Cecilio Violin Buying Guide

If you search through Amazon for a violin or really any band or orchestra instrument, chances are you’ve seen the brand Cecilio everywhere. As one of the largest sellers of student band orchestra instruments, they’ve increased in popularity recently as more adults have taken up learning instruments. Gone are the days where you had to spend 500 dollars on a violin to get started. But are these violins even worth their cheap costs?

Top Pick: CVN-600

A Little Bit About Cecilio

cecilio violin

Cecilio Music was founded in 2004 after the founders overheard a family struggling to afford a violin for their daughter.  They partnered with music educators and professional musicians. They set out to create affordable quality instruments. Their instruments are manufactured in China and then shipped to their primary warehouse in Los Angeles. From their instruments are tested and then sent out when ordered. While primarily sold on Amazon, Ceclilo’s actual storefront is called KK Music Store. There you’ll find all of their instruments available, their blog, and an FAQ section that can answer many first-time buyer questions!

Model Overview

Cecilio makes six main violins, each with its own features and price point. While one is fantastic and a few are good, the other leaves a lot to be desired.

CVN-200

CVN-200

The CVN-200 is an entry-level student model violin. This violin is a step-up from the discontinued CVN-100 features a solid carved spruce top and maple back, neck, and sides. The fingerboard is made out of maple, which isn’t terrible but isn’t a preferred material. The pegs, chinrest, and tailpiece are made of boxwood, a popular fitting choice but not often seen on student instruments.

It is strung with D’Addario Prelude Strings, which is a preferred student string. The outfits include a basic hard case, chromatic tuner, lesson book, 2 brazilwood bows, rosin, shoulder rest, and for some reason, an extra bridge. This violin will need to be set up by a luthier in order to be comfortably playable. I’d also recommend switching out the tailpiece and bridge for something of higher quality.

While this instrument will get you started, don’t be surprised if, after a year, you’ll find the violin frustrating to play. As you advance and gain exposure to higher-quality violins, you will find this violin a struggle to draw a good tone out of. Additionally, components like the fine tuners on the tailpiece and the pegs will quickly show wear. Peg slipping on these instruments is a very common occurrence. The fine tuners often break and will no longer loosen or tighten strings. For students, fine tuners are often required to achieve a precise tune.

Pros

    • Cheap
    • Comes with everything you need to get started
    • Made out of decent materials
    • Comes with a good standard student string
    • Comes with a book to get you started

Cons

    • Maple fingerboard instead of ebony
    • Needs to be set up by a luthier adding to the cost
    • Factory Made
    • Wood isn’t aged
    • Fine tuners and pegs will fail or crack.

CVN-300

CVN-300

The CVN-300 ticks just enough of my boxes to be worth the money. While it might not be top quality, you can at least be assured you are getting a student instrument of equal quality to anything you would find as a rental in a music store. The cost of this violin is under $200 dollars with a decent resale value, although not spectacular. It features a solid spruce top with a maple back, neck, and sides. The fingerboard and fittings are made out of the preferred ebony wood. This violin is very pretty and has a classic student violin look.

The outfit comes with two brazilwood bows, a hard case, rosin, 2 bridges (again, why?), and an extra set of violin strings that can promptly be put in the trash. With some definitive experience, I can say this violin will last a student at max 2 years. The fine tuners will fail, and the pegs will be annoying to use. However, for the price point and with a good setup by a luthier, it’s not a terrible violin. I still think you can do better for your money.

Pros

    • Ebony Fingerboard
    • Standard spruce and maple tonewoods
    • Comes with the basic accessories
    • Cheap for quality

Cons

    • Requires a luthier set up
    • Fine tuners and pegs will fail or crack
    • Wood isn’t aged
    • Factory Made
    • Stock strings will break during tuning

CVNAE-330

CVNAE-330

I’ve been anxiously waiting for a moment to roast this violin, and for a good reason. This was my first violin, one I painstakingly picked out. In the end, I outgrew it quickly and found a lot of it cumbersome. For the price point, it’s a good quality violin. I spent $1750 on my advanced violin, so if $130 can get you started, then why not.

Still, I’m excited to roast the aspect of it that makes it well terrible. This violin has all of the same features as the CVN-300, with the added capability of being both an acoustic and electric violin. Let me just say, this was a terrible idea on Cecilio’s part. I understand the concept and the idea because I, too, though I would be an awesome rockstar violinist.

Still, it’s just not a good combination in an already heavy student instrument. The electrical components make this violin very heavy in comparison to its acoustic-only counterpart. While I don’t regret my choice, I’d most likely choose the CVN-500 instead. In the end, I used this violin as an art canvas and acquired separate acoustic and electric violins.

Pros

    • Solid carved spruce and maple tonewoods
    • Ebony fingerboard and fittings
    • Outfit includes a blow, aux cords, hard case, rosin, and shoulder rest.

Cons

    • Electrical equipment makes it heavy.
    • Fune tuners and pegs will crack or fail.
    • Needs to be professionally set up by a luthier adding to cost.
    • Stock strings are horrible will break during tuning.

