Best Violin Brands: Affordable Options for Every Skill Level

As an iconic symbol of classical music, it is not surprising that Violins can also be one the most expensive instruments out there. The best violin brands, such as Stradivarius and Edgar Russ can fetch tens of thousands. Some famous violins, especially those that have been handed down for centuries are worth millions at private auction.

For the common player, there are some very good brands out there that won’t cost the earth. These brands have made use of modern techniques to bring a level of quality that remains consistent and affordable.

Stentor

Website: stentor-music.com

The Stentor Music Company is known across the world as a leading student violin manufacturer. Founded originally in 1895, its original owner, Edward Chapman Doughty, took its name from a legendary Greek herald. For a long time, they specialized in sheet music and strings, before finally turning their attention to violins. These days they turn out a large volume of very playable student violins, distributed globally.

They offer a range of 12 Violins including 6 students and 6 advanced styles. All of their instruments are carved from solid tonewoods and are carefully tested and optimized by technicians. Their instruments include the two ‘Conservatoire’ models which feature carved flamed maple back and neck with an ebony fingerboard. There is also the ‘Graduate’ range which features a beautiful satin finish for a vintage look. The more advanced Violins come under the ‘Arcadia’, ‘Amati’, and ‘Elysia’ names, the very upper end named Messina and Verona. Often the difference between the advanced and the student range come down to the excellent quality bows that come with each instrument.

Cremona

Website: cremonaviolins.com

Based in San Francisco, Cremona Fine Violins takes its name from the famous violin making town in Italy, where violins have been made since the 16th century. Founded in the 1960s it was the first major producer of violins in the western US. The current luthier, Jose Cruz has been making violins since the early 1990s, having begun his apprenticeship with the company's previous owner, Nash Mondragon. The caliber of the instruments they produce are of such high quality that it’s surprising they produce lower-priced student violins.

There’s a large range of student violins available from Cremona. Each uses high-quality wood and takes every care to ensure the instruments are of the highest quality. They offer them in 1/2, 3/4, and 4/4 sizes and have factories in the major violin making countries around the world.

Cecilio

Website: thececilio.com

Though a relatively young brand, Cecilio have made a name for themselves as creators and distributors of quality student instruments. Based in California, they specialize in Woodwind and Brass, as well as all manner of stringed instruments. Their Violins, Violas, and Cellos are hand-crafted using traditional techniques ensuring each instrument is held to the highest of standards. As specialists in student instruments, they offer violins all sizes, from the standard 4/4 size to the smallest 1/32, so even the youngest players can get their hands on one.

Each model comes with hand-carved solid tonewoods and superbly integrated tuners. Its most inexpensive model, the CVN 100, features a spruce top and maple fittings, including a maple fingerboard and tuning pegs. The high-end model, the CVN-600 features a one-piece flamed solid maple body, which has been aged for a minimum of seven years.

Yamaha

Website: usa.yamaha.com

Renowned multinational, multi-discipline corporation Yamaha are known well for their electronics, sports equipment, and engineering. It may surprise you to know that they are also the world’s largest manufacturer of musical instruments. Their pianos can be found in orchestras across the globe, so it won’t surprise you to find out that they also supply a world-class range of violins.

With such a focus on mass production, it is tempting to believe that the quality of Yamaha instruments will suffer in turn. But actually, Yamaha have ensured that their instruments have followed tried and tested methods of production. The materials are carefully selected and seasoned to give an optimum, versatile tone. There is a wide spectrum of styles available, from the beginners through to expensive concert violins to some innovative designs for electric violins. The very highest violins can fetch tens of thousands.

D Z Strad

Website: dzstrad.com

D Z Strad, based in the heart of New York City have fast become one of the most globally recognized brands of quality intermediate to advanced violins. Unlike some of the other manufacturers on this list, they deal exclusively in Violins, Violas, Cellos and Double Basses. Offering and restoring also some of the high-end antique violins, which can fetch up to $150,000, their makers have a masterful knowledge of what goes into a quality instrument. It should be exciting to those on a budget to know that the instrument they buy comes from such an authority on violin making.

As well as their high-end range, they offer exclusive budget range models. These include their most basic model, the D Z Strad Model 100, crafted with high-quality aged tonewoods, and yet is one of the most affordable quality violins on the market. There is also the gorgeous 220 model, which not only looks like an antique violin but has a mellow, round tone that is simply divine.

Editor's Choice

Each of these violin makers competes hard to try and bring quality at an affordable cost. Features and materials tend to be quite similar, so really a lot of the work goes into the construction. In my case, I would choose the D Z Strad. Their team of violin makers are masters in their field who consistently bring quality construction to each instrument.