The violin has been around for centuries, originating from an instrument that was played by shepherds during the Middle Ages. The violin is one of the most popular string instruments in history, with its popularity spanning across different cultures.
This article is going to help educate you on what violin brands are worth purchasing so you can have a more informed decision on whether or not you should buy a cheap violin.
If you’re looking to buy a violin for a beginner or a student, then you’ll appreciate that it can be found for an incredibly reasonable price. The best cheap violins on the market today are cheap in terms of both cost and quality.
They’re not going to win any competitions, but these instruments can still help you learn how to play. In fact, many experts agree that it’s better to start with a cheap violin because those instruments don’t require as much upkeep as those from more expensive brands.
Table of Contents
Buying Guide
In the following article, we will be discussing how to choose the best cheap violins on the market. In this article, we will be discussing what factors to take into consideration when making a purchase.
There are many types of violins on the market at different price ranges. The reason for this is the different make-ups of each violin. So, what are the factors that you should be looking for when buying violins? Factors include how it is made, the materials used in creating it, its overall quality, and how it sounds.
1. Materials Used
The materials used are what give the instruments character, tone, and quality. The price of each material will determine how much they are worth. The most expensive materials are usually hardwoods because they are more durable, stronger, and have a rich tone. Some violins are made with synthetic materials which are cheaper but can be brittle. A violin made of solid wood will usually be more expensive than the synthetic one.
2. Overall Quality
Buying a cheap violin is a good way to get a high-quality instrument, but you have to make sure it is not made of poor-quality materials. A cheap violin can really hurt your playing style because of how it’s constructed, the materials used, and the sound it produces. If you are looking for a cheap violin with an intriguing appearance, then there is no need to go out and spend money on an expensive one just because it is considered “cheap” in price.
3. Sound
It is important to find a violin that sounds great. Once you find the violin you like, make sure to listen to it play before you buy it. If the violin sound that is produced does not fit your playing style then take it back and go look for another instrument. The sound should be well-balanced and perfect for every occasion. Buying a cheap violin does not mean that it will be inferior in sound simply because of its price; just make sure it is quality and has an appealing sound.
5 Best Cheap Violins Under $100
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Eastar EVA-330 4/4 Violin Set Full-Size Fiddle for Students Kids Adults with Hard Case, Shoulder Rest, Rosin, Two Bows, Clip-on Tuner, and Extra Strings
- 🎻The Eastar EVA-330 4/4 full size violin is made of spruce wood panels, maple backboards and side plates. It is cut from a complete piece of wood...
- 🎻High-quality raw materials: maple-neck and date-wood-tail, aluminum-in-wire and four fine-tuning screws, wood-tuning knobs
- 🎻EVA-330 is totally a handmade instrument, inlaid edge line, not a drawing line. Inlaid edge violin line, in the process of slow aging of the...
- 🎻With two bow of Brasilia wood, the bow is the unbleached Mongolian horse of the primary color. And the two bows are used alternately to prolong...
- 🎻The package includes: Eastar EVA-330 4/4 violin x 1, Mongolian horse hair bow x 2, rosin x 1, wooden shoulder bracket x 1, violin bridge x 1,...
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Easter Violin is a full-size violin for students, kids, and adults with a hard case, shoulder rest, rosin, two bows, and a clip-on tuner. The Easter EVA-330 4/4 Violin Set comes with everything you need to get started minus the extra strings.
Pros :
- High quality and durable
- Best value for the price
- Comes with a hard case, shoulder rest, rosin, two bows, clip-on tuner and extra strings!
Cons :
- No sound until it’s cranked up
- Additional strings are not included
- Lacks resonance
2. Eastar 4/4 Violin Set Full-Size Violins for adults，EVA-2 Fiddle for Beginners Kids Students with Hard Case, Rosin, Shoulder Rest, Bow, and Extra Strings (Imprinted Finger Guide on Fingerboard)
- The Eastar EVA-2 4/4 quarter violin is made of spruce wood panel, maple back board and side plate with inlaid in antique varnish. This is primary...
- Maple wood neck, pear-wood finger board, date wood chin rest and tail nail, aluminum alloy strain plate and four integrated fine-tuning tuners.
- The whole violin is made entirely by hand, the black line is embedded, the surface is smooth, the vertical line with the high-grade violin is...
- The tuning knob is made of high-quality wood , the coefficient of friction is appropriate, it is easy to tune, and it is not easy to be out of tune...
- The package contains : Eastar EVA-2 4/4 Violin x1, Mongolian horse hair bow x1, Rosin x1, Shoulder rest x1, Violin bridge x2, Additional violin string...
Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Easter 4/4 Violin Set is a good choice for those who are just starting out or for those that do not have a lot of money to spend on strings. It has four real gut strings, which are made from the best quality, and two synthetic ones. It also comes with a bow and chinrest included.
Pros :
- made of durable wood
- easier for beginners to find the correct position
- easy to tune
Cons :
- It doesn’t have a high F#
- The sound of the instrument is mediocre in general, with flat tones and less projection
Thumbs up for Eastar 4/4 Violin Set!
3. Eastar 4/4 Full-Size Violin Set Matte Fiddle for Kids Beginners Students Adults with Hard Case, Rosin, Shoulder Rest, Bow, Tuner and Extra Strings (Imprinted Finger Guide on Fingerboard)，EVA-3
- The Eastar EVA-3 4/4 violin is made of spruce wood panel, maple back board and side plate with inlaid in antique varnish. This is primary practitioner...
- Maple wood neck, pear-wood finger board, date wood chin rest and tail nail, aluminum alloy strain plate and four integrated fine-tuning tuners.
- The whole violin is made entirely by hand, the black line is embedded, the surface is smooth, the vertical line with the high-grade violin is...
- The tuning knob is made of high-quality wood , the coefficient of friction is appropriate, it is easy to tune, and it is not easy to be out of tune...
- The package contain: Eastar EVA-3 4/4 Violin x1, Mongolian horse hair bow x1, Rosin x1, Shoulder rest x1, Violin bridge x2, Tuner x1, Additional...
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Easter 4/4 Full-Size Violin Set Matte Fiddle for Kids Beginners Students Adults with Hard Case, Rosin, Shoulder Rest, Bow, Tuner and Extra Strings (Imprinted Finger Guide on Fingerboard) is a great instrument for beginners.
Pros :
- Packaged with a great deal of accessories (including rosin and a tuner)
- Excellent quality for the price
- Colorful and eye catching
Cons :
- The sound is not as good as other Eastar violins
- You may find there is a little wobble in the string
- It has an overall light tone which becomes more apparent when learning to play certain pieces of music.
4. SKY 4/4 Full-Size SKYVN201 Solid Maple Wood Violin with Lightweight Case, Brazilwood Bow, Shoulder Rest, String, Rosin, and Mute
- Beautiful 4/4 SKYVN201 student violin perfectly made for beginning Violin player.
- Professionally set up and ready to play.
- Package comes complete with 1 Brazil wood bow, 1 lightweight triangular violin case and 1 high quality rosin.
- Beautiful oil varnished, solid spruce top and solid highly flamed maple back, sides, neck and scroll.
- 1 year warranty against manufacturer defects.
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
SKY 4/4 Full-Size SKYVN201 Solid Maple Wood Violin with Lightweight Case, Brazilwood Bow, Shoulder Rest, String, Rosin, and Mute. Violins are one of the most popular musical instruments in the world.
Pros :
- The violin delivers a good, rich sound that is perfect for beginners.
- Has a shoulder rest, string with Rosin and Mute included in the package.
- Preassembled in the case which is lightweight and has plush lining for extra protection.
Cons :
- It is possible that the neck might warp
- The bow strings are not of high quality
- The sound is not as good as other violins
5. SKY(Paititi) 1/4 Size SKYVN102 Student Violin with Lightweight Case, Brazilwood Bow, Shoulder Rest, String, Rosin, and Mute
- Beautiful 1/4 SKYVN201(PTTVN101) student violin package that comes complete with 1 Brazil wood bow, 1 lightweight triangular violin case and 1 high...
- Professionally set up and ready to play.
- Package comes complete with 1 Brazil wood bow, 1 lightweight triangular violin case and 1 high quality shoulder rest.
- Beautiful oil varnished, solid spruce top and highly flamed maple back, sides, neck and scroll.
- 1 year warranty against manufacturer defects. Actual violin may look lighter than pictures.
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The SKY(Paititi) 1/4 Size SKYVN102 Student Violin with Lightweight Case, Brazilwood Bow, Shoulder Rest, String, Rosin, and Mute has many features to make it the perfect place to start playing.
Pros :
- Lots of great features
- Lightweight for transporting
- Nice design
- Easy to play
Cons :
- The case is not the same color as the bow (not a big deal).
Conclusion :
All in all, the best cheap violins on the market are the Yamaha C5 Concert, which is under $100. The next cheapest out of these three is the Suzuki GM310E Violin for $83. Granted that they are all different kinds of instruments, they are all fairly comparable to each other in terms of price and quality.