Best Intermediate Violin: What to Look For

Quick Picks: Best Intermediate Violin

What Is An Intermediate Violin?

The Difference Between Beginner, Intermediate & Professional Violins

Beginner violins are for someone who has not played the violin before. Intermediate violins are for people who have been playing for a few years and want a better violin.

Beginner Violins

You should get a beginner violin if you are new to the violin. This will usually cost from $150-$400 and is best for beginners because they are an entry-level instrument and come in smaller sizes for younger players.

Intermediate Violins

Intermediate violins cost between $450 and $2000. They come with a bow and a nice case.

If you have played the violin for a few years, it is time to get an advanced violin that can be used differently.

Professional Violins

A professional violin can cost from $2000 up to several million. The best-advanced violin is old and antique that most people can not afford.

But, you can find the best violin for your budget. You just need to be careful when you are looking around. Look in places where you can find what is affordable for your family.

Types Of Intermediate Violins

While most players will be searching for an acoustic violin, I included a few electric violins on this list because the demand for electric violins is growing. Some customers want to own both types of violins to have complete customization flexibility.

Acoustic Violins

A “normal” violin is called an acoustic violin. Acoustic means that the sounds come from the violin, and you don’t need any plugs or wires.

Electric Violins

If you want to play the electric violin, you need an amplifier. Amps make the sound louder. An electric violin is like a regular violin, but it needs the amp to make the sound clearer.

A beginner violin is designed for students who have played for a few years and are looking for a more musical instrument. It should be well made and often by hand.

DZ Strad Model LC101

The DZ Strad Model LC101 is an excellent violin for beginners who require a more advanced instrument. It comes in different sizes and has a beautiful sound with depth and ring.

This violin comes in many different sizes. The 7/8 size is odd, but it is great for adults on the smaller side. It can be hard to find this size of the violin.

Louis Carponi G2

The Louis Carpini G2 is a good violin. I think the case is really beautiful. It will not affect the sound, but it might matter to you.

Fiddlerman Master Violin Outfit

This violin comes with a lot of things. The bow is better than some other bows. This violin is for students who love to play.

The Fiddlerman Shop offers a lifetime guarantee on all instruments, including the violin. It also comes with a great setup at the shop. It’s another alternative for those who want a 7/8 size violin.

Yamaha YSV104 (Electric)

The Yamaha YSV104 is a good electric violin. You can feel like you are playing an acoustic violin, but it is electric.

An advantage is that the headphones are there if you want to practice without anyone hearing.

DZ Strad Model 365

The DZ Strad Model 365 violin is a good step up from the other violins. The sound is reliable, and it has a warm tone.

This doesn’t come in the smallest sizes, but it has a variety of sizes. Even though this is not the smallest size, people say that the sound is great.

Yamaha Electric Violin YEV 104

The Yamaha Electric Violin YEV 104 is unique compared to the previous model. Although it does not have a headphone jack, it is extremely lightweight and stylish. You will be heard through an amplifier if you are a band member.

It comes with two different finishes: natural and black. The instrument looks really beautiful and modern.

Fiddlerman Soloist Violin Outfit

The Fiddlerman Soloist Violin Outfit is great. It has many accessories, and the shop will set up your violin so you can play it right away.

The carbon fiber bow will assist you in playing wonderfully and articulately. Whatever you give the violin, it will answer. This intermediate violin is going to make you fall in love.

NS Design WAV-4 (Electric)

The NS Design WAV-4 is a really cool shape, and it’s also modern-looking.

NS Design makes violins that are easier to play than other violins. They use a special pickup system called the Polar pickup. This helps your violin sound better.

DZ Strad Maestro Old Spruce

The DZ Strad Maestro Old Spruce is the highest quality DZ Strad on my list. You will get an amazing sound that feels warm and full when you play it. You will be able to play with more nuance.

Scott Cao 750 Violin

The Scott Cao 750 violin comes in a variety of configurations. There are eight distinct styles to pick from. Additionally, some violins include a one-piece back.

All of these sound great. You can have a beautiful tone, a nice response time, and a wonderful depth of sound. The shop will ensure your violin is well set up to play when you take it out of the box.

Consider the Following When Purchasing An Intermediate Violin

Here are some things to think about before buying an intermediate violin.

Size

Make sure you know how big the violin is and if it’s small or not. You can find out online what size you need to get. If you don’t know the size, measure your arms to see which one is right for you.

Wood

Most acoustic violins are made of spruce and maple. If you like one-piece backs, that is fine but not affect the sound.

For the fittings, tailpiece, chinrest, and button, ebony is often used. Boxwood is also used, and it can be very attractive. The fingerboard is usually made of ebony.

Finish

It is better to apply the finish by hand, and it can be made to look elder or more new. The finish will also be darker or lighter.