CVN-500

CVN-500

This is where Cecilio starts talking business in terms of violins. Honestly, this is the violin I wish I had purchased in the beginning. It’s beautiful and for the price its incredible quality. This violin features a solid spruce wood top, flamed maple back, neck and side with inlaid purfling and antique varnish. The fingerboard and fittings are made from ebony, and the fine tuners are easily detachable for replacement.

The violin is strung with D’Addario Prelude Strings, which is a great step up from the Cecilio branded strings on previous models. The outfit comes with 2 brazilwood bows, a lesson box, a hard case, rosin, shoulder, and an extra bridge. I really love this violin, but its brother, the CVN-600, outshines this one even more.

Pros

    • Solid spruce and flamed maple tonewoods
    • Ebony fingerboard and fittings
    • Detachable fine tuners
    • Antique varnish
    • Beautiful student instrument that will last through advanced level
    • Comes with everything you need to get started

Cons

    • Needs to be set up by a luthier
    • It is not a lifelong instrument; you will eventually want to upgrade to a better instrument.
    • You will want a better bow

CVN-600

CVN-600

The CVN-600 is, in my opinion, the best violin Cecilio makes, and it’s the only violin that receives this level of detail and care during construction. This is an instrument I’ve been considering purchasing. I have zero need for it, but it’s a beautiful violin, and I could also use a student geared violin for people to try out.

The price point is right; while a great deal more expensive than the CVN-500, you get a ton for your money. This violin features a highly flamed one-piece maple back and sides, with a solid spruce top using wood that has been aged for seven years. They hand-oiled this violin for its finish and used ebony fingerboard and fittings.

The outfit comes with two brazilwood bows, which will need to be upgraded. The quality of this instrument calls for at least a carbon fiber bow. Rosin, shoulder rest, a lesson book, and an extra bridge are also included. The case is a step up from previous models and includes a hydrometer.

Pros

    • Hand oil varnish
    • Aged and flamed maple and spruce tonewoods
    • Ebony fiberboard and fittings
    • Detachable fine tuners
    • Upgraded case
    • Comes with everything you need to get started

Cons

    • It will need to be set up by a luthier
    • The bow is not of equal quality to violin and will require an upgrade

CEVN Violins

CEVN Violins

The CEVN violins are Cecilios answer to an electric violin offering. While there are several models, they all share the same specs; each model corresponds to the shape and style of the violin. This electric violin includes a solid carved maple body with an ebony fingerboard and fittings. The outfit comes with a brazilwood bow, hard foam case, rosin, and headphones. The violin contains a built-in amp which requires a 9volt battery to use.

Pros

    • Cheap
    • Quality materials
    • Comes with the basics

Cons

    • It’s just an overall meh electric violin; you can find better ones for similar prices.

Other Brands to Check Out

Bunnel

  • Tower Strings by Fiddlershop offers some quality student-level violins backed with two professional violinists’ knowledge and experience. I also prefer their electric violins over the Cecilio ones.
  • Bunnel Violin Outfits by Kennedy Violins offers some quality student-level violins. These are more expensive than Cecilio, but they come with a level of quality Cecilio can’t reach with their violins.
  • Eastman is one of the most well-known orchestral string brands out there. They make quality student instruments, and you will likely find them as rentals. Since so many students start out with Eastman, they are well known in the community. You’ll find most teachers and luthiers are familiar with the instrument.

FAQ

Question: Are Cecilio’s violins worth anything if I try to resell them?

Answer: Generally speaking, no, not really. Violins do become better with age, but Cecilio’s instruments are low enough quality in the beginning that they won’t’ be worth much more when you sell them. Especially since most of the fittings will need to be replaced. That is why I kept my first violin instead of trading it in. It makes a beautiful sentimental art piece.

Question: What violin does Lindsey Stirling and TwoSet Use?

Answer: Lindsey Stirling uses a Luis and Cark violin from the early 1900s, Yamaha SV-250 Electric Violins. She recently released a signature violin she helped design. After her signature song, the violin is called Crystallize and was created with Yamaha. You can check it out here!
Brett from Twoset uses a violin from 1952. Eddy uses an unlabelled violin repaired around 1917, although this may have changed recently. Brett also has a viola gifted to him by Eddy for his birthday, much to his amusement and slight disgust.

Question: When were violins invented?

Answer: The modern violin was first invented in the early 16th century in Italy. Still, evidence points to a version with only 3 strings existing long before then. Bowed string instruments have been around since the early 9th century, and the violin is likely a combination of those. Stradivari and Guarneri are the most famous violin makers, and their original instruments sell for millions of dollars.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Cecilio makes some good and some bad instruments. While I wouldn’t give the time of day to their lower-end models like the CVN-200 or the discontinued CVN-100, their higher-end models deserve a second glance.  The CVN-600 is a great instrument for the price, and I highly recommend it; you get a lot of money here. While the CVN-500 is beautiful and falls into the student budget a lot better, it does leave a little to be desired. Regardless of what violin you purchase, remember to have it professionally set up and get a new bow as soon as you can.

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