Buy Violin

Want to buy violin?. Whether you are a beginner looking for an inexpensive student violin to learn on, a parent looking for a child violin, or an intermediate violinist looking for a better violin, it's important that you buy a violin that is appropriate for your needs. Below are the most popular violins for various price ranges and skill levels.

Is it better to buy violin online than from a recommendation by your local violin teacher?. Many a time it is. Many violin teachers get referrals from music stores for guiding a student to buy a particular violin which usually is marked up in price. Some teachers even refuse to go to violin stores which do not offer then a commission. At the same time, a violin teacher cannot be expected to know everything about the value or condition of an instrument as a teacher is good in teaching and may lack luthier skills. Online purchase of the same instrument will always be less expensive since the cost of storing or warehousing is not to be added to the instrument price tag. And online violin sale always has a return policy, in case you are not satisfied.

Another notable factor in online buying is that Chinese violin making which accounts for a major chunk of violin sale in the international market has improved greatly in the past three to four years. Due to improved workmanship coupled with low-cost labor and the availability of high-quality wood, there are ample quantity of excellent Chinese violins and violas available in the US and other international markets.

Old violins and antique violins vs New violins

Old violins and antique violins are generally heavy priced that they cannot be afforded by an average violinist. When you compare antiques and similar items that are new, the price is determined by the availability and desirability. In other words, an old authentic 18th century violin, would be highly expensive than a new violin made by a luthier who is currently alive even if its tonal quality is at par with the older violin. Jascha Heifetz, the legendary 20th century violinist is reported to have conducted extensive tests comparing hand made old violins with relatively cheaper modern violins. He concluded that many modern violins are as good as - may be sometimes better than - an old violin.

How to select the correct violin size?. Hold the violin under your chin. If you can cup your left hand around the tip of the scroll such that your left arm is not stretching and also not straight, then the violin size is right for you. As a guide line the following table gives you the violin size based on arm length. The arm length is the length measured from your neck to the wrist when the arms are held perpendicular to the body.

Violin size can also be selected approximately based on age of violinist as shown in column 3. But arm length would be a more accurate measure.

Violin price

Like any other product, the quality and workmanship of a violin also depend on the money that you spend on the instrument. The more the violin price, the better the parts like the bridge, pegs, bow, the varnish and such. Again, inexpensive violins do not fall apart. Rather, it is all about the quality of sound. You get a better sound quality in a higher priced violin.

Then why do we care for these inexpensive violins? The reason is to provide starter instruments for students who really cannot afford to spend more than 400-500$ as the violin price. We need to find a balance between good, expensive instruments, which may not be affordable by many beginner violinists and perfectly playable instruments, which are not that expensive, buy every penny worth the money the student spends. These are a list of some of the good quality violins available online and which are tough to beat in that price range.

Beginner Violin Outfits

1) Florea Recital II Violin Outfit 4/4 size.
Nice violin for any one with a tight budget. Comes with a Brazilwood bow. Has very good reviews.

Florea Recital II Violin Outfit 4/4 Size

                                     2)  Florea Persoana Violin Outfit
                                        Florea Persoana Violin Outfit 4/4 Size

Bellafina Model 50 violin outfit 4/4

3) Bellafina Model 50 Violin Outfit 4/4 size.
Also has very good reviews.

4) Doreli Model 79 Violin Outfit 4/4
     Doreli Model 79 Violin Outfit 4/4

Has a solid spruce top with maple back and sides and ebony trim. Comes set up. Dorelli includes U.S. strings, rosin, lightweight case, upgraded horsehair/wood bow, rosin, and 4-tuner tailpiece.

5)   Josef Lazar Model 99 Violin outfit 4/4
      Josef Lazar Model 99 Violin Outfit 4/4

Specifics includes Inlaid purfling, Sensitive strings, thermoplastic case with aluminum valance, Glasser horsehair bow, maple bridge.

Beginner to Intermediate Violin Outfits

1) Silver Creek SC3EL Acoustic-Electric Violin Amber Brown 4/4 with Soft Case
       Silver Creek SC3EL Acoustic-Electric Violin Amber Brown 4/4 with Soft Case


2)  Silver Creek Model 2 Violin 4/4 Outfit
     Silver Creek Model 2 Violin 4/4 Outfit

This is certainly the top-quality violin outfit among all the listed in this page, and if you can afford it, is very worth the price tag. Crafted in Europe and set up in US, the Silver Creek Model 2 Violin Outfit is fitted with D'Addario Pro-Arté strings, comes in a lightweight case which can hold two bows.



3)  Karl Wilhelm Model 22 Violin (Instrument Only) 4/4
    Karl Willhelm Model 22 Violin (Instrument Only) 4/4

Buying Violin Bow

When you buy a violin bow, a good rule of thumb is to spend up to 40% of your violin price on the bow. You have to look for an unwarped bow. Pernambuco bows are the best followed by brazilwood bows. Carbon fibre bows are another excellent choice. You may have to pay more than double the price of a carbon fibre violin bow for the same quality brazilwood bow.

Here are two excellent violin bows which are suited for the above violins.

Glasser Violin Horsehair BowGlaesel

GL-2213-4 4/4 Brazilwood Violin Bow