The Bow

Bows can be made of carbon fiber or wood. When you buy an intermediate violin, it is usually better to buy a bow made of carbon fiber. But they usually come with a brazilwood bow in the package.

The Overall Tone & Sound

You want a beautiful and clear sound on the violin. It needs to be heard far away, so it is good to play louder.

Price

All the violins I listed are between $450 and $1500. If you have a budget, go for the closest one to your budget.

New Vs. Used

I recommend a new violin because you don’t know how the person before you took care of it. Antique instruments are appealing for an advanced level but more for professionals.

What Is In The Intermediate Violin Box?

The violin can come with a lot of things. You need to know what is normal and what is not. Sometimes the violin comes with some accessories, but these are items you can buy separately if you want them.

Bow

Many of these intermediate violins come with a bow, and you’ll need one to play! If you don’t intend to buy it separately, keep in mind that its part of the price.

Case

You will need a case to keep your violin when you’re not playing it. Most cases for violins are oblong and can hold accessories and some music.

Shoulder Rest

Some violins come with a shoulder rest. This is an optional purchase for most people, so that’s fine if you prefer to buy it separately.

Rosin

Rosin is a sticky substance that you put on your bow for the violin. You may have some already, but if you are upgrading your violin, then you will want to upgrade the rosin as well. There are many different brands of rosin with a variety of prices.

Extras

You should get a set of extra strings, a cleaning cloth, and a tuner. You can use an app on your phone to do this. You might also need more than one bow, a mute or practice mute, and a music stand.

Read more: 5 Minutes That Will Make You Love the Violin

Intermediate Violin Brands To Avoid

There are some brands that I don’t think have as good quality, but I don’t want to say which. Check reviews before buying anything and make sure the return policy is good.

The Best Intermediate Violin Reviews

There are different types of violins for different kinds of players. If you don't have experience with the violin but want to learn, a beginner's model is the best violin. These violins are designed to help beginners play the instrument properly.

If you want to improve your skills, you should practice with an intermediate violin. This type of violin has a little more advanced features than a beginner's violin. As the name suggests, professional violins come with features that help advanced players make the most of their skills.

As an intermediate player, we can help you pick the best violin for you. Many intermediate violins are available, but we have narrowed it down to the best ones.

Parts Of A Violin And What They Do

One of the most important things for a violinist is understanding their instrument. A great violinist should know a lot about different types of instruments. However, they need to learn more about their own instrument. Whether the violin is a beginner's or an expert model, they are all made up of the same parts. However, the materials used might be different depending on the level of the violinist.

Most contemporary violins are handmade. This means that it is important to know the different parts of the violin and how to take care of it. Even if you have a student violin or a beginner's violin, it is still important to know how to conduct basic maintenance on your instrument. No matter how cheap your violin is, you should always treat it with respect and ensure it is well-maintained. Here are the different parts of the body of a violin, what they do, and how they function.

From the Top of the Violin:

Scroll

The scroll is the top of the neck of a violin. It is always carved, and most of the time, it has spiraled. However, sometimes it can be sculpted to look like an animal or human head. If you want, you can have a personalized scroll. You just need to find someone to adjust it for you.

Tuning Pegs

The pegs on a violin are used to make the violin sound better. Playing the violin is hard work and takes technique. All violins have their pegs in the same place on the neck of the violin. The pegs keep the strings tight, making the violin sound different pitches when you tighten or loosen them. Your violin teacher should teach you how to work with the strings.

Pegbox

The pegbox is where the tuning strings are inserted. The pegbox is near the violinist's left hand. The pegs fit into the pegbox and keep the strings in place. The strings would come undone if the pegs did not fit into the pegbox. Each string on a violin has its own peg, which fits perfectly into the pegbox. Sometimes, cheap or student violins have pegs and peg boxes that do not stay put. Replacing a pegbox can be expensive.

Nut

The nut on a violin is found between the pegbox and the fingerboard. The nut holds the violin strings at the right height from the fingerboard. This is also true: a nut makes the strings flow evenly across its length from the neck to its pegbox. And it sets how far apart each string is from the other. Stringing your violin is really important if you want good sound, whether you're playing on a beginner or intermediate violin.

Neck

It is made of wood and goes from the violin's base to its scroll. The neck is a long piece of wood. It is essential for the pegbox and the violin's body to connect. The neck also bears most of the string's weight and tension, but it's not the only part. That is why it needs to be made well. Usually, an expensive violin has a neck that is made from Maple.

Fingerboard

The fingerboard is an important part of any beginner violin. When you play your violin, you press the strings down onto the fingerboard to change the length of the string. This changes how your violin sounds. The fingerboard gives a musician control over how notes sound. It also enables the musician to play musical notes with the correct intonation by stopping the strings at just the right spot.

Top

The top of the violin is also called the front. The front of the violin is also called the belly or table. It is a curved top. If you want to make a violin, the front is usually made of real spruce wood. Spruce wood is a good choice because it is strong but also lightweight. This type of wood also conducts sound vibrations well, so it is often used in violins, even beginner ones.

