Thanks for the feedback, @OldOgre and @AnnyJ 

@Jacques , thanks for the comment - these are both 7/8 violins. My teacher recommended this size based on my arm length and finger length. My Mendini is a full-size, and I do notice a difference. It doesn't really show up in tunes like Twinkle and Lightly Row, but it does make a difference for more advanced pieces. I'm just learning 4th finger in 1st position. On a full-size, I cannot reach 4th finger while holding down 1st finger, but on the 7/8 I can. That makes it much easier for me to play pieces that use 4th finger.

@Fiddlerman - No, both of these are fromlocal shops in my city. When my teacher first recommended 7/8, I knew I would want to try one out for a while to see how the new size fit me. I called 5 of the local violin shops, and only one had a 7/8 rental in stock, and one more said they would order a 7/8 for rental or purchase evaluation. The second 7/8 just came in, so that is how I came to be evaluating both of these now, before the rental term and the evaluation period are up.

I forgot to ask them about Strings, so my guesses are bases on looking up the thread wrapping colors. Of course someone might be making other strings that mimic the colors used by D''Addario or Pirastro.

I will note that in "real life", one of the violins has much more complex overtones that don' t come through this recording made with the basic Windows sound recorder on my computer.