Dolce Violins

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.

Good Beginner Violins: $550 – $1350

Who made the violin? Violins at this price point are handmade by modern craftsmen.

Where was the violin made? Most of these instruments come from reputable Chinese workshops.

What are the violin’s condition and quality? These violins are made with tonewoods that have been aged for a minimum of 10 years. They will be hand-carved with solid spruce tops, lightly flamed maple backs, sides, and neck, and a hand-applied spirit varnish. These instruments have a pleasing tone that the Dolce Violins shop setup will make easy to play and enjoy.

Intermediate Student Violins: $1,350 – $3,000

Who made the violin? These violins are handmade by respected modern craftsmen.

Where was the violin made? Most of the violins in this price point are made by the best workshops of China and Romania. These workshops are similar to the violin-making traditions of Mirecourt, France, and Markneukirchen, Germany.

What are the violin’s condition and quality? These instruments are made using higher quality tonewood that has been aged for longer, typically ten years or more. You can expect a top of European spruce with a highly flamed maple back, neck, and sides at the higher end of this price point. These violins have rounder tones, capable of more nuance and color.

We recommend the Snow violin SV 400 and the Eastman Violin Wilhelm Klier for a great intermediate student violin. Below are some of our favorite Intermediate violins

Advanced Student Violins: $3,000 – $7,000

Who made the violin? These violins were handmade by craftsmen from the early twentieth century. The instrument’s cost reflects its European heritage and antique status.

Where was the violin made? Most violins in this price point come from workshops in France, Germany, or Czechoslovakia.

What are the violin’s condition and quality? Age gives these instruments a uniquely beautiful tone quality; however, you want to avoid antique instruments with cracks or overworn varnish.
At Dolce Violins, we carefully inspect every instrument and make adjustments where necessary.

Playing a violin over 100 years old has a different quality than playing a new violin. When you make music on an instrument that’s been played by many people over its lifetime, you are also making history. We expect quality vintage violins from Europe to have a mellow, round sound and an expressive range.

These instruments are perfect for an advanced violin student playing in youth orchestras or an adult playing chamber music with friends. Have a look at our selection of affordable antique violins.

Antique Violins from Master Makers and Apprentices: $7,000 – $15,500

Who made the violin? These violins come from well-known luthiers and are made with high-quality craftsmanship. Some famous names included in this category are Ernst Heinrich Roth, Heinrich Theodor Heberlein jr, Neuner and Hornsteiner, George Aparut, Leon Mougenot, Didier Nicolas, Paul Blanchard, H. Derazey, and many more.

Where was the violin made? Most of the instruments in this price range are from respected French and German workshops.

What are the violin’s condition and quality? These violins represent an affordable combination of age, craftsmanship, and tone quality for a serious college student, a non-professional adult, or a second instrument for a professional violinist. They speak quickly and respond well in all dynamic ranges. One should be able to play high up the fingerboard on all strings and make a pleasing sound.

Now that you have explored the different price points, you have to ask yourself one final question before you buy your instrument:

Who is selling the violin?

There is a big difference between purchasing your violin secondhand off eBay, ordering a factory-made model from Amazon, and buying from your local violin store. While you may find a cheaper violin online, you assume a fair amount of risk. As we’ve seen, cheaper instruments often have lower levels of quality, playability, and durability.

The importance of working with a violin shop cannot be understated; only a qualified luthier can set up your violin correctly. At Dolce Violins, the luthiers on staff go over each instrument to perfect the setup and perform any necessary repairs in the case of antique violins. Dolce Violins owner, Moses Sedler, also inspects and play-tests each instrument.

Violin Cost: Key Takeaways

There’s a violin for every player and budget. When you’re purchasing an instrument, be sure to carefully review its pedigree and condition. But remember, the sound of the violin should be the most important consideration.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to Dolce Violins for help. Our qualified professionals can help you unlock an instrument’s best tone. With this knowledge, you’ll find your perfect violin at the ideal price for your budget.

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