Understanding Violin Cost: 3 Things You Need to Know About a Violin’s Price

Congratulations! You’ve decided to play the violin. Maybe you’re a beginner, or perhaps you’re looking to take your study to the next level. Either way, you’re probably in the market for a new instrument. There are many factors involved in choosing a violin. But one of the biggest is violin cost.

Violin prices can range from $100 to $1,000 to $10,000 and beyond. Why is there such a difference? What do you need to know to find the best violin for your budget and musicianship level? Dolce Violins is here to help.

There are three main questions that violin makers and sellers use to determine violin prices:

• Who made the violin?
• Where was the violin made?
• What are the violin’s condition and quality?

We’ll explore these questions for five different price points: cheap beginner violins, good beginner violins, intermediate violins, advanced violins, and antique violins. When you understand the violin price components, it is much easier to determine the right instrument for your musicianship level.

Cheap Beginner Violins: $100 – $495

Who made the violin? These violins are made using machines and unskilled labor. They are cranked out by the thousands, with little attention to quality.

Where was the violin made? All of the violins in this price point come from factories, usually based in China.

What are the violin’s condition and quality? These violins are constructed from greenwood, which has not been properly aged. When combined with a synthetic, sprayed-on lacquer, it is a recipe for disaster.

Expect a violin of this level to literally come apart at the seams and develop cracks as the wood dries out. The neck may even fall out! Because they are mass-produced, these violins often have thin, shrill tones. They lack a proper setup, making them actually much harder for a beginner to play.

If this violin price point is the only one that you can afford, don’t despair! Many violin shops offer a rent-to-own program, enabling a beginning student on a budget a very affordable avenue to start playing the violin.

If the beginning musician is a child or petite, you may also be able to save money with a fractional violin. To determine the right violin size, you need to consider the player’s arm length compared to the violin’s neck. Fractional violins are usually not intended to be long-term instruments; instead, they are traded in as a child grows.

If you’re unsure whether you need a full-size or fractional violin, make an appointment with Dolce Violins for a free sizing assessment, available in person or over Zoom.