Can you suggest a good quality violin that costs less than $500?

Question:I am looking to purchase a new violin for my sister, who has played now for 2 years. She will need a full-sized violin (4/4) that is of good quality in terms of craftsmanship and sound. Online I have found an Eastman but am unfamiliar with the brand. Any suggestions? Thank you very much.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I am looking to purchase a new violin for my sister, who has played now for 2 years. She will need a full-sized violin (4/4) that is of good quality in terms of craftsmanship and sound. Online I have found an Eastman but am unfamiliar with the brand. Any suggestions? Thank you very much.

I am a violinist and have taught violin for 17 years. If your budget is $500 you should be able to get a decent student violin, and you may want to consider a used instrument. I highly recommend Williams Gengakki Violins in Atlanta, GA. In addition to your standard type of violin collection that you would expect from a violin dealer, they also specialize in obtaining the best quality instruments available from unknown or little known makers. They select the instruments because of their quality of construction and excellent sound, but the prices are lower due to the fact that the makers are not well-known names. Therefore, you get a higher quality instrument for your limited budget. I had a student purchase a viola and bow from them a while ago that sounded like an instrument three times the price. I believe they will probably send instruments on request. Their website is: http://www.wgvi.com/

p.s. I don't really care for the Klaus Mueller Etude violin.

This seems like it will be a good violin for your sister.
http://www.sharmusic.com/moreinfogroup.a...

there is no such thing as a good quality violin for under $500. Under $5000 would be an incredible find.

While you certainly won't find a new violin under $500 that would be professional quality, you can find a few decent student-grade beginner instruments at that price point. I've not had a chance to play any Eastman violins but I've heard good things about them.

I disagree with bassmeister-D whether you can find a good quality violin for less than $5,000. I think it depends on what kind of music you play and what you're looking for in an instrument. I play Southern old-time fiddle (think: square dance music), and I bought a really nice fiddle about 4 years ago from my local violin shop. Its a used instrument, made in the 1920's in the Collin-Mezzin workshop in Paris, France. I love it. Its a beautiful dark chocolate brown with a dark, sweet, rich tone to match. It may not have the sound that a classical violinist would necessarily choose but for the folk music that I play, it sounds wonderful. Everyone who sees and hears this fiddle is impressed with it. I paid $1,500 with a case.

It just seems to me that classical violinists are taught from an early age that you have to spend thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars to get a worthwhile instrument. And maybe you do, if you're a professional classical musician whose professional reputation depends on playing the "right" violin from the "right" maker. But for a student who's only been playing for 2 years, you certainly don't need to spend that much for a good instrument.

As far as buying a violin for your sister is concerned, while I applaud your generosity, I think the best thing for you to do would be to take her to a reputable local violin shop, and let her try out the available instruments in the price range you can afford (used as well as new), and let her make her own choice as to which instrument she likes best. Choosing a violin is such an individual decision based on the player's unique playing style and musical taste, that I think the only way to be sure your sister gets a violin she will really be happy with is to let her pick it out herself.

See:

http://beststudentviolins.com/violins.ht...

The first one is a little more than that, but there are some on that page in that price range, especially the Klaus Mueller Etude Deluxe Violin Outfit..