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Hey Guys,
I could use your opinion with something. So, the current Violin I have is a rental, it is Sam's Strings Introit (http://store.samsstrings.com/I....._p_70.html). So far, am in love with it!
When I when to my local stringed instrument shop to get me a violin, this is the beginner Violin they offer; my other choice was the Cremona SV-1220. But they told me the Sam's Strings was a little better, and they played both for me, and to me the Introit sounded better.
Also, even though am renting, all the money am paying (about $27 a month) is going towards the price of the violin, meaning that after 18 months, it will be mine. The reason I rented it, and did not buy it, was because my wife was with me that day, and when she saw, that it retailed for about $400 bucks, she gave me that look of, "you better not spend $400 buck on your first violin..." But, she agreed to the rental option 
Anyhow, my dilemma is that after doing a lot of research and seeing all sorts of videos on the Cecilio and Mendini violins which range from $99 to $170, am debating whether returning the rental and just buying one of these, and save some money. However, I wish I could play a Cecilio or a Mendini to compare on my own.
Have any of you compared your Cecilio's or Mendinis to the, supposedly, higher quality instruments that the local Stringed shops carry?
Advice? ideas?
Thanks!
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In both case (if cecilio's violin are better for example), it is still a possibility to finish the rental, to get the violin, and to sell it back, no ?
This way, you won't loose the money you spent on the rental month. I don't know how much you put into your rental violin, and i'm not an expert in violin. But if i were close to having the rental one, that is what i would have done.
I have only paid one month 
Also, the ones I have sort of narrowed down my search to, if I were to get a Cecilio, it would be the Cecilio CVN-500, or the CVN-400. FM has a video showing the CVN-500 and it sounds beautiful! Although, he does not sell it in his site, but I can get it through Amazon, with some extra goodies (really don't care about the tuner, or lesson book).
Also, if FM carried the CVN-500 I would totally buy it from his site. This brings up another question, @FM when purchasing a violin from Fiddlershop, do you ship these from your location, or do these come straight from Cecilio? I would be interested in you first inspecting the violin, and maybe adjusting it, if necessary, and then shipping. That was my worry first of all, when I was thinking about just getting one online, I was afraid that something would break when shipped, or it would have a manufacturer's defect.
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Well, if you pay $27/mo for 18 months, that's $486. If you bought a Cecilio for, say, $170, that would be the equivalent 6 months and some change at $27/mo, as opposed to a year and a half. That means it's yours a year sooner than the rent-to-own, and you save $316 -- enough to buy 2 more Cecilios (or some choice accessories like good strings and a new bow) if you wanted.
As others have noted elsewhere, it's a bit of a roll of the dice when you order a violin online and have it shipped to you. If you don't mind getting a bum one and having to return or exchange once or twice, I say go for it. The Cecilio/Mendini violins, while cheap, seem to have a pretty good reputation.
Personally, I thought it prudent to buy my own cheap violin, see how it goes, and save up for a nicer one if it sticks (which also gives me time to figure out what I want and what is "good" when it comes to violins). I am pretty confident I could resell the thing locally and break even, if not turn a profit, should I decide to give it up and need the cash back. I bought a Mendini MV500 from KK Music (through Amazon) and it arrived safe and sound from CA to VA in 5 business days (a full week in reality). I posted a video and some photos of it in the Reviews section if you're interested.
One of my local music stores has some really awesome violions/fiddles, many of which are made by local luthiers (they specialize in local instruments). I will probably make my next purchase there when I feel more worthy of (entitled to?) a high quality, pricey instrument.
Being very old and incoherent, I keep hearing your words "in love with it". I would NEVER trade a happy violin for anything that I did not actually try out....no way. Reports from others may be useful but you are the one to own and play it.
A marginal violin will clobber your learning curve.
Good Luck !
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From your post:
“So far, am in love with it!”
“…they played both for me, and to me the Introit sounded better.”
“…all the money am paying (about $27 a month) is going towards the price of the violin, meaning that after 18 months, it will be mine.”
“The reason I rented it, and did not buy it…"
I totally understand the draw of going with a $170 violin over your close-to-$500 instrument. Over $200 is not a trivial amount—especially right now. Also, if you think you might give up playing between six months and 18 months, the cheaper violin will save you money.
But.
You like this instrument.
You picked it for the sound. You are “in love with it.” You would have bought it given the chance. It sounds to me like, even though you don’t own it yet, it is yours in spirit (for lack of a better way to phrase things). If you’re going to play for years then you want an instrument you love and whose sound brings you joy. If that is this instrument then that is this instrument.
(Yeah, this is an entirely subjective way of viewing things. Music and musical instruments seem to be highly subjective things. I personally think my fiddle is the best one out there. Another person would probably say "not so much," particularly after hearing me play. 
)
So, assuming you can afford to go with the more expensive option should you choose to do so, ask yourself these questions: Do I see myself playing this instrument in five years? Does playing this instrument bring me joy?
If the answers are “yes” then why change? You have an instrument you love in hand, why risk losing it for an unknown?
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I am an authorized dealer for Cecilio as of the 1st of January. Can sell it to you for the same price as anyone else and if you call Fiddlershop 954 530 5999 you might even get a better price. We have MAP prices on these violins and are not allowed to advertise less. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Thanks everyone for the wise advice! I must agree that I do love the sound it comes from the current violin I have. However, there is this little itch inside me that wants to try a Cecilio out. So, I am going to get a Cecilio and play both at the same time, and compare. I'll even make a video comparing both, as it may help others make a decision.
Most of the time, I really don't mind paying a little too much for something, as long as I am happy with it, but I do watch my money, if I can get a similar instrument, that sounds as nice as the one I have, and can save some money, then am all for it.
If I don't like the Cecilio, I guess I could always keep the rental, and try to sell the Cecilio locally. I have spread the word at work that am learning how to play the Violin, and some of my co-workers are starting to get interested, maybe I can find me a learning partner
Thanks again! Happy Fiddling!
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Learning partner would be cool. You can play duets.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Since you have the itch to try out a ceicilio violin, my advice would be: keep the rental for another month, order a cecilio from the FM or Amazon.com and try out the cecilio. You have one month to try it out if you order it from amazon.com, but you do have to pay return shipping. Keep the one you like and return the one you don't like.
@pky I actually did order a Cecilio from FM's shop just today, am going to give it a try, compare, if I like the Cecilio, I'll keep it, if I don't like it, I'll keep it anyhow, and try to sell it locally. I am hoping the Cecilio (CVN 500) arrives before Feb. 15th, as that is when the second installment for the rental violin is due. So, if I return it before the 15th, I don't pay another $27.
So, we'll see what happens. For now, I will keep enjoying the rental one, and hopefully have a good practice session tonight
Great! The FM ships really fast so I'm sure you will receive it before Feb 15. Good luck on your new violin and do share with us when you receive it.
I have a cvn 500 as well and I love mine -- I'm not good so I'm sure a great player will make it sound 100 times better than when I play on it.
Glad to hear you also have a CVN 500! I will definitely post a video reviewing it, and comparing with my rental one. But again, it is not going to be glorious like FM's reviews, since I will only, probably, be able to play Twinkle and maybe the Happy BDay song on these, but at least that will give beginners an idea of how they might sound at the beginning
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