks

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  Mendini 4/4 MV300 Solid Wood Violin in Satin Finish with Hard Case, Shoulder Rest, Bow, Rosin and Extra Strings - Full Size

  Musical Instruments (Cecilio Musical Instruments)
  

  Rating (108 reviews):

  (3.4/5)

  

  Great quality/price ratio!

  Great violin? No. As nice as the ones the music stores rent for $25 a month, yes. Comes with tons of accessories that would cost you $30-40.As a violin teacher, I like to have these on hand for cheap entry level instruments, or rent for $10/month. That way a student doesn't have to get into a year contract at a local music store if they aren't sure if they want to stick with it or not.A great way to get started on the violin for VERY little money. After owning this violin for a year or so, the student can decide to invest in a nicer one, and pass this along to a sibling/friend/Craigslist.Only disclaimer is: make sure you have someone who can setup a violin for you (the case with all violins, regardless of quality). They are NOT instruments that can be played right out of the box, and if you have a store do this for you, it's probably a $30-45 fee. Find a violin playing friend that will do it for free for you :) 5/5 Captain Cadabra - See all my reviews This review is from: Mendini 4/4 MV300 Solid Wood Violin in Satin Finish with Hard Case, Shoulder Rest, Bow, Rosin and Extra Strings - Full Size (Electronics) Great violin? No. As nice as the ones the music stores rent for $25 a month, yes. Comes with tons of accessories that would cost you $30-40.As a violin teacher, I like to have these on hand for cheap entry level instruments, or rent for $10/month. That way a student doesn't have to get into a year contract at a local music store if they aren't sure if they want to stick with it or not.A great way to get started on the violin for VERY little money. After owning this violin for a year or so, the student can decide to invest in a nicer one, and pass this along to a sibling/friend/Craigslist.Only disclaimer is: make sure you have someone who can setup a violin for you (the case with all violins, regardless of quality). They are NOT instruments that can be played right out of the box, and if you have a store do this for you, it's probably a $30-45 fee. Find a violin playing friend that will do it for free for you :) Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , June 21, 2011

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  Much better than I expected

  I wrote this review for the person who knows nothing about violins at all:This violin is of much higher quality than I ever imagined. It is not, of course, even a good violin by professional standards, but it is a very solid beginner's instrument. I bought it for myself, though I am not a violinist, but I have been playing guitar, bass, and keys for more than six years, and I have played violins before. My ex-girlfriend lent me her first violin when we were dating, and it was really, really horrible. This one is pretty close to her current violin, which was a pretty decent student model. I did a lot of research before buying this one, and I'm really glad I did. It is rated highly by violin teachers and other violinists, but very lowly by people who have no idea what they are talking about. I have read that a lot of violins under $100 don't even have a sound post, which is a crucial part of the violin and absolutely cannot be discarded. You're almost better off with a... 5/5 Zachary Buser - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Mendini 4/4 MV300 Solid Wood Violin in Satin Finish with Hard Case, Shoulder Rest, Bow, Rosin and Extra Strings - Full Size (Electronics) I wrote this review for the person who knows nothing about violins at all:This violin is of much higher quality than I ever imagined. It is not, of course, even a good violin by professional standards, but it is a very solid beginner's instrument. I bought it for myself, though I am not a violinist, but I have been playing guitar, bass, and keys for more than six years, and I have played violins before. My ex-girlfriend lent me her first violin when we were dating, and it was really, really horrible. This one is pretty close to her current violin, which was a pretty decent student model. I did a lot of research before buying this one, and I'm really glad I did. It is rated highly by violin teachers and other violinists, but very lowly by people who have no idea what they are talking about. I have read that a lot of violins under $100 don't even have a sound post, which is a crucial part of the violin and absolutely cannot be discarded. You're almost better off with a... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , October 27, 2011

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  Excellent value for starter violin

  Very good value for a starter violin. I set the bridge and tuned right up. Strings were in good shape. Strings will stretch initially so you retune periodically and due to changes in humidity.Violin sounds pretty good. Very adequate.Nice case, extra strings, bow is good. Rough up the rosin surface with sandpaper before applying to bow.A great deal. 4/5 Drumbler (NJ) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Mendini 4/4 MV Solid Wood Violin with Hard Case, Shoulder Rest, Bow, Rosin and Extra Strings - Full Size - Black (Electronics) Very good value for a starter violin. I set the bridge and tuned right up. Strings were in good shape. Strings will stretch initially so you retune periodically and due to changes in humidity.Violin sounds pretty good. Very adequate.Nice case, extra strings, bow is good. Rough up the rosin surface with sandpaper before applying to bow.A great deal. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , July 24, 2011

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  List Price: $199.99
  Price: $59.99
  You Save: $140.00 (70%)

  Brazil wood bow with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair

  Includes: Lightweight hard case, adjustable shoulder rest, 2 bridges, quality rosin cake, and an extra set of violin strings.

  1 Year Warranty Against Manufacturer's Defects

  Rosewood fingerboard, pegs chin rest, and alloy tailpiece with 4 built-in fine tuners

  4/4 (Full Size) violin with solid wood spruce top, maple back, neck and sides with beautiful satin varnish finish

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  ViolinSmart 4/4 Full Size Student Violin w/Bow, Case, and Rosin - Solid Black

  Musical Instruments (VIOLINSMART)
  

  Rating (55 reviews):

  (2.9/5)

  

  Go Violin!

