If you've read part 1 of this series of posts then you're about ready to buy your first violin. You just need to choose which one!
There are 4 brands I usually recommend to my students - Primavera, Stentor, Westbury and Hidersine. Both Primavera and Stentor make a budget beginner violin outfit as standard with the option to progressively pay more for each upgrade. Hidersine and Westbury tend to make violins in the higher price bracket.
As with most things in life, the more you pay the better the quality but don't let that put you off! At any stage, the recommendations I make to students are based on their ability level, age and budget. Some students prefer to spend more initially and less in the long run whilst some like to upgrade in stages. The majority of my students opt for a Primavera 100 and upgrade to £250-£350 violin outfit at Grade 4 standard. At this stage there is also the option of buying a violin and bow separately with some moving away from music shop violins and visit a specialist violin dealer in search of a more expensive antique instrument. This is the approach I suggest to all Grade 6+ students as the instruments are of a much higher quality and capable of coping with what is demanded of them for the upper grades.
All of the violins list below are widely available online and in music shops. All violin outfits come complete with violin, bow and case. All prices on this post are taken from the JG Windows website and are correct as of 18 June 2018. JG Windows is a music shop based in Newcastle Central Arcade and the Metrocentre.
For the next blog post in this series I'll be suggesting ways in which you can improve the sound of your violin outfit and begin upgrading if you are of Grade 4+ standard.
£100 - £150
Primavera 100 Violin Outfit £109.99
Stentor Student I Violin Outfit £124.99
Primavera 200 Violin Outfit £137.97
£150 - £200
Stentor Student II Violin Outfit £159.99 (full size £169.99)
Primavera Loreato Violin Outfit £189.97
£200 - £250
Stentor Graduate Violin Outfit £204.97
Westbury Violin Outfit £229.97
Stentor Conservatoire Violin Outfit £269.97
£250 - £300
Hidersine Piacenza Violin Outfit £299.97
£300 - £350
Hidersine Veracini Violin Outfit £349.97