I’ve been teaching violin for over 20 years now, and I’ve seen a lot of different violins over the years, some good and some bad. If you’re here looking for the best violin under $1000, you’ve come to the right place, and you’re being realistic with the budget you need for a good violin.
I always tell students, you get what you pay for. If you can only afford the cheapest violin, that’s fine, and that’s what you should get. But, if you can spend a little more, you’ll usually get a violin that sounds better, stays in tune more, and is easier to play.
Quick Look: Best Violins Under $1,000
★ #1 Best Violin Under $1000 (Overall): DZ Strad 365 ★
- Best Beginner Violin Under $1,000: DZ Strad 100
- Best Intermediate Violin Under $1,000: Cremona SV-500 Premier
- Best Violin Under $1,000 for Professionals: DZ Strad 365
- Best Violin Under $1,000 for Kids: Cremona SV-500
Let me help you sort through some of the options you’ll have when looking for the best violin for your budget. Whether you’re a beginner, an intermediate, or even a professional, you can find a good violin when you’re on a tight budget.
Are There Good Violins Under $1000?
Yes, definitely! You can definitely find a good violin if you’re willing to pay up to $1000. You won’t even have to pay that much to find a good violin that fits your needs.
If you’re a beginner, you can look for much less than that. If you’re looking for the best professional violin under $1000, there will be at least one on my list that suits your needs.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Violin Under 1000
If you’re worried about your budget, be sure to consider what else is included. Do you need a case, bow, and shoulder rest? Perhaps you already have those things and just want a violin.
Level of Experience
You’ll want to know what level of violin you’re looking for, based mostly how long you’ve been playing and how serious you are about the violin.
Beginner Violins Under 1000
If you’re new to the violin, you’ll want a beginner violin, which will cost $150 to $400. They’re best for beginners because they’re an entry-level instrument and will come in smaller sizes for younger players.
Intermediate Violins Under 1000
If you’ve been playing for a few years, it’s probably time to upgrade to an intermediate violin. Intermediate violins usually cost between $450 and $2000, but you can definitely find something under $1000 that will suit all your needs.
Pro Violins Under 1000
Normally I wouldn’t recommend trying to get a professional violin under $1000, but sometimes people are on a very tight budget, or perhaps you’re looking for a second violin to play outside or use for teaching.
Size
Since people tend to start playing violin at a young age, there are a variety of sizes. The full size violin is called 4/4, and that’s usually the size for people by around age 13.
As the fraction gets smaller, so does the violin. You’ll see 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, 1/16, and 1/32 as options, and those can be suited for children as young as 3 or 4 years old.
The Overall Tone & Sound
You want to have a nice sound that’s loud, ringing and clear, something that sounds good both under your ear as you play and also from farther away. Violins always sound a little different to the player than they do to the listener, which means it’s always good to get a second opinion.
Price
This list has violins that range from under $200 to close to $1000, so there should be something for everyone. I’ll tell you which violins are best for whom, and the pros and cons of each violin.
10 Best Violins Under $1000 Overall
1. DZ Strad 365
- Size: 4/4, 7/8, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 sizes
- What’s included: Case, bow, rosin, and shoulder rest
- Material & finish: Boxwood fittings, ebony fingerboard, reddish brown finish
- Best for: This is the highest quality violin on my list, so professionals or high level intermediates, any style.
The DZ Strad 365 is a great violin, with a nice warm sound, easy playability, and an even tone. You’ll find it well set up and easy to play. This violin will take you to the next level.
✅ Variety of sizes
✅ Beautiful finish
✅ Includes 7/8 size which can be hard to find
✅ Hand crafted
❌ Could be hard to tune
❌ Maybe too fancy for some players
Why I Recommend It
I’m tempted to purchase this violin myself to use for outdoor weddings. I love the look of it and the price is right. It’s easy to play and has a lovely round tone.
2. Cremona Premier Artist Violin
- Size: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 4/4
- What’s included: Deluxe brazilwood bow, lightweight oblong foam case
- Material & finish: Reddish-brown finish, flamed maple, ebony fittings
- Best for: Beginners and intermediate players
The Cremona Premier is a great violin for the price. It’s set up by hand at an accredited workshop, and it’s well reviewed by various strings magazines for its easy playability and great sound.
✅ Set up by hand
✅ Easy to play
✅ Easy to tune
✅ Comes with a lightweight case
❌ Not as many sizes as some others
❌ Case doesn’t have a hard handle
Why I Recommend It
I love this violin for students. You can’t go wrong with it if you’re a beginner, and it’s a good choice for intermediates as well.
