I am thinking about starting the violin and I am unsure of a good model to purchase.

I don't have alot of money to spare and also do not want to spent alot incase I don't like the violin or don't stay with it long.

I have noticed that the most recommended seems to be the Stentor Student II violin or the Prima 200 violin. Both are around £100 to buy and I can't really afford anymore.

Has anyone used these? Would you recomend either one of them?

Many thanks

Quincy

You could have a look at Elidatrading's profile and from there find her website. She sells affordable beginner instruments, and I am just one of her satisfied customers on this forum (albeit I bought a slightly more expensive violin).

Alternatively you could start, like I did, on an Antoni violin (available at £60 from Tesco Online), but bear in mind it's worth spending an additional 20quid to put some decent strings on it (e.g. Dominants) as that will improve its sound no end. The Antoni I started on was purchased by my sister for £35 on e-bay - there seems to be quite a market for violins tried once and then sold on, so this may reduce the risk of your initial outlay.

Cheers

Katyjay

Yeah I have looked at her website and I really like the violins there andI would love one. However the cheapest is like £150. I'm not sure if I can afford that.

What about the Stentor? Is it any good?

I'm sorry, I've never tried a Stentor so I don't know. Liz does sell some sub-£100 instruments, though - they're Chinese ones.

Contact her anyway, she may be able to help. Younger son's violin came from her and I spent well under £100.

I have read both good and bad press about the Stentor II. Most press I've read says it's the optimum and most recommended student violin by teachers and suits up to grade 5-6.

But on the other hand, I read somewhere that it is Chinese made and doesn't sound all that good. So I really don't know!

Quincy, I don't know if it's up to date, but if you click on the "grand violin sale" in Liz's website, it contains Elida Student instruments for £40, or 3 types of Strunal from £110 - £125. I am another Liz fan, and having experienced a Stentor Cello, I doubt the Stentor violin will be much better than Liz's student instruments, and very possibly not as good. Also if you then do decide to upgrade (for instance) to a Gliga Gems II later, you can put the £60 saved towards the purchase price. If you give Liz a ring, you will find her extremely frank - if she thinks her student instruments are not as good as a Stentor she will tell you.

Hello!

I used to play a stentor - it was my first violin. It was ok. Nothing special and a bit screechy. Liz's instruments are much nicer - especially when you consider that she will send you an instrument in good condition, with nice strings on it already - you won't get this with a stentor and by the time you upgrade your strings, you will have saved practically nothing, but lost quite a lot in my opinon.

Have a chat to Liz and see what she can do for you.

Allan

Both are adequate beginner violins (and a lot better than most of the rubbish I used to teach on!). I'd say the Prima 200 sounds better but there is always some variation between batches.

I can't make any comment on the rest of the points in this thread since the new forum moderator is taking the rules very seriously indeed.

Liz



That is very true and there are plenty of us here able and willing to advise ebay - buyers.

Liz

Just my two cents - I have a Gliga viola from Liz and it's gorgeous. She is very honest and helpful, I'm sure it'd be worth ringing her up and seeing what she recommends in your price range.

I got mine from DJM Music online for just under £50. It has been great so far. Had no problems whatsoever. It is an Antoni one... it's here

I got my baudilaire violin from e bay for £45 and i've had no problem with that.

Did it come bridge up? That is a point well worth thinking about - shipping bridge down means that the chances of the soundpost collapsing in transit go up through the roof.

Liz

I have a Stentor student II and it has taken me to grade 4 easily, and then i just had a new set of higher quality strings put on when i started grade 5 stuff.

Just out of curiosity... which strings did you change to?

Hi Quncey!

If you're not sure you'll take to it, I would recommend hiring a violin for the first quarter at least. Then you don't have to invest large amounts in something you're not sure about and will not have to sell off an unwanted instrument if you decide it's not for you.

It's honestly not economic to hire a violin - you can get a beginner's one so cheaply.

Liz

I'd like to re-iterate what Sarah-flute said about her Gliga. I've now successfully recommended them to four of my students who are all now completely and unquestionably in love with their instruments. One of them showed his to a professional violinist who said it would be good enough for a good orchestra. That's recommendation indeed. I suppose one could take the view that Liz advertises her violins here but she's selling a very reasonably priced excellent product, and I've certainly not seen better instruments at that price range. And I've seen a lot, believe me!

Violinia