Buying a first violin is confusing. The price range is enormous, the quality signals are not obvious, and the internet is full of instruments that look fine in photographs and sound terrible in person. This is a practical guide to making a sensible choice without spending more than you need to.

Size matters more than brand

Violins come in fractional sizes from 1/16 up to 4/4 (full size). Adults almost always need a 4/4. Children need to be measured properly: the standard method is to hold the violin in playing position and see whether the left hand can curl comfortably around the scroll. Getting the size wrong makes everything harder and can cause strain. If you are buying for a child, measure first.

The £50-£100 range is a false economy

Very cheap violins, the kind sold in bulk online, are often unplayable. The strings sit too high above the fingerboard, the pegs slip, and the bow hair is too coarse to produce a clean tone. A student who starts on one of these instruments often concludes that they are bad at violin when the instrument is the problem. The Stentor Student II, which retails around £120-£150, is the lowest price point we recommend.

Where to buy in Edinburgh

There are two shops in Edinburgh we send students to without hesitation: Stringers of Edinburgh on Broughton Street, and the violin workshop at the back of Rae Macintosh on Queensferry Street. Both will let you try before you buy and will be honest about condition on second-hand instruments. Online is fine for accessories (rosin, shoulder rests, cases) but we recommend buying the instrument in person.

New versus second-hand

A good second-hand violin at £150-£200 will often outperform a new instrument at the same price. The wood has had time to settle and the instrument has usually been set up properly by whoever owned it before. The risk is condition: look for cracks along the seams, check that the pegs turn smoothly, and make sure the bridge is standing straight. If you are not sure, bring your teacher with you.

What about renting?

Renting makes sense for children who are still growing and will need a different size in a year or two. For adults, buying is usually better value after six months. Several Edinburgh shops offer rent-to-buy schemes, which let you apply rental payments toward a purchase. Stringers of Edinburgh runs one of these it is straightforward.

If you are not sure what to buy, come in for a trial lesson first. We lend instruments for the first month, which gives you time to try before you commit to a purchase. Email hello@ochrevibrato.com with any questions.