Best Violas
This viola includes a lightweight form fitting hard, a Brazilwood bow with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair, rosin, and a bridge making this package a great deal for beginners. Includes: lightweight hard case, a Brazilwood bow with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair, rosin, and bridge.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Seldom will instrument be shipped with the bridge and strings on. To add more friction, usually a rosin dust is applied to pegs or holes."
"For less than $100, you get a nice looking playable viola with a bow, 2 sets of strings, rosin, and a sturdy case. I'd recommend a set of D'Addario Prelude strings for much better sound and playability."
"I'm a violinist and was interested in playing viola and so I looked to this as an option to have one for my own to play on during the summer, as I am glad I got it for such a price, I am disappointed that the bow bends backwards when tightening to the point where I had to check if I received a baroque bow of some sort."
"Great viola, I really like the look and the sound is great, I just wish it came with a better rossin, mine broke into pieces as soon as I opened it for the first time."
"Our daughter literally cried when she oped the box!"
"Amazing quality and awesome sound!"
"Was nervous buying without seeing it in person."
This viola includes a lightweight form fitting hard, a Brazilwood bow with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair, rosin, and a bridge making this package a great deal for beginners. Includes: lightweight hard case, a Brazilwood bow with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair, rosin, and bridge.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Seldom will instrument be shipped with the bridge and strings on. To add more friction, usually a rosin dust is applied to pegs or holes."
"For less than $100, you get a nice looking playable viola with a bow, 2 sets of strings, rosin, and a sturdy case. I'd recommend a set of D'Addario Prelude strings for much better sound and playability."
"I'm a violinist and was interested in playing viola and so I looked to this as an option to have one for my own to play on during the summer, as I am glad I got it for such a price, I am disappointed that the bow bends backwards when tightening to the point where I had to check if I received a baroque bow of some sort."
"Great viola, I really like the look and the sound is great, I just wish it came with a better rossin, mine broke into pieces as soon as I opened it for the first time."
"Our daughter literally cried when she oped the box!"
"Amazing quality and awesome sound!"
"Was nervous buying without seeing it in person."
Viola package includes Cecilio chromatic tuner with metronome, a lightweight form fitting hard shell case with pockets and strap (making it convenient to carry to school or orchestra), a Brazil wood bow with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair, quality rosin cake, and a bridge. Includes: Cecilio chromatic tuner, a lightweight hard case, a Brazilwood bow with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair, quality rosin cake, and a bridge.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"He has progressed decently as a beginner student and I'm glad we decided to buy instead of renting!"
"Had it tuned and sound is really good for the price of this."
"Nice, complete set, good quality for the price, including the bow."
"Love this instrument."
"Perfect for 10 year old even though teacher recommended one notch smaller."
"Thank you is all I need to say."
"Great student viola package."
"Amazing viola, it took a bit longer Than I thought but I think it has amazing quality for an intermediate student."
Best Acoustic Violas
This viola includes a lightweight form fitting hard, a Brazilwood bow with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair, rosin, and a bridge making this package a great deal for beginners. Includes: lightweight hard case, a Brazilwood bow with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair, rosin, and bridge.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Seldom will instrument be shipped with the bridge and strings on. To add more friction, usually a rosin dust is applied to pegs or holes."
"For less than $100, you get a nice looking playable viola with a bow, 2 sets of strings, rosin, and a sturdy case. I'd recommend a set of D'Addario Prelude strings for much better sound and playability."
"I'm a violinist and was interested in playing viola and so I looked to this as an option to have one for my own to play on during the summer, as I am glad I got it for such a price, I am disappointed that the bow bends backwards when tightening to the point where I had to check if I received a baroque bow of some sort."
"Great viola, I really like the look and the sound is great, I just wish it came with a better rossin, mine broke into pieces as soon as I opened it for the first time."
"Our daughter literally cried when she oped the box!"
"Amazing quality and awesome sound!"
"Was nervous buying without seeing it in person."
Best Electric Violas
4 String Solid-body electric viola with Polar pickup system, dual mode preamp. Solid Maple Body and neck with figured maple top.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"NS Design CR4 Violin and CR4 Viola. I had been reluctant to buy such an expensive electric violin... in a world where for the same money one could get a stellar first rate premium signature edition electric guitar. I heard of people stringing violins for viola tuning (CGDA instead of GDAE) and was fascinated with the idea. I ordered a C string and strung it on the end of my FV3 and ran the other strings over a slot, leaving the E string off when I got to the end. I loved the viola tuning, but couldn't find a C string that sounded quite right with the other strings. Usually one has to toss that the strings that come with these things, But NS Design used what sound like premium steel chrome wound strings. I had complained of the WAV4 being stiff and inflexible... not giving much of a sense for player `feel', but the CR4, at least the Viola (I haven't played the CR4 Violin but imagine it is quite similar in all regards), seemed to have flexibility... that when using some strength and force in modulating the strings, the violin actually bends in a bit... a great perception of playability and control... a rewarding `feel' to the instrument. Well, my Fender FV3 Violin measures from the nut to the bridge for a string length of 12 7/8 inches, while my Viola measures 14 1/4. Anyway, after having played both Viola and Violin, and not to sound condescending, but the Viola seems more fit for men, while the violin seems better suited for the smaller hands of boys and girls. Oh, and as far as trading the Violin's high E String for the Viola's low C String ( violins are tuned to GDAE while violas are tuned down to CGDA ), while occasionally the lilting and ethereal E string has its valued uses, particularly when clustered together with other violins in concert, still in most cases that really piercing high string is used only because it is there, and the results are shrill and often clash with the other instrumentation. Bands are often afraid of including an Electric Violin, and only because they fear those wildly high E Strings stabbing into their brains by way of the ears. The Viola, however, with that C String on the low end, can reach some real bassy lows, and one can still finger far enough down on the high end A string to suggest the musical mood and intensity of Going High without actually going so high as to be positively annoying."