  I ordered this violin on a Sunday evening and recieved it the following Saturday at 9am with the cheapest shipping.This is, well, a cheap violin. You're looking at it because you're interested in getting a cheap violin. Why? I thought of the following:Decor, prop, for a child, to find out if you hate or have an unknown untapped talent for the violin, you think it will be fun, but don't want to spend a lot of cash on a whim.I'm kind of the last two, and I don't have piles of cash lying around. So I figured I can afford that, if I hate it then hey at least it would look pretty in a room of my house somewhere.So yeah, it arrived timely. The case... is cheap. There's like some glue on the felt in spots, wooden debris, the outer material feels a bit flimsy, but it's a case, and it will suffice. It actually looks soft-sided but it's firm. I kinda like it. My interior was red, not the tan.Setting up the bridge is really easy. I'm... 4/5 amarygma (MN, USA) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: ViolinSmart 4/4 Full Size Student Violin w/Bow, Case, and Rosin - Solid Black I ordered this violin on a Sunday evening and recieved it the following Saturday at 9am with the cheapest shipping.This is, well, a cheap violin. You're looking at it because you're interested in getting a cheap violin. Why? I thought of the following:Decor, prop, for a child, to find out if you hate or have an unknown untapped talent for the violin, you think it will be fun, but don't want to spend a lot of cash on a whim.I'm kind of the last two, and I don't have piles of cash lying around. So I figured I can afford that, if I hate it then hey at least it would look pretty in a room of my house somewhere.So yeah, it arrived timely. The case... is cheap. There's like some glue on the felt in spots, wooden debris, the outer material feels a bit flimsy, but it's a case, and it will suffice. It actually looks soft-sided but it's firm. I kinda like it. My interior was red, not the tan.Setting up the bridge is really easy. I'm... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , July 18, 2006

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  Better than I expected!

  I purchased this violin on a whim when I was reminiscing about playing as a child. It is a terrific price (cheaper than most toys...or at least the same price as a meal out with the family...) and comes with everything I needed to get started. I was pleasantly surprised that it came well packed and within the suggested time. I was also able to track the item through UPS. I panicked at first because I could not get any sound to come out of it and thought I had been sold a piece of junk. I went to the internet to see if I could figure out what was wrong and found that I needed to attach the bridge that was in the accessory compartment of the case. It was much easier than I thought. I found a great website that explained it all to me [...]and also has free beginning lessons and other important information that I have already found helpful. The other crucial key to getting sound from the violin is to have the bow rosined properly. (You also need to tighted the bow with the little... 5/5 L. Nevin "Eagle Mountain Books" - See all my reviews, July 20, 2006

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  Black Pearl

  I've been interested in playing the violin since about the age of eight, I am now nearly sixteen and decided it's about time to play. I did not start in earlier years because violins are regularly rather costly. Out of curiousity, I began browsing Amazon's selection of violins and stumbled upon this specific violin set. It is a great price, a beautiful violin and a wonderful set for a beginner. I ordered this violin on the 5th of July, I was told it would arrive between the 13th and the 18th. It came today, which is the 14th, quite a timely manner and in perfect condition. The violin was just like the picture, I am not at all disappointed. Though I have to say, I had an issue with one of the strings which broke on me while I assembled the bridge, which comes unassembled and without instructions. Being that I've never seen a fully assembled violin with my own eyes, it was a bit of a challenge to figure out how to assemble it. I at first thought the strings go through the holes that are... 5/5 Alaka Lalia R. "Lia" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews This review is from: ViolinSmart 4/4 Full Size Student Violin w/Bow, Case, and Rosin - Solid Black I've been interested in playing the violin since about the age of eight, I am now nearly sixteen and decided it's about time to play. I did not start in earlier years because violins are regularly rather costly. Out of curiousity, I began browsing Amazon's selection of violins and stumbled upon this specific violin set. It is a great price, a beautiful violin and a wonderful set for a beginner. I ordered this violin on the 5th of July, I was told it would arrive between the 13th and the 18th. It came today, which is the 14th, quite a timely manner and in perfect condition. The violin was just like the picture, I am not at all disappointed. Though I have to say, I had an issue with one of the strings which broke on me while I assembled the bridge, which comes unassembled and without instructions. Being that I've never seen a fully assembled violin with my own eyes, it was a bit of a challenge to figure out how to assemble it. I at first thought the strings go through the holes that are... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , July 14, 2006

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  List Price: $129.00
  

  Select spruce top, pearwood fingerboard, maple back and sides

  Inexpensive starter instrument for children and adults alike

  4/4 or full-size violin, for violinists age 9 and above with an arm length of 23.5 inches and up

  Comes with hard shell case, bow, and rosin

  Available in an array of colors

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  New 4/4 Full Size Student Violin

  Musical Instruments (VIOLINSMART)
  

  Rating (24 reviews):

  (3.6/5)

  

