Mendini By Cecilio Violin 1/2 Full Size for Beginners, Violin Set for Kids Adults Students, Fiddle Solid Wood with Hard Case, Rosin, Bow, Extra Strings and Shoulder Rest (Black)

I have always wanted to play violin, and a few weeks ago I decided what the heck, I'm going to just get one. I did some research on Amazon and came across this set; the negative reviews made me question if I should buy it or not, but the amount of positive reviews helped me decide to just go ahead and get it.When the violin first came, the strings were all set and everything, but (as expected) it was not in tune. I tried to tune it and I had some trouble. I've tuned a guitar before, so it's not like I was completely clueless- the problem was that I never used an instrument with a bridge before, so I knocked it over when tightening the strings. I wasn't 100% comfortable setting the bridge back up because everything feels so fragile and I didn't want to break anything. I took it to school (I'm a teacher) and had someone in the music department help me. If this is your first experience with tuning a stringed instrument, especially one with a bridge, I would highly suggest taking this to a music store or to someone who can help you. Tuning it after that initial setup isn't so hard; I purchased an awesome tuner to help me. I would HIGHLY recommend this tuner to anyone: Snark SN-5 Tuner for Guitar, Bass and Violin. It's easy to use and really helpful!!Next, I tried to assemble the shoulder rest. Lo and behold, I found that it did not fit...it must not have been made for a 4/4 full size violin because it wouldn't even reach across the bottom. Since the order was fulfilled by Amazon, I contacted them to see if they could replace the part. Amazon customer service is amazing and they said I could either return the whole set for a new one, or they would credit me for part of the cost of the violin so I could buy a new shoulder rest that did fit. I did not want to send the whole set back after the bridge/tuning business, so I had them credit me and I bought the Everest EZ Series Shoulder Rest for 4/4 Violin. It fits perfectly, is affordable, and I can tell it's more comfortable than the one that came with the violin would have been.After that, I took out the bow and began to work on that. I am not thrilled with the bow; when comparing all of the hairs on the bow, some of them were (and still are) more loose than others. However, when you buy a violin set for 60-70 dollars, you can't expect something mind-blowing and amazing. I used the rosin (you have to start it with some sandpaper or something) to get the bow ready to go. I actually ended up buying some better rosin because the stuff that came with the violin set seemed really cheap; after doing some research, I went with Pirastro Goldflex Rosin For Violin - Viola - Cello. I'm sure the cheap stuff is good enough to get by, but I wanted something of just a bit higher quality.The violin set does come with an extra set of strings and an extra bridge; I like having those extra pieces as backups just in case. As for the quality of the strings, I've seen from other reviews that the strings really make a difference in the sound the violin makes; maybe in the future, I'll get some nicer strings, but for now the ones that came in the set work fine. I have friends that play the violin and I know the one I bought off Amazon doesn't sound half as nice (and it never will), but this Mendini set is such a great starter. It's affordable and sounds pretty good, which is all I need since I'm just teaching myself in my free time.One last thing- I live in the middle of nowhere and do not have access to lessons (and the school I teach at doesn't even have orchestra- band only, so sad), so the book I've been using is Essential Elements 2000 for Strings Plus DVD: Violin Book 1. It's easy to use and comes with a DVD (which I didn't find too helpful) and a CD so you can play along with the tracks (which IS very helpful). I have also been using various YouTube videos for technique, like the bow hold, because those aren't covered as well in that book/on the DVD.I am very pleased with this violin and I would highly recommend it- especially if you're an adult looking for something affordable to putz with!

I am a decent amateur pianist with a masters in music, but I have never played a violin and thought it would be fun to give it a try. I didn't want to spend a fortune in case it didn't "take." I listened to the comparison on Youtube between a $62 violin from Amazon and some 18th-century, $150,000 (or more) violins, and concluded that how a violin sounds depends a whole lot more on the player than on the instrument. So I ordered the Mendini MV200, which cost about $45 with the Amazon Prime discount. It comes with everything you need -- nice case, bow, rosin, shoulder rest, extra bridge, extra strings -- and it looks beautiful. At time of delivery, it was set up with the bridge in place (centered between the notches on the F holes) and the strings attached to the pegs, but not tuned. When I tried to tune it, the bridge, which is held in place by the strings, fell off and had to be put back, which was no big deal. Because all of the strings were loose at the same time, I was concerned that the post inside the violin would slip once the pressure from the bridge was off, but I treated the violin very gently and fortunately that did not happen.While I was tuning, the pegs kept slipping, and at some point in the process I broke the E string -- not a rare event among violinists. To solve the peg problem, I applied rosin powder (after scraping the rosin with sandpaper to rough up the surface), and that made the pegs more difficult to turn, which kept the strings in tune. I rosined up the bow so that the violin would produce a sound. Then I produced a sound that made even the mice run for cover. Now I'm reading "Violin for Dummies," checked out of the library, and I've acquired some violin-lesson books, also from the library. I'm on my way to playing a scale!In addition to the violin package, I purchased from Amazon an Eno Professional Violin Viola Tuner, Colorful LCD display Easy Control Clip on Tuner (ET-05SV); and, as backup to the rosin that came with the violin package, a small, rectangular container of Super Sensitive Dark Violin Rosin. I then ordered different kinds of strings from various companies, including on EBay, to allow comparisons. From Amazon I added a Fretless Finger Guide for Full (4/4) Size Violin, a ChromaCast CC-MSTAND Folding Music Stand with Carry Bag, and an eBoot Rubber 4/4 Violin Practice Mute, Black (to protect the other members of the household). I have ordered the highly recommended Essential Elements for Strings - Book 1 with EEi: Violin and some sheet music with technical exercises. Everything cost me less than $100. Now I'm good to go.Eventually, I'll have to replace the bow, which is already losing a few hairs, or have the existing bow restrung. Now that I know I'm not supposed to touch the rosin, but instead hold it through the cloth it came with, I expect it will last for a while. Note to other reviewers: Rejecting the violin because of the rosin or the bow is like rejecting a house you like because a light bulb is flickering and may need to be replaced. Rosin costs about five dollars and, fortunately, there are plenty of reasonably priced bows on Amazon (or EBay, which is a good place to go for accessories that can cost less than they do on Amazon).I am amused and bemused by the angry, dire reviews left by a few violin teachers and music store owners, as if the existence of an inexpensive violin is an attack on all things beautiful about Western civilization. I can see nothing to regret and no reason to return the instrument, which delights me. My limitations as a player are so great that the violin's limitations make no difference. I can still learn how to hold the violin and the bow, bow technique, where to put my fingers to create different pitches, how to do vibrato, how to play double and triple stops, and a lot more. If the violin starts holding me back, I can get a new instrument, but I don't expect that to happen soon. If it does happen, I'll be thrilled.