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Which violin for a beginning 8 year old?
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hotshotsli
Wantagh, NY

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August 12, 2011 - 12:25 pm
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Well, I came upon your YouTube comparison of the CVN models & then the "99 dollar violin test".  THANK YOU!  I wanted to let my daughter use my childhood violin, but 30 years later, after taking it out of it's case I recalled all the issues!  It was a Skylark that the pegs would always loosen on, so I began my research and you have helped quite a bit! 

I tuned (and re-tuned) my violin at my daughter's request… the bow hair was completely stiff & in need of replacement, but I let her try her hand for fun.  I put it back in the case after literally 45 seconds of use and the tailpiece snapped & the strings went flying!!!  After 30 years, what should I expect.  Anyhow, I took a quick look on the internet about MY violin & found it's horrible reputation… which may have been a key to why I gave it up at about the age of 12!

I hope to create a better experience for my daughter & maybe re-learn along with her.  (I've never lost the want  to play an instrument) Thank you for your advice!

By the way... anybody have any thoughts on the MV series?

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
August 12, 2011 - 1:59 pm
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Great to hear that you want to re-learn to play and do it together with your daughter. It's always a great idea to have a partner to motivate and even to play duets along the way. You've come to the right place. Look forward to following your progress.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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SaraO
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August 12, 2011 - 2:19 pm
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hotshotsli said:

Well, I came upon your YouTube comparison of the CVN models & then the "99 dollar violin test".  THANK YOU!  I wanted to let my daughter use my childhood violin, but 30 years later, after taking it out of it's case I recalled all the issues!  It was a Skylark that the pegs would always loosen on, so I began my research and you have helped quite a bit! 

I tuned (and re-tuned) my violin at my daughter's request… the bow hair was completely stiff & in need of replacement, but I let her try her hand for fun.  I put it back in the case after literally 45 seconds of use and the tailpiece snapped & the strings went flying!!!  After 30 years, what should I expect.  Anyhow, I took a quick look on the internet about MY violin & found it's horrible reputation… which may have been a key to why I gave it up at about the age of 12!

I hope to create a better experience for my daughter & maybe re-learn along with her.  (I've never lost the want  to play an instrument) Thank you for your advice!

By the way... anybody have any thoughts on the MV series?

You sound a lot like me! I played as a kid and now my soon to be eight year old daughter will be taking beginning violin class this fall. We recently purchased a Palatino violin from a local music shop for her. This brand is also sold on Amazon. I know if anything breaks, they (our local shop) will be able to fix it for us. While we were at the shop, I got some new strings for my violin, and then I got a new bridge as well. I'm having so much more fun with the violin this time around!

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Paul
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August 12, 2011 - 2:29 pm
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Hotshotsli, welcome to the group. I also have a Skylark. I practice a lot outside, my job requires me to travel in my car. I carry it with me to practice between appointments. No great loss if the weather and tempature changes damage it. I have a better one at home. There is a big difference in the sound. Not only that the other one is easier to play. I put new strings on the skylark and that helped a lot, but sounds like yours will need a bit more work to make it playable. The sound quality isn't there but it's good for learning finger placement, new songs, bowing technique etc. You and your daughter will have fun learning together.

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hotshotsli
Wantagh, NY

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August 12, 2011 - 4:05 pm
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Wow, It's great to hear all the support!  Fiddlerman's video inspired me and now I have actual people to lend their advice!  I can rent a violin locally for $125 for the school year, but then I saw this great deal at K K Music Store http://www.kkmusicstore.com/me.....-p-83.html

I don't want to "cheap out", but for the money & a young beginner, I wonder if I can't go wrong... I can set up the bridge & fine tuners and tune it myself.  Anybody think -I'm crazy?  After seeing Fiddlerman's CVN review, I'm wondering what makes this one even less expensive?

