Features:

  • 4/4 (Full Size) Acoustic & Electric Violin
  • Hand-carved solid spruce top, solid maple back & sides with volume and tone control
  • Ebony pegs, chin rest and fingerboard, tailpiece with 4 nickel plated fine tuners
  • Includes: Brazilwood bow with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair, Lightweight foam fitting hard case, Adjustable shoulder rest with soft foam padding with soft rubber feet, Violin bridge, High quality rosin, and an AUX cable
  • 1 year warranty against manufacturer's defects
From a professional - Exactly what I needed!!

About 10 years ago I discovered a need for being amplified at outdoor weddings and when playing with my husband's jazz band. I started off with a Schatten system on an old German violin. But the sound quality required an expensive preamp, or it sounded too shrill. We never were able to get rid of a hum sound coming through our PA. After the preamp died after a couple of years, we tried other direct boxes, but got a very shrill sound. Next I moved on to a small condenser mic purchased on Amazon for about $8. Better, but the sound quality was still lacking. After a lot of frustration, I thought a electric violin might be the answer. I selected the Cecilio Acoustic Electric for a couple of reasons. As a classical player, I'm used to having the instrument under my ear so I can hear myself. Also I felt that for weddings, the look was a little classier. I just crossed my fingers and hoped for a decent sound through our PA. We tested the violin the day that it arrived. No preamp is required for this instrument and it sounds FABULOUS through the PA! No shrill sounds, no hum, no feedback. Just played the first gig with the jazz band last weekend and my husband agreed that this was the best sound we've gotten out of all the things we've tried. I only wish I had this instrument 10 years ago. The instrument by itself (as an acoustic) is a student-quality instrument. On reading the other reviews about "doesn't stay in tune," I wasn't too concerned. Violin pegs have to be pushed in while turning so they will hold. This is how all violins have been tuned for hundreds of years. I immediately changed the inexpensive steel strings it came with for Thomastik Dominants - Gives a more mellow sound and are easier on the fingers. As for the other items (bow, case, shoulder rest), I haven't really used any of them since I have a bow, case, and shoulder rest I prefer. Bow that came with it seems to be lightweight, but okay. I prefer a heavier bow.

Tremendous value, looks great, sounds great.

40 years playing guitar, complete newbie to the violin. First, the instrument looks beautiful and comes with everything you need safe and sound in it's own case. It's completely set up and ready to tune and play. The white has a subtle sparkle to it that I really like. It does smell like paint upon opening but that will dissipate, albeit slowly, very slowly. It is very loud unplugged and sounds like itself when plugged into an amp. I had no trouble getting it to produce distinguishable notes using the bow, rosin and strings that it comes with. Yes, the back of the neck is unpainted but that is how it's supposed to be. I replaced 2 of the 4 strings with D'Addario preludes when I accidentally broke them by using the wrong peg for the wrong string and I actually prefer the sound of the stock strings, they seem more articulate. I've had no trouble tuning it and it keeps it's tune for a few days at a time, although I always tune any of my stringed instruments before playing them. Before changing anything, whether bow, strings, rosin or shoulder rest, take a look at Fiddlerman's "109 dollar violin test" on youtube where he takes it out of the box, tunes it very quickly, and plays with everything it comes with. It's the same violin as this one in black without the electronics. It sounds fantastic when he plays it and he is quite impressed and he is also quite impressive. The only thing I've had to add to this outfit is a mute because it's so loud it was hurting my left ear. I would also recommend a snark clipon tuner if you don't already have one. I play with the tuner clipped behind the scroll which makes it easier to know where to put your finger when you are starting out. I am so pleased with this brand that I have also ordered their viola outfit as well.

I Love It

I love it. Bridge came on it already which was awesome. Rosin was NOT cracked thank God. It was weird seeing it was red. But it works fine. I had to move the G string to the right a little because the bridge was too low and it was making the G string loose. But besides that. I really like it. The case is beautiful and the Pegs are staying in place. The fine tuners on all the strings are really helpful. Strings are cheap But I'm only a beginner so I'm fine with that. The Tone and volume nobs work fine, I can hear the difference when I turn the tone nob up and down. I really like to acoustic feel with the option to amplify. The chest rest thing seems to do the job. This is clearly made for newbies But this will do the trick and help me get better. Good deal. I recommend.

Recomendations for improving sound of this kit

For a little over $100 I think this violin is a pretty good value and sound can be improved by purchasing some extras. I bought this to learn to play on. At 6 months in I went to a violin shop, heard how much better expensive instruments sounded and bought a $700 violin. 6 months further on now and a lot of my sound problems that frustrated me into buying the better instrument aren't really there anymore when I got back and play this one. The $700 violin does still sound nicer, but I would hope so. The pickup does make this violin heavy, 22oz for this violin vs 17oz for the other one. I needed the shoulder rest when I started playing and when I switched to the other violin was able to quit using it. There's lots of advice about what to buy to improve this violin and all of the stuff is expensive, especially compared to the price of this kit. Here's what I tried and how it worked out. Strings: First I bought Artisan's Violin Strings for 4 4 & 3 4 Size, G-D-A-E Strings Those were barely/if at all an improvement from what came on the violin, Not really worth the purchase. Then I tried Thomastik-Infeld VI100 Vision Violin Strings, Complete Set, 4/4 Size They did make a difference and even at $50 a set was the cheapest way to get the most improvement in sound especially on the low end. I'm not sure had I put these strings on right away if I would have bought the more expensive violin so soon. Bow: I bought an Arnold carbon fiber violin bow at the violin shop for $150 with the second violin, it was the 2nd cheapest thing they sold. I can tell some difference in the sound between that and the bow that came with this set. A new bow would probably be the thing to get after new strings. Rosin: Didn't even try the rosin that came with this. I did try Jade L'Opera JADE Rosin for Violin, Viola, and Cello and it was horrible. It left a mess all over everything and caked up on my strings. Buy the most expensive rosin you can get if you think it'll make a difference. I've been practicing an hour a day most everyday and haven't hardly put a dent in my block of rosin. It's works out to be pretty much free per hour of play. Over all no one who isn't an absolute beginner would be buying this violin. Had my cheapest option been a $500 bare bones setup from a violin shop I would have never even tried to learn to play. Now a year in I love it and play everyday thanks to this purchase. I've kept this violin around because it can't have much resale since it's so cheap new and it does have the pickups in case I'd want to amplify or record something. I've never amplified this except for once right out of the box. It sounded just like I was playing only louder, which for a beginner means it sounded horrible. I haven't amplified it since because a violin is loud enough on its own unless you're performing somewhere maybe. For a beginner I'd definitely recommend this kit. If you know 100% for sure you'd be playing after another 300 hours of practice then maybe you should just start on something nicer. If you'd like to try it and make sure it's for you, you can't hardly lose. A bottom of the line bow at a violin shop costs more than this whole kit.

