There are a few well-known violin brands that you should avoid if you want to get the best sound quality possible. Some of these brands are known for their low-quality violins, which can ruin your playing experience. Deciding on which brand to buy is quite hectic and confusing. This article seeks to guide you on the 5 brands of violin you should avoid and the criteria which this list was based on
1. Mendini MV300 violin
Teachers frequently discourage students from using this brand due to misplaced bridges and tuning difficulties. It is designed to be tough, and it is made of maple both front and back.
Users have lodged numerous complaints about its misplaced bridge, which appears to be too high for beginners. As a result, the sound quality produced is reduced and unpleasant.
Some teachers also disagree that this model is appropriate for welcoming new students. The bridge and pegs are also too loose, which means it will need to be tuned frequently. For violinists, this can be exhausting. Beginners are usually uncomfortable with tuning, so it necessitates constant maintenance.
Warranty
It comes with a one-year warranty. The violin is a piece of musical equipment that is expected to last a long time. A one-year warranty is insufficient and unsuitable.
That means that after one year (for an instrument with an average expected lifespan of 35 years), it cannot be returned or repaired by the manufacturer. Their customer service is decent at best.
2. Eastar Violin (EVA-3)
Poor quality strings out of the box, resulting in a poor quality sound. It is worth noting that the majority of its models are ideal for beginning students because they are made of spruce and maple and have a high quality finish.
The Eastar EVA-3 simply does not live up to its hype. Despite the fact that it is made of high-quality wood, it employs low-quality strings that appear to be made of plastic rather than hair. This makes a terrible sound, which may discourage beginners from learning to play. It is important to note that the strings should be made of horsehair or nylon hair.
Furthermore, the bridge does not fit properly into the violin and requires assembly, which is not ideal for a beginner. Because the pegs are loose, students will need to find someone to tune the violin for them on a regular basis.
Warranty
There’s no warranty. This is the height of it. This is not encouraging at the very least.
3. Crescent Starter Violin
The violins have the appearance of hobby toys rather than professional instruments meant to be learned. The crescent starter violin sacrificed design and beauty in favor of quality.
Its pegs are displaced. Crescent violins are designed and built to appear high-end and expensive. Instead, they are inexpensive and do not produce as good a sound as you might expect.
They are ideal for violin hobbyists and children who want to try it out without the intention of becoming serious and committing to it. However, some of its models are suitable for beginners.
All of its models have mixed customer reviews that do not seem to validate the violin’s effectiveness. The main complaint is that the pegs are also displaced and loose, implying that the violin will need to be tuned frequently. It is not recommended by violin teachers and will not meet your quality requirements if you want to pursue a long-term career as a violinist.
Warranty
It has a 30 days warranty and their customer service in some cases is fair.
4. ADM Violin
This also has tuning issues and a rather unpleasant sound, which frustrates violin teachers. ADM manufactures entry-level violins for students and those who want to practice as a hobby. They are well-known for creating beautiful violin models that are available in a variety of sizes and colors.
Unfortunately, the majority of the design budget is spent on making the violin look nice, which is unfortunate for beginners who want to show off a nice-looking violin.
However, the disadvantage of this type of violin is that it does not sound particularly good. The sound is erratic, and these inaccuracies lead many students to believe that the violin cannot be properly tuned. Many teachers do not recommend it, and it is prone to chipping, scratching, and breaking due to its low-quality construction.
Warranty
It comes with a one-year warranty. Not great, but adequate in comparison to others. Their customer service is completely unsatisfactory. Even if the instrument arrived damaged, they will not accept returns.
Many customers had to deal with them on a regular basis and pay for shipping when returning a damaged instrument. Their company policy and customer service need serious reformation.
5. Windsor MI-1008
The strings are regularly displaced, making tuning the instrument difficult. It is also very easy to chip or damage, and it will not last very long. Tuning is difficult; you must tune it as you play.
Violinists who bought it expressed their dissatisfaction with the poor tuning, the loose string that snaps, the low quality materials that break over time, and the resonance sound, which is completely off.
There are a couple of reasons why you should avoid this company. The main reason for this is that it produces cheap-looking violins that are extremely difficult to play. The instrument appears to be under constant stress, with the strings lacking in durability and sturdiness.
Warranty
1-year warranty. And a fair customer service but needs improving.
What to look out for when you go shopping for a violin
1) Ensure that the parts are not made of plastics. Plastics do not stand the test of time. They wear off with time and produce very low quality sound.
2) Ensure that the fingerboard is made of ebony.
3) Body made of composite wood should be avoided. Plastics and composite wood are the same thing. You should be absolutely sure that the violin’s body is made of solid wood.
4) Avoid very low priced Chinese violins. Some Chinese companies produce very low quality products at enticing prices. Make no mistake to purchase them
5) Nylon bow hairs or real horse hairs are ideal. Do not settle for less.
Final Thought on Violin Brands to Avoid
There are a few violin brands that you should avoid at all costs. We’ve outlined the 5 biggest offenders in this post, but there may be other brands out there that are just as bad or worse. If you’re looking for a quality violin do your research before making a purchase. When it comes to violins, you definitely get what you pay for. Avoiding these 5 brands will help ensure that you don’t end up with a subpar instrument and hours of frustration trying to fix it.