3. Cremona SV-1400 Maestro Soloist Violin
- Size: 4/4
- What’s included: Bow and case
- Material & finish: Boxwood fittings, ebony fingerboard, reddish brown finish
- Best for: Intermediate or professionals
Cremona SV-1400 is another higher end instrument that could be used by a professional or a good intermediate student. It will be set up by hand and easy to play, and will sound beautiful.
✅ Boxwood chinrest
✅ Clear and focused sound
✅ Lightweight case
✅ One-piece back
❌ Limited sizes
❌ Could be harder to tune without 4 fine tuners
Why I Recommend It
The Cremona SV-1400 is a beautifully crafted violin with great attention to detail in its appearance. This would be a fantastic violin for an intermediate violinist or a nice violin for a professional.
4. DZ Strad 101
- Size: 1/16, 1/10, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 4/4
- What’s included: Case, bow, and rosin
- Material & finish: Plastic or ebony fittings, orange-red appearance
- Best for: Great for beginners
The DZ Strad 101 is a great choice for beginners, especially for younger players. It’s okay for budget-minded intermediates as well.
✅ Lots of smaller sizes
✅ Easy to play
✅ Easy to tune
✅ Rich tone
❌ Really best for beginners only
❌ Not as attractive as some
Why I Recommend It
I picked this violin because it’s a fantastic low-end beginner model. If you’re just starting out, you can’t go wrong with this one.
5. Louis Carpini G3
- Size: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 4/4
- What’s included: Case, bow, extra strings, rosin, luggage tag
- Material & finish: Hand-oiled top, ebony fittings
- Best for: Good for intermediate violinists
The Louis Carpini G3 is a great intermediate violin! It comes with several extra accessories you don’t get everywhere, such as an extra set of strings, and it will arrive well set up and ready to play.
✅ Extra set of strings
✅ Good quality case
✅ Set up by hand
✅ Easy to tune
❌ Not too many size choices
❌ Case may be heavy
Why I Recommend It
This is one of the best intermediate violins on the list, and it looks like a good deal. It’ll be well set up and easy to play.
6. DZ Strad 220
- Size: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 4/4
- What’s included: Case, strings, bow, shoulder rest, and rosin
- Material & finish: Hand-varnished yellow-brown finish
- Best for: Good for intermediate to professional players
This is another great DZ Strad violin for intermediates and maybe professionals. The DZ Strad 220 is set up for more advanced players and doesn’t have four fine tuners.
✅ Great sound
✅ Easy to play
✅ Set up by hand
✅ Finish is hand-oiled so no two are alike
❌ Could be hard to tune
❌ Some reviewers say the shoulder rest is missing
Why I Recommend It
The reviewers say it’s easy to play and sounds great. I agree! You can’t go wrong with DZ Strad.
7. Bunnel Premier Violin
- Size: 1/16, 1/10, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 4/4
- What’s included: Case, bow, shoulder rest, music book, strings, clip-on tuner, rosin
- Material & finish: Ebony and plastic fittings, reddish-orange finish
- Best for: Great for beginners, especially those teaching themselves
The Bunnel Premier is a good package for the price. You get a lot of accessories and extra stuff with this package that you don’t ordinarily get.
✅ Good craftsmanship
✅ Lots of features and accessories
✅ Easy to play
✅ Good case
❌ Some complained about the tuning being difficult
❌ Not as artistic looking as some
Why I Recommend It
This is another good value beginner violin, and it’s one of the cheapest on my list. I don’t always recommend particularly inexpensive violins, because the violin is just a hard instrument to make sound good for cheap.
8. Mendini MV 500
- Size: 1/2, 3/4, 4/4
- What’s included: Case, rosin, 2 bows, shoulder rest, extra strings
- Material & finish: Cark wood, one piece back
- Best for: Beginners, good for fiddling
The one caveat here is that you’ll have to set the bridge up yourself. If you can do that, this Mendini MV 500 is a true bargain.
✅ Beautiful one-piece back
✅ Decent sound, especially in the lower positions
✅ Comes with extra set of strings
✅ Comes with two bows
❌ Doesn’t arrive set up
❌ Could be hard to tune
Why I Recommend It
It’s hard to leave this one off, even though it could be hard to set up. This violin is a real bargain, and the reviewers say they still consider it a good deal, even with a few setup difficulties.
9. Louis Carpini G2
- Size: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 4/4
- What’s included: Case, bow, rosin, extra set of strings, cloth
- Material & finish: High grade ebony, built in tuners, reddish brown varnish
- Best for: Intermediate level players
The Louis Carpini G2 has a sensitive and rich sound. You’ll be happy with the look, sound, and feel of this one.
✅ Professional setup
✅ Beautiful finish
✅ Rich, full sound
✅ Good craftsmanship
❌ Bow is not made to be rehaired
❌ Doesn’t have a huge variety of sizes
Why I Recommend It
I picked this one because the sound is so nice for the price. It’s well set up and easy to play.
