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Hey all. Thought I'd get myself a Christmas gift, but need a lot of help !
I'm James from eastern Canada and have no Violin experience. Actually I tried once, the bow sucked and the pegs never held, so I gave up.
With a little more patience in my ripening years (grin), and some interesting inexpensive electric options out there--- here I am.
PRICE: Honestly, I need to be under $100, so I know not to expect a lot - however, I do need to expect playability.
PEGS: Really worried about slipping Pegs
USE: I love Irish/scottish, Bluegrass, Gospel and Cajun Fiddle.
THESE are what I was looking at ---
DOES ANYONE KNOW THESE UNITS? PLAY THESE UNITS? OR WARN AGAINST ? (I've seen reviews on some elsewhere, but those guys always stacked them against $600-1000 units, and called $600 cheap..... so, I'm looking for realistic answers/expectations based on my limits and interest)
1) Mendini...but they list them as Cecilio CEVN
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/NEW-Ful.....518c3b121d
2) No name, but seems to be Cecilio
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/4-4-Hig.....3f0dd183a1
3) No name, similar setup, different shape
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/4-4-ele.....3a59a0d0ff
4) Really barebones
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/4-4-Ele.....41502c610b
5) Sojing
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Fu.....1c21bb8b30
This one I LOVE the shape and shoulder rest, BUT they use plastic Pegs, and read a lot of problem reviews with pegs and bridge
What I like about the the other 4 listings, they have Ebony Pegs, and some have Bridges that set in a guide for placement.
I just don't know enough to intelligently decide. I decided NOT to buy the Sojing today based on the plastic pegs.
I WANTED metal machine heads, but only found a 5 string like that, I'm REALLY paranoid about slipping Pegs.
I also don't know what are decent chinese models, and what are cheap copies of cheap chinese (haha).
Can someone HELP ? Soon... as I planned to try to get something for Christmas.
Even though I realize and plan to use this as a basic learning/newbie violin, I want something that will perform and stay in tune, not be more trouble trying to play than trying to learn. (If all goes well I can buy better down the road -- or build one ((I got parts to make acoustic box fiddle down the road.)))
ps- THANK YOU Fiddlerman ! Your site is one reason I am seriously considering this !
Jim !
Merry Christmas !
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Welcome to the forum, cancelx47!
I have an electric fiddle similar to your #3 (actual Cecilio brand, same shape) above and it works great! You'll have to watch shipping if you order from China - it can blow your budget pretty quickly.
As for the peg issue, you can replace any pegs with machine heads, real ebony, or perfection pegs for not a lot of money, so don't let that dissuade you. Peg compound (also called peg dope) is another solution that is cheap.
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
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Hey Cat~
Thank you !
I bought the parts to make a box acoustic and then got it in my head to learn on a silent electric..ahhhh.
I do have Ebony Pegs from my parts kit, and thought about going that route -- but really wanted to do as little repair out of the box as possible.
Something you said intrigued me --- you can replace with machine heads ?
How would one do that? I have really nice machine heads, but the peg holes are already there for pegs?
--------And am I mislead in believing the machine heads would not slip like pegs can - or is the tension on a violin likely to cause slip no matter which type?
Thanks again !!
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I'm not sure what modifications would need to be made for a fiddle that has peg holes to be adapted to machine heads. Bezdez on eBay has machine heads and says that the holes would have to be bushed and re-drilled to make them work. Not sure how much effort you want to put into this project...I would imagine that machine heads would slip no more on a fiddle than they would on a guitar, but haven't used them myself, so I can't make any guarantees.
You could get a cheap electric fiddle and see how it works out, try peg dope first and then add machine heads, ebony pegs or planetary pegs if you thought it necessary. My Cecelio fiddle stays in tune just fine and the pegs look like ebony.
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
I have the cecilio and it has ebony pegs and stays in tune just fine. It took a few days to stay in tune due to the strings stretching but it works good for me.