  Better than average

  I am a professional musician, music teacher and violin dealer. I had a problem getting beginner violins from my manufacturer in China, so I figured i would look at this Violin. First let me say that 98% of beginner violin selling in the USA for under $200.00 are Made in China. This one is no worse or better than factory violins retailing for over $150.00. Of course before I sell it to a student I change the strings and re fit the bridge. A decent set of strings costs me about $13.00 and a bridge about three dollars. You can learn how to fit a bridge on utube. So I have a total of 65$ in the instrument. I put it next to another mass produced best selling Violin from China retailing at $150.00 and it sounded better, but that is with new strings. This violin should get the beginner student through the first year of playing, then an upgraded violin would be in order, but so many people quit or just want some basic enjoyment that there is no need to spend $200. Slipping pegs can be... 4/5 Celloteacher - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: New 4/4 Full Size Student Violin I am a professional musician, music teacher and violin dealer. I had a problem getting beginner violins from my manufacturer in China, so I figured i would look at this Violin. First let me say that 98% of beginner violin selling in the USA for under $200.00 are Made in China. This one is no worse or better than factory violins retailing for over $150.00. Of course before I sell it to a student I change the strings and re fit the bridge. A decent set of strings costs me about $13.00 and a bridge about three dollars. You can learn how to fit a bridge on utube. So I have a total of 65$ in the instrument. I put it next to another mass produced best selling Violin from China retailing at $150.00 and it sounded better, but that is with new strings. This violin should get the beginner student through the first year of playing, then an upgraded violin would be in order, but so many people quit or just want some basic enjoyment that there is no need to spend $200. Slipping pegs can be... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , September 7, 2011

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  okay

  This is my first violin and since I bought it cheap, I wasn't expecting much. My violin teacher said that it sounded just fine for being what the price was. Me and my violin teacher both think that it would be just fine for a starter violin. It didn't come with a bridge though and my E-string broke on the first try of it being tuned. Overall I was pleased with the violin but I wouldn't give it five stars. I will give it a three because it didn't come with the bridge which is pretty much the most important part of the violin if you want to get any sound out of it. 3/5 Harris - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: New 4/4 Full Size Student Violin This is my first violin and since I bought it cheap, I wasn't expecting much. My violin teacher said that it sounded just fine for being what the price was. Me and my violin teacher both think that it would be just fine for a starter violin. It didn't come with a bridge though and my E-string broke on the first try of it being tuned. Overall I was pleased with the violin but I wouldn't give it five stars. I will give it a three because it didn't come with the bridge which is pretty much the most important part of the violin if you want to get any sound out of it. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , November 3, 2010

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  5 Stars for a violin in this price range

  I'll be honest, I only ordered this violin because I was curious. I have been playing for twelve years and recently decided it might be fun to try a new violin instead of the one I've had since I was a teenager. I ordered a couple of cheapies with Christmas gift card money (yay for gift cards!) and honestly, of the three I got, this was the best.Here's the scoop on this violin package:- The Case.You'll get a rigid foam case. It's not very high quality, but it'll protect your instrument when stored around the house. It has a nice pocket, a zipper, and space for two bows. I won't complain about the case. None of this stuff is very high quality, but look at the price.-Rosin. I like extra dark colophane rosin so I'll probably just throw this away, but that's just my preference. It's nice that it's here. I didn't try using it, but it looks like you'll have to score it a few times with a butter knife to get it going. This is normal.-The Bow... 5/5 Rorschach - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: New 4/4 Full Size Student Violin I'll be honest, I only ordered this violin because I was curious. I have been playing for twelve years and recently decided it might be fun to try a new violin instead of the one I've had since I was a teenager. I ordered a couple of cheapies with Christmas gift card money (yay for gift cards!) and honestly, of the three I got, this was the best.Here's the scoop on this violin package:- The Case.You'll get a rigid foam case. It's not very high quality, but it'll protect your instrument when stored around the house. It has a nice pocket, a zipper, and space for two bows. I won't complain about the case. None of this stuff is very high quality, but look at the price.-Rosin. I like extra dark colophane rosin so I'll probably just throw this away, but that's just my preference. It's nice that it's here. I didn't try using it, but it looks like you'll have to score it a few times with a butter knife to get it going. This is normal.-The Bow... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 30, 2011

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  List Price: $129.00
  

  Full size 4/4 violin

  Alloy tailpiece with 4 fine tuners

  Also includes bow, rosin and case (interior case color may vary)

  Maple back and sides with solid spruce top

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  Glaesel Violin Ultra Practice Mute

  Musical Instruments (Glaesel)
  

  Rating (80 reviews):

  (4.4/5)

  

  Good and comfortable mute

  I am a beginner, and this mute seems to do a fine job in decreasing the volume of my mistakes :) It is very easy to use. The material is firm but very soft so I do not have to worry about damaging the bridge ( I was a bit apprehensive about using a nickel or gold plated mute). The mute fits very well on a 4/4 violin and does will not fall off even if you shake the instrument upside down (not sure why anyone would but isn't it nice to know?). Since it seems over-sized I am sure it would fit on any smaller violin as well.I only wish it would mute to an even lower volume. 5/5 Boruta Di Lira (NJ, US) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Glaesel Violin Ultra Practice Mute I am a beginner, and this mute seems to do a fine job in decreasing the volume of my mistakes :) It is very easy to use. The material is firm but very soft so I do not have to worry about damaging the bridge ( I was a bit apprehensive about using a nickel or gold plated mute). The mute fits very well on a 4/4 violin and does will not fall off even if you shake the instrument upside down (not sure why anyone would but isn't it nice to know?). Since it seems over-sized I am sure it would fit on any smaller violin as well.I only wish it would mute to an even lower volume. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , March 19, 2007

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  Nice!

  This mute works great! It cuts the loudness down by well over half. My husband said he could barely hear me in the next room. Perfect for practicing, late night playing, or people that live with room mates or in apartments. Easy to put on and take off. The rubber won't hurt your violin, bridge or strings. I love it! 5/5 Charlene Thompson "Forever Learning New Things" (Virginia Beach, VA United States) - See all my reviews, January 4, 2008

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  Great tonal qualities!