10. Antonio Giuliani Etude Violin
- Size: 1/2, 3/4, 4/4
- What’s included: Case, rosin, bow, tuner, cloth, strings, shoulder rest, music book
- Material & finish: Solid maple and spruce, ebony fittings, reddish-brown finish
- Best for: Great for beginners
This is a more introductory instrument made by Kennedy Violins, who make the Carpini G2 and G3 as well. Antonio Giuliani Etude is their most budget minded one, but it’s still quite excellent.
✅ Well set up
✅ Comes with many accessories
✅ Beautiful and glossy finish
✅ Sounds good and clear
❌ May be hard to tune
❌ Limited sizing
Why I Recommend It
This is a great violin for the money. Many of the reviewers said it was a big step up from their cheaper beginning violins.
Best Brands for Violins Under $1000
Some brands are better than others mostly due to the setup and quality of the craftsmanship. Some have more qualified luthiers working for them, and others are more factory oriented and simply send out what is made without setting it up well.
DZ Strad
DZ Strad is consistently one of my favorite online brands. They provide a consistent and quality product, and their violins are always good for the price point.
Kennedy Violins
This company is located in Washington State, and it makes the Carpini and Giuliani models, among others. They’re well made and well set up, and the company provides good customer service.
Cremona
They don’t always have the best reviews on Amazon, but they have great reviews in various magazines. I think Cremona is worth looking at for the best violins for beginners and some intermediates as well.
What Comes with Violins Under $1000?
You’ll usually get some accessories with your violin. Some are more common while others are more rare.
Violin Bow
You’ll need a violin bow, and it’s nice when one is included. It might not be the highest quality, but it’s usually at a similar level to the instrument and often a good fit.
Violin Case
You’ll need a place to store your violin and a way to take it places.
Strings
You’ll always have a set already on the violin, but some outfits include a spare set. Strings break, and they don’t last forever, so you’ll need them.
Rosin
You need rosin to put on your bow in order to play.
Shoulder Rest
The shoulder rest goes between your violin and your shoulder, and this can be a personal choice.
Extras
You might also find a string tube, a cleaning cloth, straps, music books, etc. These things can be bought separately.
Violin Build and Materials
Wood
Violins are usually made with spruce and maple, with ebony or boxwood for other parts.
Finish
Some finishes are darker and others lighter, and the more beautiful ones are done by hand.
The Bow
You’ll want a bow that’s well balanced and comfortable to hold. Usually a leather grip and real horsehair are best.
What Are the Best Violins Under $1000?
DZ Strad 365: Best for Professionals
This is just a great, well-rounded violin for higher level playing. It has a beautiful round sound and a gorgeous handmade finish.
Cremona SV-500 Premier: Best for Intermediates
It’s well set up and easy to play. What more does an intermediate player want?
DZ Strad 100: Best for Beginners
This is the best entry model DZ Strad, which is my favorite company.
Where Are the Best Violins Under 1000 Made?
Many of these violins are made in China, but many of the companies are from the US. I wouldn’t worry about where they’re made and instead focus on the quality and the customer service.
What Is the Best Sounding Violin Under $1000?
I’d say the DZ Strad 365.
Where to Buy Violins Under $1000
If you buy online, just always be sure to check the return policy and the reviews. A warranty is a good thing too because when you’re making an expensive online purchase you want to make sure you’re covered.
Amazon
Amazon has great options for violins. You can usually get free shipping and read a bunch of questions and reviews.
Online Music Retailers
Fiddlershop, Sweetwater, Guitarcenter and Shar Music are all excellent online retailers. Make sure no matter where you look that the retailer is reputable and has a good return/exchange policy.
Your Local Music Store
If you live in an area that has a local music store, that’s the best place to buy a violin, as you can play them right there and don’t have to worry about shipping. But if you don’t live near a good store, the internet is wonderful.
Review This Post
Table of Contents
- Are There Good Violins Under $1000?
- Things to Consider When Choosing a Violin Under 1000
- 10 Best Violins Under $1000 Overall
- Best Brands for Violins Under $1000
- What Comes with Violins Under $1000?
- Violin Build and Materials
- What Are the Best Violins Under $1000?
- Where Are the Best Violins Under 1000 Made?
- What Is the Best Sounding Violin Under $1000?
- Where to Buy Violins Under $1000
- In Conclusion
In Conclusion
No matter what type of violinist you are, there’s a perfect violin out there for you. I hope you find my list helpful no matter what level or type of violinist you are.
As you can see, there are plenty of great violins you’ll see in the quest to find the best violin under $1000. I hope I narrowed down the search enough for you.
If you have questions or comments, please let me know, and if you found this helpful, please share it with your friends.