Ribs

The ribs are thin pieces of wood that make up the sides of a violin. They are located between the top and bottom layers of the violin, and they hold the violin's body together. There are different ways to make ribs, which affect the violin's pitch. The ribs also support the torque from the strings and bow.

Strings

The strings on your violin control how your instrument sounds. Different strings have different tensions, masses, and lengths. These factors affect the sound of your violin. Lower-quality violins might not sound good because their strings are made with other materials or have additional mass or length measurements. The better the vibrations of the strings, the better sound they produce.

Purfling

Purfling is a thin strip that goes around the edge of your instrument. You can tell if it is genuine purfling if the grain is the same on all strips. Some affordable violins have fake purfling, which is just painted on. But even though purfling is mainly for looks, it also helps prevent your violin from cracking along the edges. That's why experts can tell how old a violin is by looking at the purfling.

Corner Blocks

Most student violin brands don't have corner blocks. However, some violins, even good ones, never have them installed. So what are the blocks for? Firstly, they are wooden blocks that go on the inside of the violin. They're not decorative, and they have a protective role. They help reinforce the violin's construction and ensure it doesn't fall apart. A cheap instrument might not have them installed because they're not necessary to function correctly.

F-Holes

The F-holes on a violin help transmit sound and vibrations to the outside of the instrument. This makes the sound louder and clearer. Before sound amplifiers, instruments had to be fitted with amplification devices. Making F-holes was one way to do this. Nowadays, acoustic violins have F-holes which help amplify the sound. They work very well, but even beginner violins might have them.

Bridge

The bridge on a violin is slanted to make it easier to play the instrument. The bridge keeps the strings in place and sends vibrations to the other violin parts, making the violin sound better. All string instruments have bridges. The sound from the violin is transmitted to the soundboard, which makes it louder. So, if you want your violin to produce good sound quality, you need to make sure that the bridge is in good shape.

Sound Post

There is a thing called a soundpost that helps sound move from the front plate to the backplate. The soundpost helps the violin stay in place, making it more stable. Every violin comes with a soundpost, which helps the violin play better. Having a lousy post makes it not real. But with a soundpost, it has a better tone and is more responsive. Another thing is that the soundpost is called the "heart" of the violin because it makes beautiful sounds and notes. How it is placed changes how your violin sounds because it changes vibrational modes.

Fine Tuners

There are a lot of different tuners. Peg tuners aren't the same as fine tuners. It doesn't matter how good your first violin is. Every violin has peg tuners. Other expensive brands of violins have features such as gold-plated peg tuners. Either way, peg tuners tune the sound, but to a lesser degree. Tiny violins such as the best beginner or student violin usually have fine-tuners for all the strings. An advanced violin only has fine-tuners for the E-string.

Tailpiece

The tailpiece on a student or beginner violin is the part that fastens the strings. When the strings are attached, the musician can play them more freely. The tailpiece also connects the strings to the end of the instrument. Additionally, a well-made tailpiece will make your violin sound better, even a beginner violin. If the tailpiece is not made well, your violin will not sound as good, and it will not play as well.

Tailpiece Gut

The tailpiece gut is what connects the violin's tailpiece to the endpin. It's best to use a thicker gut because it provides more stability. The best violin has a stable tailpiece gut, but you should also be aware that a thick tailpiece won't stretch and might make the sound quality of your instrument worse.

Chin Rest

Every quality instrument has a unique way of being supported while being played. For example, a guitar has a guitar strap that goes over the shoulder to help keep it in place. A violin is naturally cradled in the nook of the neck, but this is not enough to keep it from sliding off. You also have to rest your chin on the instrument to keep it in place. Chinrest is specially made on the violin to better grip and protect the violin from wear and tear.

Saddle

The saddle is a block of wood inside the violin. It helps to relieve pressure on the violin caused by the stringing force. This is important because if there is too much pressure on one part of the violin, it might break. The tension created by the bow is also very powerful, so the saddle must spread the pressure evenly across the whole instrument.

Pickup

A pickup is a device that senses vibrations and turns them into music. Musical instruments create vibrations, which pickups capture. The pickups convert the vibrations into musical notes that are amplified. Most student violins use temporary pickups, which is okay if your first violin.

Conclusion

Intermediate players will find a lot of different instruments to choose from. You will need to decide how much money you want to spend on your intermediate violin. It will represent a significant increase in quality, pricing, and playability. Some players may also like to experiment with several types of violins, including acoustic and electric.

No matter what you need, you'll find high-quality acoustic and electric violins on the market. If you're looking for an upgrade, be prepared to spend a bit more than you did on your beginner instrument. You'll get better sound quality, higher quality wood, and an instrument that will help you improve as a violinist.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Intermediate Violin