Best Violins
Enjoy the most for your money with the Bunnel Premier Clearance Violin Outfit complete with all the essentials. We purchase each violin directly from the maker - a rare business practice that lowers our cost so we can pass the savings to you. We guarantee that the quality and sound of your violin will be far superior to any other instrument at this price point. The Kennedy Violins Difference has garnered the highest ratings on Amazon for any string instrument retailer! • Real Mongolian horse hair produces a smooth, clear, full tone. • Oblong case with straps, music pocket, accessory compartments & YKK zippers. Final assembly and setup performed by Kennedy Violins' professional luthiers in Washington State.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Based on function, sound quality and value, this is a great instrument. The wood is quality, with a very good sound, and a nice responsive tone. The German violin was bought at a flea market for $65 and I actually assumed it was not a good instrument and bought the Fiddlerman and Cecilio without even having the German model assessed by a luthier (would have cost $150 and I did not think I would get a good result). If you play very well or if you have outgrown your Bunnel or Cecilio and want a violin you can keep for years, but are still on a budget, get the Fiddlerman Apprentice. If you're a good player and on a budget, get this Bunnel and a new bow and strings and you won't need to get another violin for maybe three years. It's not great, but it is very, very good and you'll be pressed to find a violin that will play better if you are a violinist with less than five years of playing. Or if you are in that five year or under category and have more than $200 and less than $500 to spend, get the Apprentice and spend money on a better bow and better strings."
"However, many of the reviews would lead you to believe that this violin would sound and play like a much more expensive violin. She has a much more expensive violin that she has been playing regularly but the hassle of carrying it to and from school everyday and the potential for damage led us to look for a second violin for school orchestra so she could keep her regular violin at home for practice and only take it out for concerts and a more advanced orchestra in which she plays on weekends. This Bunnel violin is to be that second violin."
"On Amazon, I looked at both “Kennedy Bunnel Basic Clearance Violin” and the “Bunnel G2 Violin Outfit”. If you are looking for a violin that has a great sound and don't mind some cosmetic issues, the Bunnel Basic is a fantastic deal.” I took their advice and bought the Bunnel Basic Clearance Violin. ), YouTube videos to begin learning the basics of playing, and I just had my second violin lesson with my violin teacher last night."
"He was bragging about it after he gets back from school about how he feel special for having a nicer violin than most of the kids."
Best Cellos
Hard-shell case features an adjustable backpack straps, two bow holders, compartments for accessories, large zippered pocket on the back exterior for music sheets. The following accessories are also included: a Brazil wood bow with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair, cello stand, rosin cake, and an extra set of cello strings. Size 4/4 (Full Size) high-luster varnish cello with inlaid purfling.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But the smile she got when she realized she would not have to share her 3/4 soze instrument that breaks down easy for this full sized one bright a see to her face."
"The quality of the instrument itself is quite good for the price."
"Beautiful instrument."
"only the strings are very basic."
"Great for student the cello is sound good but I give 3 stars because I had to replaced all stings it snap all when I tuned it the stings comes with it is useless and be careful with the fine tune knob, one broke on my when I was tuning."
"This was a gift --- the recipient was VERY happy."
"I purchased the cello for my 14 year old for christmas."
"Although the packaging was fine, the cello was cracked."
Best Harps
Baby Harp TM, 12 Strings (Item Code: HPBY) This functioning harp has an engraved sheesham frame with a birch soundboard. Featuring 12 DuPont hard nylon strings with a range from F above Middle C to High C. Easy to play simple songs with note range of F4 to C6.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great harp."
"My neighbor and I got this harp for his daughter Harper's sixth birthday and she loves it."
"Very nice instrument, great starter."
"My mother loved this as a Christmas present!"
"would by again from seller ..product was perfect..and beautiful..."
"Waiting for beginners book to arrive."
Best Upright Basses
French style, rosewood frog, wood stick bow with genuine horsehair. Lightweight case with Plush lining. Free: Well-Padded carrying case .Extra Set of Strings; Music Stand; Metro Tuner;Rosin;Mute.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The instrument was very professionally packed and everything arrived safely with no visible damage."