  This mute is great! It mutes a lot too! You can actually control how much the mute actually mutes your violin by raising it a little bit above the bridge. I usually put it a little over half way on when I am in a concert and it is Con Sordini because I prefer the tonal qualities of this rather than my "two holed mute". A lot better sound than those metal ones, put less stress on your bridge and are a lot cheaper too! 5/5 R. Hellinger (Upstate NY) - See all my reviews, July 17, 2007

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  List Price: $5.50
  Price: $3.00
  You Save: $2.50 (45%)

  Heavy rubber

  5 prong

  Practice anywhere

  For Violin

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  Mendini 4/4 MV500 Flamed 1-Piece Back Solid Wood Violin with Case, Tuner, Shoulder Rest, Bow, Rosin, Bridge and Strings - Full Size

  Musical Instruments (Cecilio Musical Instruments)
  

  Rating (30 reviews):

  (4.0/5)

  

  Great instrument

  I am a music major at Indiana State University who plays upright bass in orchestra, and was looking to expand my music knowledge to violin. To my surprise my parents picked this up for me. I attempted to tune it and the high e string broke. Not surprising. As a rule, ALWAYS put new string on an instrument right away. The strings it came with were old and low quality. Also be sure to clean the instrument. I was disturbed by the amount of filth that came off the finger board. When i was done with setting it up and such, the instrument i was left with was astounding. The sound and depth is very nice, and the finish is stunning. I'm very happy with it. The case is nice, but it did need to be cleaned. the bows are passable, the rosin..... buy new rosin. 4/5 bdarr - See all my reviews This review is from: Mendini 4/4 MV500 Flamed 1-Piece Back Solid Wood Violin with Case, Tuner, Shoulder Rest, Bow, Rosin, Bridge and Strings - Full Size (Electronics) I am a music major at Indiana State University who plays upright bass in orchestra, and was looking to expand my music knowledge to violin. To my surprise my parents picked this up for me. I attempted to tune it and the high e string broke. Not surprising. As a rule, ALWAYS put new string on an instrument right away. The strings it came with were old and low quality. Also be sure to clean the instrument. I was disturbed by the amount of filth that came off the finger board. When i was done with setting it up and such, the instrument i was left with was astounding. The sound and depth is very nice, and the finish is stunning. I'm very happy with it. The case is nice, but it did need to be cleaned. the bows are passable, the rosin..... buy new rosin. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 27, 2010

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  A couple minor things

  I am a student, not a professional but this violin has a couple of dings in it apparently from the factory.The bridge was indeed already installed and the strings tight which was a little worrisome but apparently didn't effect either.Ebony must be simply a description of the color because the materials used for the fingerboard, chin rest and tail piece are all different and none appear to be anything other than dyed wood (fingerboard) or nylon (plastic) or plastic for the tail piece and chin rest.That said, I can't comment on the rest of this item yet because I haven't had enough experience with it. I will update this review as needed.Update 5/28/11: My instructor can't keep his hands off this instrument. Not because it needs to be tuned constantly, quite the opposite, it holds it's tune for weeks and has really opened up in sound. He loves it and can't believe it was a cheap Chinese manufacture! Score one for bargain shopping! 5/5 Chad Kovac (Iowa) - See all my reviews, January 18, 2011

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  Great Quality. Lots of Extras!

  I ordered my violin with 1-day shipping and they weren't kidding. I had the violin in my possession and signed for within 24 hours! First off the case is a good quality hard plastic case with secure fasteners on either end to ensure the violin stay protected. When I opened it I was so surprised to see a ton of extra stuff I didn't know came with it! It came with an extra bridge, extra set of strings and two bows! Like previous reviews have stated(and were wrong) the strings were not too tight so when I tune it I hardly doubt the strings will snap. The violin itself seems to be in great condition. I don't see any flaws on it at all. The rosin I will not lie is a cheap quality so your probably better off going to a music store to buy a different rosin. All in all this is a great violin that sounds great and I'm going to have so much fun with it. Hope this was helpful. 5/5 Daniel C. Smith (Fort Polk, LA) - See all my reviews, March 1, 2011

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  List Price: $374.99
  

  Cecilio 92D chromatic / string tuner with metronome, 2 x Brazil wood bows with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair

  1 Year Warranty Against Manufacturer's Defects

  Ebony fingerboard, pegs chin rest, and tailpiece with 4 detachable fine tuners

  4/4 (Full Size) violin with solid hand-carved 1-piece maple back, neck and side, solid hand-carved spruce top with beautiful varnish finish & inlaid purfling

  Includes: Lightweight hard case, adjustable shoulder rest, 2 bridges, quality rosin cake, and an extra set of violin strings.