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Welcome to the forum James, and you are very welcome. 
As far as pegs are concerned the electric Cecilio that I got had no problems what so ever with slippage and Pikachu can verify that it is still that way since she now owns the fiddle.
Pegs are much faster to tune than machine heads. I can literally change a string in like 30 seconds and have it in tune as long as I don't get any hang-ups in the process like not finding the hole quick enough.
As Cat said, there are good solutions to slipping pegs in case you have bad luck with the violin that you order. Besides the peg compound some use chalk for slipping pegs though I have not tried or needed it.
I'm not sure what policy other stores offer but I know that lots of users from this site have had great experiences with kkmusicstore online, especially those who have had to make exchanges for one reason or another. Don't know if shipping is free to Canada but it is to the US. Unfortunately the price is slightly over your budget for those fiddles.
Good luck!!!
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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THANKS !
I feel comfortable with a Cecilio
Big question is Which are Cecilio ?
They all seem to have the exact same body shapes and details (except for the Sojing)
Is it possible they are all Cecilio OEM ?
I'm really leaning towards #1 (Cecilio CEVN 1, 2 or 4) or #3 (which is an exact match for the Cecilio CEVN 2 but much cooler color) - or just simple like #2
I hate choice, haha
But really just looking to be careful of fakes.
The maker that supplied my parts also sells the exact same shaped items (but #1 has a lot of extras, book/cd/dvd/case etc... and #3 offered a shoulder rest)
Thanks
jim
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UPDATE: otherwise known as confusion.
So, looking at those couple Cecilio models, I discovered a good seller/company I bought violin parts from ALSO CLAIMS he has the patents on some of the same designs.
And one of the sellers I listed, great feedback, knowledgeable... his are the same designs (maybe some different painting) and He claims to hold patents.
He says Cecilio usually just imports cheap models.
So - are these all the same? Am I safe just buying one from a seller with a good ebay reputation and pricepoint I can afford (and still end up with the same thing?)
Thanks
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Ebay can be a crap shoot 
I've had great luck with sellers with good feedback, so I would take the risk, if it were me. Anything you buy can always be modified if you're not afraid of a bit of work.
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
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Hey Cat-
Yeah, I'm trying to avoid work with the exception of peg dope (grin.)
I did find out, the KK store everyone talks about is the sister store of my #2 listing Mendini. He has a great complete package, and it's a toss up between him and #3 (who also says they have patents to them, and that Cecilio is basically an OEM of other factories anyway.
Having been a drop-shipper of tablets from China, I know you can almost never know.
ahhhhh
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Go with the KKMusicStore sister, then - everyone here has had really exceptional customer service from KK.
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
I just bought a second violin from KK Music, a 1/4 violin and I am completely happy with it as I am with my electric from them.
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HEY--
I believe I'm going with Choice #3, rather, seller #3
Still making model choice.
He has answered all questions clearly and bluntly.
He has also supposedly supplied Cecilio with violins (thus the same designs, but this seller has many more colors and can Custom make your colors).
Also offered a good deal (no instructional material, but thats what Fiddlerman is for, haha).
Assuming everything is true, this looks like the right match for me.
Just waiting to hear back about my color request (red inner body color, and black outer parts)
Respects,
Jim
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Well, I DID IT !
Ordered my Electric Violin
I went with #3 from the ebay store MUSICSTOREMA
He answered a 100 questions, including construction, his store, comparison, Cecilio violins (which he said he was a supplier) etc....
Got a Great Deal ! AND.... getting a custom painting job !
Cecilio calls it the CEVN-2
Mine is a Translucent Deep Red (wood grain noticable) with a Black painted 3/4 S part.
I'll post my experience when it comes -- gotta wait for it to be made and painted (about a week) then shipped 1-2 week EMS.
Now to find a Beginner Fiddle Book/CD (decided on this instead of Violin)
Later !
jim
Look forward to hearing about it and seeing pictures when you get it.
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