Violin Recommendation for Beginner?

illogicalerror on 07/11/2025 - 11:59
Last edited 07/11/2025 - 15:07 by 1 other user

My 17y/o daughter wants to learn the violin, good for her but not good for my sanity.

I've been looking at all these instruments and have realised that I know sweet fa about violins or how to buy a good one at a great price, or even if that's possible. Some research has led me to find that the market is awash with cheap VSO's (violin shaped objects) and this is really not what she wants. It has to be a decent beginner instrument or it's just going to make everything harder for everyone.

Does someone here know about these things? I would appreciate any recommendations and advice.

Many thanks

Entertainment Musical Instrument Violin

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  • singlemalt72 on 07/11/2025 - 12:14
    +7

    New for a student violin is going to be in the $350 to $700 range, but the most important thing is to have a professional luthier who will set the bridge, nut, pegs, soundpost properly - look at a specialist string instrument shop rather than a general music shop.

    • illogicalerror on 07/11/2025 - 12:36

      I was checking out this, seemed to be a decent starter instrument

      https://firststrings.com.au/products/sonore-violin?variant=4…

      But not a "deal", probably not a deal type thing mostly

      Thoughts?

      • singlemalt72 on 07/11/2025 - 13:01
        +2

        A good beginner violin - good price for learning and if your daughter sticks with it she would likely upgrade to something intermediate in a couple of years.
        FWIW i got a very nice beginner violin for my daughter through the conservatorium she takes lessons at, another student had upgraded and I picked up a 12 month old Luthier for her for $700 (worth $2000 new)

        • illogicalerror on 07/11/2025 - 15:10

          Thanks for the confirmation, cheers

  • jv on 07/11/2025 - 12:24
    -1

    Stradivarius

    • Gunnar on 07/11/2025 - 12:56
      +1

      Came here to say the same!

      OP it also doubles as a high yield investment violin

      • jv on 07/11/2025 - 12:58
        -1

        9 out of 10 music prodigies use a Stradivarius…

  • bargaino on 07/11/2025 - 14:34
    +1

    For your sanity, an electric violin is the way to go. She can wear headphones.

    • jv on 07/11/2025 - 15:19
      -1

      😲

  • Lastchancetosee on 08/11/2025 - 17:41

    Usually people want to learn an instrument because they love the sound, so you want a good instrument. A good violin is expensive and so is a quality bow, however, there are options to rent a violin. Usually they are pretty robust and of reasonable quality, and there may be an option to buy. That way, your daughter can try it without the pressure of the family having invested in a having an expensive violin.

    My son learnt the flute through high school, and we hired and bought one after the first year. As he kept going with it to Grade 6 (AMEB), from Grade 3 we bought him a more expensive one with a gold mouthpiece.

    In SA [Size] (https://sizemusicrental.com.au/instrument-rental/instrument/…) are the go to for this.

    Not sure about interstate, but Google is your friend. You can also ask at the school or her violin teacher.

    As an aside, when we lived in France my daughter learnt the violin, and we went to a shop in Lyon where they rented old French violins - many over a hundred years old - from tiny ones to full size. As my daughter grew, we would just go down and swap up to the next size. They had a lovely timbre and were beautifully made.

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