How much does a violin cost?

Violins under 500 euros

New violins under €500 generally come from China. These mass-produced violins are known for their shrill and sharp tone. From a financial perspective, this is an attractive option. Make sure the violin is properly tuned with a suitable bridge, tuning pegs, and good strings. This also applies to antique violins, which you can buy on Marktplaats (a Dutch online marketplace). Some of these are very beautiful instruments. Keep in mind that these violins often need to be prepared by a luthier (new bridge, strings, tuning pegs). This can easily cost several hundred euros. If you don't know much about violins, consult someone who can assess the quality and condition of the antique violin.

Violins up to 1000 euros

New violins in this case often come from Eastern Europe (including Romania). The quality is reasonable, especially if they have a professionally set-up. These violins can sometimes sound a bit hollow and loud. Alternatives in this price range are old Saxon (German) violins. These generally offer good value for money. They were produced in large numbers at the beginning of the last century, and therefore there is a large selection. These violins are known for their big, dark tone and generally have a good response.

ForteViolen regularly has these types of violins in its assortment (text continues after the images).

Violins up to 2500 euros

These are generally well-made violins for accomplished amateur musicians. They are either handcrafted by a lesser-known violin maker or produced in series (several violin makers make parts of each violin), which keeps production costs low. ForteViolen specializes in this category, offering well set-upt instruments crafted with meticulous attention to detail. These violins are often on par with more expensive ones. However, you're not paying for a specific name or antique (text continues after the images).

Violins up to 5000 euros

In this category, you'll find violins entirely handcrafted by renowned makers from Eastern Europe (Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary). The quality of these violins is excellent, and they often score highly in international violin making competitions. Because labor costs in these countries are lower than in the Netherlands, these violins are currently very affordable, but this is changing. In this category, you'll also find beautiful old German and French violins from places like Mittenwald and Mirecourt. Because the provenance of a violin is often difficult to determine—or information about a particular maker has been lost over time—you can buy excellent violins in this price range, the quality of which rivals that of renowned masters, which are much more expensive.

ForteViolen has a wide selection in this price range, and we're happy to advise you on interesting examples. Furthermore, all violins are also available for rent, giving you plenty of time to familiarize yourself with the instrument before making a purchase (text continues after the images).

Violins over 5000 euros

These are violins for the very accomplished amateur and professional violinist. The economic laws of the violin market apply here. Violins from well-known and renowned makers can command high prices, even for newly made pieces. Violin makers at the beginning of their careers charge lower prices. ForteViolen doesn't specialize in these violins but occasionally offers them for sale.