This is a nice instrument. As a very competent pianist, but novice violinist, I was looking for an instrument that would produce a nice tone but wouldn’t bankrupt me. Even though it is part of an outfit, it has been made very well. The set up was spot-on and it arrived already tuned, with the bridge up, and ready to play. As mentioned, the tone is nice and it is worth getting decent stings – the instrument was strung with Dominants and they are good. The E string even sounds nice and not as “thin” as it did on my last instrument. The chin rest is generously proportioned which I like and the tailpiece includes integral adjusters for fine-tuning (so much easier and quicker to use for adjusting the tuning if the strings aren’t too far out). It only took 2 days to arrive from the date of purchase and was packed very securely. The violin’s case is the Caswell’s super light case, which retails separately at £170. It is light, but of good quality, with a full-length pocket for music (although filling this can cause the case to lose its balance), a strong tube and hygrometer to check for humidity. The case comes in a range of colours which I didn’t realise at the time of purchase or I would have specified my preference. I am happy with the choice I was given, but thought it worth mentioning as some people considering making this purchase may feel strongly about the case colour. I haven’t had the instrument for long and my current skill level limits my ability to see how it can handle more challenging pieces, but I don’t have any concerns – Caswell’s suggest this violin can take a violinist to the upper grades and I have had no experience of unwanted vibrations, buzzing or humming that plagued my last violin. In short, if you are looking for a reasonably priced violin that looks and sounds like a really decent instrument, this might well be the choice for you.