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  Mendini 4/4 MV400 Ebony Fitted Solid Wood Violin with Hard Case, Shoulder Rest, Bow, Rosin, Extra Bridge and Strings - Full Size

  Musical Instruments (Cecilio Musical Instruments)
  

  Rating (11 reviews):

  (4.3/5)

  

  Great Instrument For Starting Out

  My teacher was more than pleasantly surprised when I brought this MV400 to him for setup.. Which by the way, was nothing more than tuning the strings. The action, tuning pegs, bridge and sound post were all matched and aligned properly. My instructor was pleased to note the violin had inlaid purfling as well as a solid set of strings. In fact, the strings (according to his trained ear, not mine) are higher quality and sound than a "Red Label Super Sensitive" set I purchased. The bows are of various weight and quality, with one being a better option than the other in this starter kit. I do recommend purchasing a different rosin for a darker tone.The instrument is not perfect, nor is it professional grade but for the beginning student (or in my case, the returning student) but a better value will likely not be found. I will be able to make it sing for a few years to come. My instructor labeled this violin as a "grade 7 or 8 level instrument." Not absolutely beginner,... 4/5 M Cannon - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Mendini 4/4 MV400 Ebony Fitted Solid Wood Violin with Hard Case, Shoulder Rest, Bow, Rosin, Extra Bridge and Strings - Full Size (Electronics) My teacher was more than pleasantly surprised when I brought this MV400 to him for setup.. Which by the way, was nothing more than tuning the strings. The action, tuning pegs, bridge and sound post were all matched and aligned properly. My instructor was pleased to note the violin had inlaid purfling as well as a solid set of strings. In fact, the strings (according to his trained ear, not mine) are higher quality and sound than a "Red Label Super Sensitive" set I purchased. The bows are of various weight and quality, with one being a better option than the other in this starter kit. I do recommend purchasing a different rosin for a darker tone.The instrument is not perfect, nor is it professional grade but for the beginning student (or in my case, the returning student) but a better value will likely not be found. I will be able to make it sing for a few years to come. My instructor labeled this violin as a "grade 7 or 8 level instrument." Not absolutely beginner,... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 29, 2011

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  Nice Violin

  The violin is in perfect condition. I received all of the accessories as advertised. You even receive their Web page for maintenance and beginner's violin instructions! Wow! I didn't expect that! The case is very nice and sturdy. Remember to scratch the top of the rosin because it's smooth. You have to get it started. I did that and the rosin worked wonderfully! I made my first sounds on a violin! I am a musician, but I've never played the violin...ever! I am sooooo excited about my purchase. I couldn't be happier! I would write more but I want to get back to my Brand New Violin! You will be very happy if you purchase this violin. I know that I am. Thank you seller for such a wonderful transaction! Oh...did I mention the fact that the violin was shipped and received with lightening speed! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! 5/5 Denise Borum "Denise Borum, JD" (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews, November 23, 2011

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  Great $75 dollar violin

  So, I was kind of worried buying this, because with the other models of the same brand people were complaining about the product. Then I learned about violins. Every violin has a bridge that is held in place by string pressure, even the most expensive ones. It literally takes 2 seconds to do, and then you tune it. That was the second big complaint- "ugh, it's not even tuned when it arrives the day after I ordered it, plus it's in pieces, send me a good violin, thx, pls! OMG". Guess what, if you don't think you'll need to tune it, you don't deserve to buy it. Its a good starting violin. It's also a good deal. 5/5 J - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Mendini 4/4 MV400 Ebony Fitted Solid Wood Violin with Hard Case, Shoulder Rest, Bow, Rosin, Extra Bridge and Strings - Full Size (Electronics) So, I was kind of worried buying this, because with the other models of the same brand people were complaining about the product. Then I learned about violins. Every violin has a bridge that is held in place by string pressure, even the most expensive ones. It literally takes 2 seconds to do, and then you tune it. That was the second big complaint- "ugh, it's not even tuned when it arrives the day after I ordered it, plus it's in pieces, send me a good violin, thx, pls! OMG". Guess what, if you don't think you'll need to tune it, you don't deserve to buy it. Its a good starting violin. It's also a good deal. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , November 21, 2011

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  List Price: $294.99
  Price: $129.99
  You Save: $165.00 (56%)

  2 x Brazil wood bows with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair

  4/4 (Full Size) violin with solid wood spruce top, maple back, neck and sides with beautiful varnish finish & inlaid purfling

  Includes: Lightweight hard case, adjustable shoulder rest, 2 bridges, quality rosin cake, and an extra set of violin strings.

  Ebony fingerboard, pegs chin rest, and tailpiece with 4 detachable fine tuners

  1 Year Warranty Against Manufacturer's Defects

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  The Instrument Store TIS-200 Student Violin Full Size (4/4) with Ebony Fittings, Case and Bow - SAVE an EXTRA $80 During CYBER WEEK

  Musical Instruments (Legacy)
  

  Rating (12 reviews):

  (4.1/5)

  

  Great beginner Violin

  I bought this Violin for my granddaughter so she could begin taking Violin Lessons. Her teacher suggested looking online to find an inexpensive beginner instrument. She is using the violin in her lessons and her teacher says it's great. It stays in tune and it get's a pretty nice sound (when the teacher plays it, LOL). I highly recommend this violin to someone looking for a beginner Instrument. 5/5 Violet's Grandma - See all my reviews This review is from: The Instrument Store TIS-200 Student Violin Full Size (4/4) with Ebony Fittings, Case and Bow - SAVE an EXTRA $80 During CYBER WEEK I bought this Violin for my granddaughter so she could begin taking Violin Lessons. Her teacher suggested looking online to find an inexpensive beginner instrument. She is using the violin in her lessons and her teacher says it's great. It stays in tune and it get's a pretty nice sound (when the teacher plays it, LOL). I highly recommend this violin to someone looking for a beginner Instrument. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , November 15, 2011

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  Nice stuff!