I know when it seems to good to be true it usually is, but I would have thought that about the CVN model too.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
August 12, 2011 - 4:27 pm
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I don't remember where, but I read from one of the Cecilio reps that Mendini is their cheap version of the same instrument. Not sure what the difference is since I have never compared the two. I guess the gamble is a $70 gamble which is not too bad considering you will spend $125 to rent a fiddle otherwise. I could imagine that if the violin is a piece of junk your daughter might not like the sound and get discouraged. I wish I knew more about them. I also feel like each instrument is like playing the lottery. You never know what you are going to get.

I did however test the Mendini 650 but it costs $200.

CVN-500 vs MV-650

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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hotshotsli
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August 12, 2011 - 4:38 pm
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Well, I did e-mail the teacher earlier & I was curious what his experience (if any) might be with these.  I'm also interested to know whether the teacher might frown upon a blue violin.... it's not my first choice, but she'll only be 8 once & if it makes her happy to play a blue violin then I'd rather she be happier.  I didn't offer the blue, but I was looking at the website & she walked by & it caught her eye!  I would hope the teacher wouldn't treat her as being any less serious or enthusiastic about learning based on the color, but people are funny & I don't want her to be treated differently than the kids w/the standard wood-tone violin.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
August 12, 2011 - 9:03 pm
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At 8 I think the color is fine. They may even be jealous of her blue violin. LOL

If you don't know what size to buy I have a chart here.

The good thing is that if you are buying a small instrument it will only be temporary. You'll have learned a lot before the next purchase. Check with some of the other parents to see if anyone is upgrading. You may get a good deal on an instrument that you can see before buying.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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hotshotsli
Wantagh, NY

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August 12, 2011 - 9:57 pm
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Thanks for all the advice... I'm on a quest for a blue CVN 1/2 model... wish me luck!

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pky
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August 13, 2011 - 2:18 am
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I ordered a cvn 100 1/8 size for my daughter and it was too small so I returned it. Then I began to search for a 1/4 size and was comparing MV500 and CV 500. I sent emails to kk and inquired them about their violin. Below are my questions and their answers:

What are the differences between Mendini MV 500 1/4 size and CVN 500 1/ size?

The difference between Mendini and Cecilio is Cecilio is better. Better in craftsmeship which produces a better sound quality. Mendini is a lower line of Cecilio and is made by Cecilio.

 

So even if a Mendini and a Cecilio are in the same price range -- like MV 500 and CVN 500, MV 650 and CVN 500, you would still say Cecilio 500 would be of better quality than Mendini 500 and MV650?

Yes Cecilio is better in over all quality and make.
(even though cvn 500 and mv500 look almost identical to me.

 If you have questions you can always contact them and they are very helpful and prompt on answering questions.
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David Burns
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August 13, 2011 - 8:02 am
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Fiddlerman said:

At 8 I think the color is fine. They may even be jealous of her blue violin. LOL

If you don't know what size to buy I have a chart here.

The good thing is that if you are buying a small instrument it will only be temporary. You'll have learned a lot before the next purchase. Check with some of the other parents to see if anyone is upgrading. You may get a good deal on an instrument that you can see before buying.

Hey! I have one of these blue violins, I am not 8! lol. I got a colored violin because at this price, I might as well have fun with it. I take it to work and people are amazed at what you can get for $100. I spent more money trying to get it to sound better. New strings, new bow, having the sound post adjusted, and then replaced. lol. But at any age this instrument will tell you if you want to play the violin. If you don't want to play, it would look great hanging on the wall.

 

Dave

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hotshotsli
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August 13, 2011 - 10:01 am
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pky said:

I ordered a cvn 100 1/8 size for my daughter and it was too small so I returned it. Then I began to search for a 1/4 size and was comparing MV500 and CV 500. I sent emails to kk and inquired them about their violin. Below are my questions and their answers:

What are the differences between Mendini MV 500 1/4 size and CVN 500 1/ size?

The difference between Mendini and Cecilio is Cecilio is better. Better in craftsmeship which produces a better sound quality. Mendini is a lower line of Cecilio and is made by Cecilio.

So even if a Mendini and a Cecilio are in the same price range -- like MV 500 and CVN 500, MV 650 and CVN 500, you would still say Cecilio 500 would be of better quality than Mendini 500 and MV650?

