Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

First off, I'm not a professional violinist, but I have played the instrument for a number of years. Also, I've only had this instrument for a little less than a week... but I WILL keep updating this review as time goes on. Finally, I ordered this off Amazon. I cannot speak to the products received from another company. My bottom Line: To purchase this instrument at such a low price is a fantastic deal. Growing up, playing the violin, it was hard if not impossible to find a quality instrument at such a low price (I spent $125 on this instrument). Of course, this package does have some flaws. Below is an in-depth review, so let's get down to it. THE INSTRUMENT Pros: - This is a solid-body electric violin, meaning no feedback!! - The instrument has a sturdy, strong feel. - The bridge, tailpiece, & chin-rest are fantastic (no issues). - The pegs were not broken or damaged in any way. - Contains three perfectly fine 1/8" jacks (Line Out, Mic, Phone) on the underside. - Decent control knob for volume, another for tone. - 9v Battery included in case (on/off switch located near battery compartment). - Acoustic production: This is indeed a remarkably quiet violin (when not listening to it through headphones or speakers, of course). - Plays well with others, you can plug it into your amp, your macbook, etc. - Garageband works great with this instrument. It's a lot of fun playing around with all the amps/stompbox effects, and this is something I'm still exploring. Absolutely awesome. Cons: - Being a solid body, it won't sound the same as an acoustic. But if you have a fantastic pair of headphones with new strings (more on that later) this instrument can sound very, very nice. - To spoil your surprise, the included headphones are the worst of any pair I've EVER used (including airline-provided). I'm using Grado SR-80i headphones (which are amazing all on their own). - Acoustic sound: The sound quality is not very good without headphones or speakers that are loud enough to cover up the acoustic production. That being said, it is an electric violin. - It is just a tad bit heavier than my acoustic violin. - The pegs slip. Others claim they don't, but perhaps it's because I live in a tropical environment. Regardless, when I'm tuning the instrument or replacing the strings, I don't want any slippage period. Fortunately, I knew of this issue before buying and picked up "The original peg drops by ardsley" here on amazon for $7.45. Once I applied a drop, the issue went away instantly. I'm extremely glad I bought the peg drops, and I imagine I'll have them the rest of my life. - I'm not a fan of the included strings. They sound weak and loud. I substituted them with D'addario's Pro Arte medium tension perlon core string set, which have a much fuller and richer sound, in my opinion. - Someone mentioned paint coming off (I ordered the black model). I noticed some very tiny black specks on my fingertips, but this is minimal. - No shoulder rest included (but that's expected). - Overall: Changing strings and applying peg drops requires a certain comfort level, but I'm sure you could bring it into any violin shop worth their salt and they could change the strings for you for free if you so desire (provided you purchase new strings from them). The instrument is really what you pay for, and it's still a steal if this was all you received at a little over $100. THE BOW Pros: - Good arch in the stick. - Perfectly good horsehair (no adhesive present in the horsehair). - Screw/mechanics of bow worked perfectly. - Overall, I'm very surprised and impressed. I was expecting a worthless bow, but this is in fact a much higher quality bow than what I received in rental packages as a kid. Cons: - None, just make sure you apply some rosin! ROSIN: Pros: - Fine quality rosin. Cons: - I received dark rosin instead of the light rosin which was pictured. CASE: Pros: - Room for two bows. - Compartment for rosin, peg drops, etc. - Cloth to cover violin included. - Compartment on outside to store music, shoulder-rest, etc. - Has backpack straps. Cons: - Zippers are cheap. - No locks, just velcro overflaps and zippers to secure violin in case. - No room for shoulder-rest on the inside, must squeeze it into the outside zipper compartment. - Cloth to cover violin contains no cushion. ACCESSORIES: - Headphones are terrible, don't plan on using them. - The 90 degree 1/8" male plug to 1/4" male plug aux cable has completely stopped working after a few days. This is unacceptable, but somewhat expected. I'm currently contacting customer service so that I may receive a new one to use and review. Will keep you updated. OVERALL: You will need new strings, peg drops, an extension cable (I purchased a 20 ft female 1/4" jack to 1/8" plug at radioshack for about 10 bucks), headphones/earbuds, and patience. That being said, this is still a fantastic deal. This instrument is way more than playable. **Update** 06/13/2012 - Concerning the faulty aux cable, I contacted Cecilio Musical Instruments and I promptly received a helpful response. They sent me a replacement for my faulty cable at no charge, and it just arrived today. After testing the cable, I can say it is completely functional. - I'm continuing to enjoy this violin, and I will provide a further update to this review in a few months time.