Well-made student violins are still made with care, but a few cost-saving measures are involved. The wood may be aged for a shorter time. Boxwood or other cheaper hardwoods may be used in place of ebony. While this may not affect your playing much as a beginner, cheaper hardwoods may fade and produce a slight buzzing as they age. Student violins may be constructed with

bridge cutting machine instead of hand carving, and less care is taken to match the grain. Finishes may be sprayed on by machine instead of hand applied. The bow on student violins may not be as well balanced, and the frog end may feel heavier than the tip. This will affect your sound, as greater uniformity of sound between downbow and upbow strokes will require greater control.

The bridge on student violins is often packed flat for shipping, and may be set up either at the shop, by your teacher, or yourself. Ask your violin teacher to show you how to set up your bridge, especially if you buy a violin online, as they are the most likely to arrive with the bridge packed flat. Speaking of online purchases, knowing where to buy your violin is essential.

So, what’s the main difference between professional violins and student violins? Overall: Professional violins are made to last the ages, but student violins are constructed to provide a good playing experience during a student’s first years.