Yes Cecilio is better in over all quality and make.
(even though cvn 500 and mv500 look almost identical to me.

 

 If you have questions you can always contact them and they are very helpful and prompt on answering questions.
So which did you actually choose?
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hotshotsli
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August 13, 2011 - 10:10 am
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David Burns said:

Hey! I have one of these blue violins, I am not 8! lol. I got a colored violin because at this price, I might as well have fun with it. I take it to work and people are amazed at what you can get for $100. I spent more money trying to get it to sound better. New strings, new bow, having the sound post adjusted, and then replaced. lol. But at any age this instrument will tell you if you want to play the violin. If you don't want to play, it would look great hanging on the wall.

 

Dave

 

Which blue do you have?  The MV or CVN?

It looks like I'm either going to have to go with the MV series (against my better judgement) to get her the blue, or stick with the rosewood CVN series, as it seems that the CVN blue is only available in 4/4 size!

I hate disappointing the kids, but almost everything I've heard & put together wants me to purchase the CVN series. 

I love the fact that the color doesn't seem to be frowned upon... I want her to have fun with it!  And Dave, I may take your advice & hang it on the wall when she outgrows it anyway!amuse

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pky
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August 13, 2011 - 10:30 am
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I went through what you are going through now. I was going to buy a pink violin for my daughter and ended up getting her cvn100 which was too small; I returned it and i am waiting for the refund so I could get a cvn 500 1/4 size. When I showed the cvn100 1/8 to my daughter's teacher, she thought it is cheaply made. She also said exactly the same thing the fiddlerman had said, "it would be temporary and should be fine."

If blue is your daughter's favorite color, I think she will love it and be proud of it and like the fiddlerman said, others "may be jealous of her blue violin." However, if she is only 8, unless she is very tall and has very long arms, 4/4 might be too big for her.

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hotshotsli
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August 13, 2011 - 10:40 am
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And the CVN is supposed to be a better quality than the MV series. Hmmm... more directing me to the CVN200 series to start her with.  The 4/4 is definitly too big for her.  My violin is a 4/4 and it would be very difficult for her to learn on.  I'm going to start her on the 1/2, but my head is telling me not to go for the MV series just to get a specific color.  Mother's guilt.  Always trying to make everyone happy.dazed

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pky
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Have you check out the fiddlerman size chart or the kk's to decide what size to get for your daughter?

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hotshotsli
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Yes I did & it was actually the first size chart that specified to put your arm out perpendicular from the body (to the side) for the measurement.  Others weren't that specific.  Her measurement from the neck to the center of her palm is 20", so I'm going to get the 1/2.  I know she's borderline 1/4, but I don't want to have to get a larger size in the middle of the school year.  (If violins are anything like clothes!)  Anyone have any other advice?  I'm fairly certain we'll be ordering the CVN-200 later today.

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Oliver
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August 13, 2011 - 5:03 pm
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I'm just jumping in here but wonder why you would not choose to rent?  Your odds of getting a reasonable violin on the cheap are pretty small not to mention possible set up costs.

My Grand Daughter (age 11) just rented a violin for $400 which includes admission into the lesson sessions at school.

She got a 7/8 when others suggested a 3/4.  The "growing" issue smile  Seems like a good choice.

coffee2

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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Fiddlerman
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August 13, 2011 - 6:49 pm
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@ Oliver, on the 5th post here hotshotsli meantions that a rental would cost $125 and that is more than the cost of buying a fiddle. True that you never know how they will sound.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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hotshotsli
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August 13, 2011 - 8:17 pm
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Thanks for everyone's input... I just made the purchase from Mendini Music though eBay, which is KK Music Store.  I paid $84.94 including shipping, set-up (we'll see how that goes), case, 2 bows, shoulder rest, tuner/metronome, rosin, extra bridge & strings for the CVN-200.  I was very impressed w/Fiddlerman's demonstration of his $99 violin, which is why I started thinking about purchasing rather than renting.  So, as soon as we have it in our possession, I'll give everyone an update... thanks again!

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