  I ordered it during thanksgiving, and it is shipped the next day, and it is delivered in 3 days, that's fast! The violin sounds great, everything is brand new, and it is such a good deal! Strongly recommended! 5/5 crazy - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: The Instrument Store TIS-200 Student Violin Full Size (4/4) with Ebony Fittings, Case and Bow - SAVE an EXTRA $80 During CYBER WEEK I ordered it during thanksgiving, and it is shipped the next day, and it is delivered in 3 days, that's fast! The violin sounds great, everything is brand new, and it is such a good deal! Strongly recommended! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , November 29, 2011

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  A better than expected instrument for the price

  I bought this violin because I have been wanting to start playing again. I played for 9 years but stopped after high school. It has been 12 years and while I still have my wonderful violin at my mom's house, I worried about shipping it here. (I live on an island in the middle of the Bering Sea right now) My violin at home has a rich beautiful sound, but is several thousand dollars, so that is to be expected.This violin is great for the price, definitely not as forgiving as I would like, but I am rusty and it is an inexpensive violin. For the price, it is better quality than what I expected and I am pleased for now.I am going to start teaching my daughter violin and have been practicing with this one for several days now. Overall I am very satisfied. 4/5 Mom to nut "Mom to nut" (remote Alaska) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: The Instrument Store TIS-200 Student Violin Full Size (4/4) with Ebony Fittings, Case and Bow - SAVE an EXTRA $80 During CYBER WEEK I bought this violin because I have been wanting to start playing again. I played for 9 years but stopped after high school. It has been 12 years and while I still have my wonderful violin at my mom's house, I worried about shipping it here. (I live on an island in the middle of the Bering Sea right now) My violin at home has a rich beautiful sound, but is several thousand dollars, so that is to be expected.This violin is great for the price, definitely not as forgiving as I would like, but I am rusty and it is an inexpensive violin. For the price, it is better quality than what I expected and I am pleased for now.I am going to start teaching my daughter violin and have been practicing with this one for several days now. Overall I am very satisfied. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 11, 2011

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  List Price: $299.99
  

  Professional setup in our NY workshop

  Genuine ebony pegs, fingerboard and chinrest with a classic brown finish.

  Solid spruce top with carved maple back and sides.

  Violin comes with a wood horsehair bow, Wittner style metal tailpiece, rosin and a violin shaped canvas covered lightweight case.

  Quality violin outfit for the beginning student. Rich tone and quality features at any entry level price.

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  Cecilio 4/4 CEVN-2NA Solid Wood Mahogany Metallic Electric/Silent Violin with Ebony Fittings in Style 2 (Full Size)

  Musical Instruments (Cecilio Musical Instruments)
  

  Rating (34 reviews):

  (4.2/5)

  

  Great Quality Instrument!!

  I have been playing violin for three years now and I felt it was time to take the plunge into the electric violin world. I was also looking for something relatively inexpensive since my main violin is on the higher end. This was the perfect choice.Sound - Try as it might, it just can't replicate the sound of an acoustic violin (which I wasn't looking for anyway). It can get pretty close though and all in all the sound is nice. The pickup is good, not the best quality but it does its job pretty well. As for being silent, it is quieter than an acoustic with a mute, but not completely silent.Construction/Look - The body is nice and solid unlike some of the cheap online instruments you can get. The finish is well done and the ebony pieces with mother of pearl inlays look rather nice. The inlays fall flush too, nothing sticking out at all. The pegs don't slip at all. The only thing I could find wrong with the construction was the bridge. It was a bit too high but... 5/5 Mike - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Cecilio 4/4 CEVN-2NA Solid Wood Mahogany Metallic Electric/Silent Violin with Ebony Fittings in Style 2 (Full Size) (Electronics) I have been playing violin for three years now and I felt it was time to take the plunge into the electric violin world. I was also looking for something relatively inexpensive since my main violin is on the higher end. This was the perfect choice.Sound - Try as it might, it just can't replicate the sound of an acoustic violin (which I wasn't looking for anyway). It can get pretty close though and all in all the sound is nice. The pickup is good, not the best quality but it does its job pretty well. As for being silent, it is quieter than an acoustic with a mute, but not completely silent.Construction/Look - The body is nice and solid unlike some of the cheap online instruments you can get. The finish is well done and the ebony pieces with mother of pearl inlays look rather nice. The inlays fall flush too, nothing sticking out at all. The pegs don't slip at all. The only thing I could find wrong with the construction was the bridge. It was a bit too high but... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , August 18, 2010

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  Totally AMAZING! But I have a question about the bridge...

  I love this violin so much, it sounds great and looks great. I'm not rating the bow. It's a typical cheap bow but it works just fine. My only issue with this thing has to do with the bridge. It is so oddly shaped... It slants upward, making the G string MUCH higher than the E. What I'm used to is a perfect arch for a bridge. The G and E are even, and the D and A are even, both slightly higher than the G and E. From what I understand, this gives a better ability to switch strings. I believe it. My acoustic violin is very easily played, perfect arch, and I love it. This electric I love also, but it's sooo hard not to hit the G string while playing the D, It just feels weird. I'm either gonna shave it down or have it replaced. Bridges only costs a few bucks, that's why I'm giving this instrument a 5 star. I do wonder though if there are any advantages to this Bridge design? Thanks in advance.As for the rest of it, totally amazing!!! It's surprising, the headphones feel really... 5/5 Jessica Hurd "Jessica Hurd" - See all my reviews, January 4, 2011

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  A high quality music instrument.

