10 Best Violins 2024 in the US

The violin is one of the most popular instruments in today's world even though it was invented over four hundred years ago. The violin has been incorporated in many genres throughout histories, such as baroque, romanticism, classical, opera, jazz, pop, and many many more. Musicians train for years to play the violin and often start from the early ages of four years old. The violin is an instrument that requires great commitment, strength and determination to master, however, it is regarded so highly that those who are masters are admired and respected for their craft.

We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting a violin. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of violin,

• See useful tips about that type of violin,

• Select the right brand of violin,

• Find accessories you may need for your violin.

Types of Violins:

• Whole size violin:

  • This is the size of a violin that is generally played by adults and those with average length arms.

  • The whole size violin is recommended for musicians from the age of eleven to adulthood.

• Half-size violin:

  • A half-size violin is generally slightly smaller than a whole size violin, measuring at 20.5” whilst the whole size violin is 23.5”.

  • The half-size violin is recommended for musicians from the age of seven to nine years old.

• Quarter-size violin:

  • The quarter-size violin is even smaller than the half size violin and measures at 18”.

  • The quarter-size violin is recommended for musicians from the age of five to seven years old.

• Fractional violins:

  • 1/32nd Violin:

    • The 1/32nd violin measures at under 14” and is recommended for children below the age of three.

    • It is better to get a cardboard 1/32nd violin as it is more durable under the ministrations of a small child.

  • 1/16th Violin:

    • The 1/16th violin is for children from three to five years and measures at 14”.

  • 1/10th Violin:

    • The 1/10th violin is for children from four to five and measures at 15”.

  • 1/8th Violin:

    • The 1/8th violin is for children from four to six years old and measures at 16.5”.

Items that Can be Used with Violin:

• Violin Case:

  • This is a specially designed case to store your violin in and transport it and any accessories safely.

• Violin Bag:

  • This is a specially designed bag to store your violin in and transport it that is not as heavy as a violin case but it is softer and can’t prevent damage from rough handling.

• Violin Bow:

  • A violin bow is used to play melodies on the violin by dragging it across the strings whilst pressing down on certain notes.

• Chin Rests:

  • The chin rest is where the violinists rest their chin when playing the violin and holding it in the proper position.

• Pedals:

  • Pedals are machines that one can plug into an amplifier that the violin is plugged into to add certain effects such as reverb, distortion and many others.

• Pickups and Preamps:

  • Pickups and preamps are little receivers that you can attach to your violin and connect to an amplifier in order to amplify the sound.

• Rosin:

  • Rosin comes is blocks and can be rubbed on the strings of the violin or on the bow to increase grip and by doing so increasing vibration and providing a better tone.

• Shoulder Rests:

  • Shoulder rests are attached to the back of the lower bout and are used to make playing more comfortable as it allows you to rest the violin on your shoulder.

• Violin Stand:

  • This is a specially designed stand for you to place your violin on when you are not playing or when you don't need to place it in a case.

• Violin Strings:

  • After a lot of playing, strings tend to break and it is therefore wise to purchase and keep spare strings handy for any emergencies.

• Violin Tailpieces:

  • Different tailpieces can be purchased for different decorative properties.

• Violin Tuning Pegs:

  • Violin tuning pegs can be purchased for a different aesthetic or in case one peg breaks.

• Violin Bridge:

  • Different violin bridges can be bought for different tones and sounds.

• Violin Polish:

  • This is a special polish for the wood of the violin that strengthens the wood as well as keep is clean and shiny for performances.

• Polishing Cloth:

  • This is a cloth that you use to keep your guitar clean and pristine with no smudges or dust on it.

• Violin Tuner:

  • This is a small device that you clip to your violin and use to help you tune your strings to the appropriate pitch

• Violin Mute:

  • The purpose of a violin mute is to dampen the sound of the violin and can be attached to the bridge of the violin.

Tips for Consumers:

• What is Stradivarius?

  • Antonio Stradivari was a builder of violins in the 18th century and ensured that all his instruments were of the highest quality by handcrafting them. Today the use of his name refers to instruments of only the highest quality.

• Difference between beginner, intermediate and professional violins:

  • Beginner Violins:

    • Student violins are the cheapest type of violins and are made of more affordable wood and plastic parts such as tuning pegs and chin rest.

• • Intermediate Violins:

    • Intermediate violins are the middle point between beginner and professional violins. They are better quality than beginner violins but do not cost thousands of dollars like professionals.

• • Professional Violins:

    • Professional violins are handcrafted by professional luthiers and made from cold grown and slow dried wood. Not only that but professional violins are made with ebony fingerboards and a wooden tailpiece.

• Parts of the violin:

• • Tailpiece:

    • The tailpiece is a piece of wood that connects the fine tuners and chin rest.

  • Fine Tuners:

    • Fine tuners are small tuning pegs that violinists use to make minute changes to the tuning of their violins that they would not be able to make with the regular tuning pegs.

  • F-Holes:

    • F-holes are the cutouts of the violin in the middle bout that allows for vibrations to travel throughout the instruments and increase the strength of said vibrations.

  • Bridge:

    • The bridge is a small piece of wood that the violinist places under the strings to add further tension to strings and get a better tone.

• • Fingerboard:

    • The fingerboard refers to the places where the violinist would place their fingers on the strings on the neck of the violin to play certain notes and chords.

  • Tuning Pegs:

    • Tuning pegs are used by a violinist when they need to make a larger change in the tuning than what can be made with the fine tuners.

  • Scroll:

    • This is the curved top of the violin at the end of the neck of the violin that is mainly there for ornamentation.

  • Neck:

    • The neck of the violin is the long thin piece of wood that connects the body and the scroll.

  • Upper Bout:

    • The upper bout of the violin is the 3rd portion of the body of the violin that connects to the violin's neck.

    • The beginning of the neck is located on the upper bout of the violin.

  • Middle Bout:

    • The middle bout is the slightly thinner part of the violin’s body that is between the upper and lower bout.

    • The bridge is located in the middle bout of the violin.

  • Lower Bout:

    • The lower bout is the lowest part of the violin’s body that is connected to the middle bout.

    • The fine tuners and the chin rest are located on the lower bout.

  • Chin Rest:

    • The chin rest is where the violinists rest their chin when playing the violin and holding it in the proper position.

Different Brands of Violins:

• Stentor:

  • Stentor was founded and began manufacturing musical instruments in 1895. Stentor believes that every child and adult should have music involved in their life and in their development with the instrument still being of good quality and sound. Stentor headquarters are currently located in Surrey, England.

• Cremona:

  • Cremona violins are made by a company known as GCV Violins that was founded in 1989 and is internationally recognized as a respected manufacturer of violins of superior quality. They currently offer a wide range of violins from beginner to professional as well as a variety of bows. GCV Violins headquarters can be found in  Guangzhou, China.

• Cecilio:

  • Mendini is one of Cecilio’s subsidiaries and makes a wide variety of orchestral instruments for instrumentalists all around the globe alongside their parent company. They aim to inspire musical talent through quality and talent. They are currently located in Rancho Cucamonga, California.