Unbelievable for the Price!

I bought this for my wife who wants to learn violin. There's a great review on YouTube of this violin [...]. After watching this, I decided to buy it and I always trust Amazon.com to ship it fast and well packaged -- and they did! (I bought the electric version in case one of us gets good enough to play in the church band.) I play high-end guitars of various types so I know when an instrument is well built and sounds good. Granted, this isn't a high end violin but the tone is more than acceptable, especially for a beginner! Having a pickup in the violin for this price is unbelievable! I would like a fuller sound so we're going to try upgrading the strings and the bow. But for the price, I'm extremely happy. I'll probably learn to play as well!

Great outfit

I was very hesitant purchasing, but I am so glad I did. Beautiful violin with great sound quality for the price. I am very pleased with my purchase. Please keep in mind that this is not a Stradivarius, I don't know what you're expecting to hear if you're just starting or someone who has never played before. It will not sound like you've popped out of a classical music recording. Like all things new, the instrument needs to be "broken in." Here's an example: way back in school, I loved to play my friend's violin that had been in her family for over 100 years instead of my own Strad reproduction that was only 5 years old. Why? It sounded so beautiful compared to something made of newer wood. Change the strings if you want, but the sound quality will still be the same. As far as the paint job, I read one review about the neck not being painted. I have never seen or played any violin with the neck painted. All have always had "just the wood" That includes the high dollar Yamaha electric violin my school had. Please don't let that discourage your purchase of this violin. The bow was even great for the price of this outfit, which is more than I can say for my last electric violin. Overall, this is an AWESOME violin outfit. You won't be disappointed!

I believe that this voilin is a great buy.

I bought this as a Christmas gift for my sister-in-law and she simply loves it. My brother (her husband) called me up to complain that she has been "rocking out" with it ever since it came in the mail. From her reaction, I believe that this voilin is a great buy.

Great violin for a great price!

I was very hesitant to purchase this violin because many people said it does not stay in tune. It does stay in tune very well. I went a week without playing it and the strings were only a teensy tiny bit flat the next time I tuned and played it. It's a great violin not just for beginners but for anyone who loves to play. I would not say it's a bad violin at all. The tone is nice and warm when not plugged in and it sounds great when plugged in. The color is beautiful too. I'm adding this to my review because someone else said either all the good reviews for this violin are fabricated or the people who wrote them are smoking something: The pegs are only for changing strings and maybe used to get close to the correct note and then the fine tuners do the rest of the work. Apparently the person who said that did not use the fine tuners. Also if the pegs don't stay in place push them in while turning them. I have never smoked in my life and I never will. That person was just frustrated because they did not know the proper way to tune a violin. Btw I use a Snark clip on tuner that works on guitar, bass and violin. I have it because I've been playing guitar my whole life and also play bass and violin

A great fiddle for these hot, summertime, outdoor gigs!

I've seen a lot of negative comments and maybe they just got a bad fiddle. I bought this so as not to have to use my 100-150 year old violins out in the heat while playing all the outside shows I've been playing. Here's what you do, when you get it, go get a set of good strings (at least D'Addario Preludes) and string it, don't even fool with the strings that are on it. (Don't understand why some people are taking them to have them restrung, its pretty easy to string one). If you are a fiddle player, get out and old cut down bridge and replace the bridge thats on it so the strings are low and it softens the tone, then put a mute on it. When you are outside in 100 plus temps, this is a great violin to use, it holds tuning pretty well and is solid. I got the white fiddle and my only regret is that I wish I had purchased the natural finish. Anyway, its a handy purchase and with my points it only cost $60, so its definitely worth the price.

Missing part, but overall happy.

The violin itself is very decent for the price, the rosin cake that comes with the bundle is of high quality, and the case make it easy to tote around, however upon arrival my bundle did not come with a shoulder rest, even though it says that it does, until I contact customer support about this and see what will be said, I am leaving this as a 2 star review for not delivering items purchased in the bundle. Update: Contacted customer support about the shoulder rest and they discounted me the exact price of what it would cost to get a new shoulder rest, the product itself I am very happy with, a nice starter violin, also has a strong drive for the electrical component, my amplifier picked it up very strongly, it is prone to feedback, which is a fault of the pickups, however most instruments are prone to Feedback these days, I think the only fix for that would be to get an anti feedback pedal or replace the pickups. The feedback however is not bad enough in which it is a real issue, it is however prone to it, so when adjusting volume be very careful, or else you will hear a loud screech for a moment and it might still linger in your ears even after the sound is over.

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