  This violin was my birthday gift. The color is great, and the quality of the voice is awesome! I have been playing Violin, guitar and one other traditional music instrument called Santoor since many years ago. This violin is one of my bests. I plugged it into my guitar mixer and it sounds well. Even if you don't have a mixer or an AMP, don't worry. The violin by itself has a very loud and clear voice.The price used to be around $400 (according to amazon!) but now you can get it for less than $180 (140 + shipping and etc). I also ordered a Violin Shoulder Rest for about $15.00 so that let me play professionally. You cannot easily find a good quality violin electric like this in the market with this range price.Overall, I am happy with it, Thank God. 5/5 Pouria - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Cecilio 4/4 CEVN-2NA Solid Wood Mahogany Metallic Electric/Silent Violin with Ebony Fittings in Style 2 (Full Size) (Electronics) This violin was my birthday gift. The color is great, and the quality of the voice is awesome! I have been playing Violin, guitar and one other traditional music instrument called Santoor since many years ago. This violin is one of my bests. I plugged it into my guitar mixer and it sounds well. Even if you don't have a mixer or an AMP, don't worry. The violin by itself has a very loud and clear voice.The price used to be around $400 (according to amazon!) but now you can get it for less than $180 (140 + shipping and etc). I also ordered a Violin Shoulder Rest for about $15.00 so that let me play professionally. You cannot easily find a good quality violin electric like this in the market with this range price.Overall, I am happy with it, Thank God. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , July 29, 2010

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  List Price: $499.99
  Price: $125.55
  You Save: $374.44 (75%)

  Hand-carved solid maple wood body with ebony fingerboard, pegs, chin rest and tailpiece with mother of pearl inlay

  Powered by a 9V Alkaline battery (included)

  Includes: lightweight hard case, Brazil wood bow with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair, quality rosin cake, a bridge, an extra set of violin strings, aux cable, and headphones

  1 Year Warranty Against Manufacturer's Defects

  Size 4/4, style 2 left-handed electric / silent violin in yellow maple metallic varnish (full size)

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  Cecilio 4/4 CVN-200 Rosewood Fitted Solid Wood Violin

  Musical Instruments (Cecilio Musical Instruments)
  

  Rating (56 reviews):

  (3.6/5)

  

  After four weeks of playing, EXCELLENT beginning violin

  This will be a moderately comprehensive review of Cecilio CVN-200 violinFirst of all my knowledge of violins is limited but I'm learning everyday. I do have a music background playing trumpet in school and piano at home with some compositions on the side. I've always wanted to learn violin and finally decided to try. 100 bucks for a violin, does it even work?I received this instrument four weeks ago and am extremely happy with it.The outfit for this is great for the price. You get everything you need to start playing and more, ie. TWO bows, TWO sets of strings, an extra bridge, a case, a shoulder rest, a simple tuner, and a cake of rosin.All of these are essential for playing the violin and you get them all. Also, the bow and strings are very delicate parts so having two in case one breaks is a huge plus for a newbie. The violin itself also comes with four micro tuners (at the bottom end of the strings) rather than just one on the e... 5/5 Cbui "CBui" (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews This review is from: Cecilio 4/4 CVN-200 Rosewood Fitted Solid Wood Violin (Electronics) This will be a moderately comprehensive review of Cecilio CVN-200 violinFirst of all my knowledge of violins is limited but I'm learning everyday. I do have a music background playing trumpet in school and piano at home with some compositions on the side. I've always wanted to learn violin and finally decided to try. 100 bucks for a violin, does it even work?I received this instrument four weeks ago and am extremely happy with it.The outfit for this is great for the price. You get everything you need to start playing and more, ie. TWO bows, TWO sets of strings, an extra bridge, a case, a shoulder rest, a simple tuner, and a cake of rosin.All of these are essential for playing the violin and you get them all. Also, the bow and strings are very delicate parts so having two in case one breaks is a huge plus for a newbie. The violin itself also comes with four micro tuners (at the bottom end of the strings) rather than just one on the e... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , January 27, 2008

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  For the price, it's great!

  I bought this violin and a CVN-100 1/10 size for my four year old son. He loves the CVN-100, and I love the CVN-200. Please remember that most instruments need a "breaking in" period. Get some peg drops and that will help with the tuning pegs.The thing that I like about this violin is it's tone. A nice beautiful sound. I'm sure that upgrading the strings would also boost it's tone, but for right now, I'm happy. The thing that is nice about this violin, aside from the great price, and tone, is the fact that I don't have to worry about my four year old son breaking a $500+ violin. Because I've been able to be so relaxed, my son has taken full responsibility for his violin. He treats it carefully, wipes it down, and really takes pride in what he has learned in his lessons. It's been a wonderful, low stress way of introducing music, and instilling self-confidence in my little boy. Thanks Cecilio.Know that if you get this violin, you need to learn how to install the... 5/5 Arthur Moore (UT, USA) - See all my reviews, December 16, 2006

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  Cecilio CVN-200 Violin is great for the money

