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 a commission. At the same time the 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 have a return policy, in case you are not satisfied.
Another important factor in online buying is that Chinese violin making which account for a major chunk of violin sale in the international market have 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.
Select the correct violin size
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 size |
Arm Size( Inches) |
Age |
| 4/4 | 23 | 12 & above |
| 3/4 | 22 | 10-11 |
| 1/2 | 20 | 8-9 |
| 1/4 | 181/2 | 6-7 |
| 1/8 | 161/2 | 5-6 |
| 1/10 | 15 | 4-5 |
| 1/16 | 14 | 3 & below |
Beginner Violin Outfits
1) Doreli Model 79 Violin Outfit 4/4
This is one of the finest student violin available at such low price. 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
2) Josef Lazar Model 99 Violin Outfit 4/4
This stradivarius style violin has a high quality polish and sounds great. Has fully carved, ebony trimmings and Inlaid purflings. Comes with thermoplastic molded case, fiberglass horsehair bow.
Intermediate Violin Outfits
1) William Lewis & Son Orchestra Violin Outfit VI 4/4
2) Silver Creek Model 2 Violin 4/4 Outfit
3)Strunal 193W BH Concert Violin Outfit 4/4
Buying Violin Bow
Whe you buy a violin bow a good rule of thumb is to spend up to 40% of your violin price on the bow. You must 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 Bow
Glaesel GL-2213-4 4/4 Brazilwood Violin Bow