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Get the Perfect Sound With the Best Violin

Last updated: 20 Sep 2022
The violin is often referred to as one of the most beautiful-sounding and delicate orchestral instruments in classical music. It has been inspiring musicians and listeners of music for centuries, and has even made a place for itself in pretty much every genre of music today. If you’re a first-time violin-player, you probably don’t know much about which aspects of the instrument you need to pay attention to. There are a number of things you need to keep in mind before buying a violin for yourself, to make sure that it’s suitable for your level as a musician. With this guide, you’re going to be able to make an informed decision, and with this list of some of the highest-rated violins of 2022, you’ll know exactly what to look for.

Best Overall

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Eastar EVA-3 Violin Set

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Most Economical

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Cecilio CVN-300 Violin

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Most Durable

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Ricard Bunnel G2 Violin

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Best Value

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Stentor 1500 4-String Violin

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Most Professional

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SkyYVN201 Student Violin

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Show Contents
Comparing the Top-Rated Violins of 2022

Buying Guide: Violins

You need to consider a number of things to ensure that you’re not throwing your money away on the wrong type of instrument. You’ll probably have a whole bunch of questions as you come across various names, types, and categories. With this guide, you’ll have all the answers you need.

Violin Categories

Student violins

If you’re a beginner, you don’t want to spend too much money on your first violin. These kinds of violins will typically be made of lower-quality wood and involve significantly less handiwork in the construction process. These violins will include plastic parts like chinrests and tuning pegs.

Intermediate violins

These types are great for users who fall somewhere between amateur and professional. Again, these are suitable for those who have a little experience with the instrument, but aren’t looking to spend a lot of money on the instrument; they are for users who are still honing their skills.

Professional violins

If you’ve mastered the skill, you are likely to want to get your hands on the highest-quality instrument you can find. Professional or master violins are typically made of cold-drawn and slow-dried wood, are hand-crafted by a master luthier, and have a perfect finishing with components like a wooden tailpiece and an ebony fingerboard.

Things To Consider When Buying a Violin

Set up

When buying a violin, ensure that the one you’re buying is set up properly so that it’s ready to play as soon as you bring it home. A professional setup should include necessary adjustments to and inspections of the bridge, fingerboard, nut, soundpost, pegs, string adjusters, tailpiece, and chinrest. Each of these parts should be adjusted, fitted, or fine-tuned perfectly.

Size

When playing your instrument, you need to be comfortable holding it; it needs to be sized perfectly. Violins come in a variety of different sizes with a full-sized violin being listed as 4/4, and smaller ones at 1/8, 1/10, and 1/16. Consult with a professional to help you with the sizing.

Comparing the Top-Rated Violins of 2022

Eastar EVA-3 Violin Set – Best Overall

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The Eastar EVA-3 Violin Set is a revolutionary instrument among violins thanks to its innovative design, which includes muscovite-inlaid finger plates, that allow learners to easily find the right spot. This piece comes with a spruce wood panel, a maple blackboard, and side plates made of vintage varnish inlay. The neck is not painted to prevent the hands from slipping while playing.

The entire piece is handmade with a smooth surface that offers comfortable usage and grip. Even the tuning knob is carefully made of high-quality wood to give it reasonable friction. This instrument gets the top spot on this list because it is suitable for both professionals and beginners alike. 

Pros

  • Handmade of solid wood
  • Includes extra accessories
  • Very cost-effective investment

Cons

  • Only available in one size
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Cecilio CVN-300 Violin – Most Economical

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The Cecilio CVN-300 Violin is made of good-quality sprucewood for the top and a Maplewood backboard, sides, and neck. All this makes it suitable for beginner use, but not for professional players. The antique varnish finish and ebony tailpiece, chin rest, fingerboard, and pegs give it a nice final look. The nickel tuners are all detachable.

The set also comes with some strings, a tuner, a lesson book, a case, two bows, a rosin cake, a shoulder rest, and an extra bridge.

 

Pros

  • Extremely budget-friendly choice
  • Includes many accessories
  • Offers a year-long warranty

Cons

  • Pegs do not stay
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Ricard Bunnel G2 Violin – Most Durable

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The Ricard Bunnel G2 Violin is one of the highest-rated beginner violins on the market. Its superior sound quality and strong hardwood construction makes it resistant to wear and tear for regular usage. Even the fittings, fingerboard, and pegs and made to last thanks to their ebony construction. The bow utilizes horsehair, genuine mother-of-pearl, and ebony frog access for a beautifully consistent tone.

The oil-finish on this piece makes it look like a professional-grade instrument, while the weight is perfect for amateur users. It even includes a shoulder rest for comfortable usage, and it is beautifully finished.

Pros

  • Includes a humidity gauge
  • Comes fully assembled
  • Oil-finishing for a beautiful aesthetic

Cons

  • Size not suitable for younger users
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Stentor 1500 4-String Violin – Best Value

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The Stentor 1500 4-String Violin is a great and sturdy choice for beginners and intermediate users alike. The top of the violin is made of fine-grained solid spruce, the back of solid maple, the fittings of ebony, and the tailpiece adjusters of composite with in-built stabilizers. It also features a curved maple neck and excellent-quality strings.

The sound quality of this violin makes it the perfect choice for a novice learner thanks to the tonewood it’s constructed out of. The hand-crafted design and brown-polish lacquering gives it a great finishing. This instrument is a cost-effective investment and won’t disappoint.

 

Pros

  • Sturdy and durable design for beginners
  • Elegant design and beautiful finishing
  • Very cost-effective investment

Cons

  • Varnish is unevenly thick
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SkyYVN201 Student Violin – Most Professional

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This SkyYVN201 Student Violin includes one Brazilwood bow, one lightweight triangular violin case, and one high-quality rosin. The violin is professionally set up and ready to play from the get-go. It is oil-varnished with a solid spruce top and a highly-flamed maple back, neck, sides, and scroll.

The bridge is newly fitted with high-quality strings and is super lightweight with a rainproof canvas exterior and shoulder straps. It also has a sheet music pocket, as well as an accessory compartment. This is the perfect violin for someone looking for a complete set. 

Pros

  • Professionally set up and ready to play
  • Comes with accessories
  • Comes with a year-long warranty

Cons

  • Assembly and maintenance tips not included
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People Also Asked

How old does my child have to be to play the violin?

Children as young as three years of age can start learning the violin. Look for an appropriate size for the child to get them started.

How do I pick the right violin size for myself?

You have around nine violin sizes to pick from. Consult with an instructor or another professional to determine which size you should get for yourself.

When should I change the strings on my violin?

Depending on how regularly you use your violin, you should change the strings at least once every year. 

Wendy Lockwood
By Wendy Lockwood
Wendy Lockwood is a journalist based in North Carolina with over 13 years of experience covering parenting, home, kitchen, and cooking. She has two daughters, Jodie and Alexis, and a grandson on the way. When she’s not with her family, Wendy enjoys reading on her porch, cooking for her husband, Mark, and taking long walks out in nature. Even though Wendy is not much of a traveler, she loves taking trips to the ocean where she can read, walk and enjoy the sunshine.
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