  I recently purchased this violin and love it! Both my local music store, and my new teacher looked it over and thought I got a great deal. Being a beginner, I really have no idea if it truly sounds good or not. But, my teacher (who has been playing violin half his life) said it really does have nice sound! So, I would recommend it as a good beginner's violin. 5/5 Quilty Qelly "Kelly" (Indiana) - See all my reviews This review is from: Cecilio 4/4 CVN-200 Rosewood Fitted Solid Wood Violin (Electronics) I recently purchased this violin and love it! Both my local music store, and my new teacher looked it over and thought I got a great deal. Being a beginner, I really have no idea if it truly sounds good or not. But, my teacher (who has been playing violin half his life) said it really does have nice sound! So, I would recommend it as a good beginner's violin. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , March 4, 2007

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  List Price: $239.99
  

  Rosewood Tailpiece With 4 Fine Nickel Plated Tuners

  Natural Color Rosewood Pegs, Chin Rest, Tailpiece and Fingerboard

  One Year Warranty

  Hand-Carved Solid Maple Back & Sides

  Includes Extra Set of Strings, Rosin, Bridge and more

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  Electric Violin

  Musical Instruments (ViolinSmart)
  

  Rating (49 reviews):

  (4.0/5)

  

  A Guitarist rates it...

  OK, right from the start, for this price you don't expect an Amati in yer mailbox, yes? That being said; this thing comes SOOO close to being a very nice instrument, and if you decide that the price and rather beautiful and intrigueing design make it a "what the hell, why not?" purchase, a few extra bucks spent now will save you a lot of pain and aggrevation when it arrives. Because right out of the box this thing is a BRUTE. I've played guitar, bass and violin for 42-odd years and so brought a certain amout of hand stength and callouses to this project and notwithstanding the difficulty this instrument posed at first I played my callouses off and back on a dozen or more times while adjusting to it and deciding what it needed. I shall try to address the questions and gripes I"ve gathered from chats posted about it and the suggestions I would make. First; go ahead and order fine-tuners for all the strings - the pegs are synthetic and will slip and slip and after you've... 3/5 K. Sweigart "Baldi" (H'ville, Ala.) - See all my reviews, March 13, 2006

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  Stop second-guessing yourself and buy it.

  I was looking for a violin that would be conducive to playing live in a rock/metal band. Naturally, an electric made sense, it's a simple way to get the volume and power without having to fool around with microphones or attaching pick-ups. But I never imagined that I would find one so worthwhile for such an insignificant price. Now, if you're a classical violinist with a good bit of skill, this isn't for you, but then, if that's you, you'd probably never consider a cheapy like this in the first place and therefore, you aren't reading this, so I'll just ignore you.For everyone else: This is the mack truck of the violin world. It's heavy, reliable, and it's tone is strident and powerful. It's perfect for use in rock or old-school country fiddling. And let's face it: it just looks cool as hell. If you're planning to use this in a live performance setting, I hope your bandmates aren't the jealous type. It garners quite a bit of audience attention.All that... 5/5 Professor Murder (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Electric Violin I was looking for a violin that would be conducive to playing live in a rock/metal band. Naturally, an electric made sense, it's a simple way to get the volume and power without having to fool around with microphones or attaching pick-ups. But I never imagined that I would find one so worthwhile for such an insignificant price. Now, if you're a classical violinist with a good bit of skill, this isn't for you, but then, if that's you, you'd probably never consider a cheapy like this in the first place and therefore, you aren't reading this, so I'll just ignore you.For everyone else: This is the mack truck of the violin world. It's heavy, reliable, and it's tone is strident and powerful. It's perfect for use in rock or old-school country fiddling. And let's face it: it just looks cool as hell. If you're planning to use this in a live performance setting, I hope your bandmates aren't the jealous type. It garners quite a bit of audience attention.All that... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , May 11, 2007

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  Amazing instrument!

  This was a Christmas present, and my favourite one this year! I'm an amateur violinist, having taken lessons from the age of six till I was an adult and now I play on and off. It took a few minutes to set up the bridge and tune the strings, but once properly tuned they don't slip, and the bridge works fine for me. The violin is comfortable to play, doesn't bother my family and friends, and it's such fun playing around with the tone and volume - it sounds like a rock band at high volume, if you can stand it in the headphones... It even comes complete with a reasonable bow, rosin, a little cushion (that I haven't tried), headphones, a cord to connect to an amp, and a surprisingly nice carry case - think electric guitar style.Extremely impressive and a lot of fun - I'm amazed they can do it at this price! 5/5 Jill Walker Rettberg (Bergen, Norway) - See all my reviews This review is from: Electric Violin This was a Christmas present, and my favourite one this year! I'm an amateur violinist, having taken lessons from the age of six till I was an adult and now I play on and off. It took a few minutes to set up the bridge and tune the strings, but once properly tuned they don't slip, and the bridge works fine for me. The violin is comfortable to play, doesn't bother my family and friends, and it's such fun playing around with the tone and volume - it sounds like a rock band at high volume, if you can stand it in the headphones... It even comes complete with a reasonable bow, rosin, a little cushion (that I haven't tried), headphones, a cord to connect to an amp, and a surprisingly nice carry case - think electric guitar style.Extremely impressive and a lot of fun - I'm amazed they can do it at this price! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 25, 2006

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  List Price: $199.00
  Price: $87.00
  You Save: $112.00 (56%)

  Comes complete with Wooden Bow, Padded Gig Bag, Rosin, EarPhone, 9V Battery & Amplifier Cable

  Great for beginners

  Full Size 4/4 Electric Silent Violin

  9 Volt battery advance amplifier (Other seller might be selling the low end 3 volt amplifier using AA battery)

  Black tuning pegs, chinrest, fingerboard & tailpiece

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