Beginner Instruments

Our violins, violas and cellos are not economy items that look like violin family instruments. Economy products of the ultra low priced variety range from mostly playable to exceptionally bad. We do not sell these violin look-a-likes because we are committed to player success and providing our customers with an excellent product for a decent price. We are already busy with look-a-likes that are brought to us for repairs. While many products in the modern world are now available for highly discounted prices, real violins, violas and cellos simply cannot be created for an ultra-low price for one reason:  time and skilled hand work must be used.  Factory made, machine-cut instruments cannot be made well enough to allow a person to learn and play well.
The Difference Is In the Details

If you are unsure of your child's long term commitment but you still want a nice instrument for them to explore, we recommend our outstanding rental program instruments, most of which are chosen from instruments listed on this page. These beginner instruments are easy to play, have a clear, quality sound and inspire students who have them. "I love the sound of my new violin, thank you!" - phone call from E., age 8, 4th year student, playing an Davidson Violins standard rental 1/4 size violin after turning in her previous instrument to another store. This type of call is why we are here, and why we stand by the quality of our instruments.

Beginner Instruments - off to a great start

Ifyou have a new violin, viola or cello student, you will have many questions about instruments and the best choices for the new player. A rental instrument is a great way to get started, but if you prefer a purchase it is important to be sure that the instrument is suitable to learn with.

New player instrument checklist:

• Hand carved instrument of seasoned maple and spruce, air dried at least 7 years
• Good quality strings for the development of good tone
• Fingerboard and nut of unstained ebony, lightly oiled
• Pegs of ebony, boxwood or rosewood to avoid slipping and regular tuning challenges
• Quality fine tuners integrated into tailpiece
• Correctly shaped fingerboard, nut and bridge, critical for learning to play in tune
• Correctly adjusted sound post to insure easy sound production with light bow pressure
• Well balanced bow with real horsehair and Brazilwood or Pernambuco wood

For the new beginner, we are pleased to offer the excellent Core Academy series from the Howard Core Company in Alabama. The Core Academy instruments are hand made and are designed for the brand new player exploring violin, viola or cello or bass. Each instrument is hand selected and set up with quality strings, Brazilwood bow and sturdy case, rosin and polishing cloth.

Davidson Violins owner, Frank Albert, has this to say about the Core Academy instruments: " The Core Academy instruments have exceeded my expectations for a quality student violin. Compared to what I played on as a new student many years ago, these instruments are far better in both sound and price."

We have had several private studio teachers from other parts of the US visit our shop while they were in town. They were impressed at the quality for the price of the Core Academy instruments, especially as rentals. We believe this is in large part due to our staff including a luthier, professional string musicians and private teachers. We only choose the best sounding instruments, and we know the best soruces to insure quality and best pricing, which we pass on to you.

Customizable!

You can upgrade different components of the pictured outfit to suit your needs and the preferences of your teacher. We have some recommended upgrades, but keep in mind that the basic outfit is still a high quality package that will serve the new player perfectly. With each option you receive the same high quality instrument; the upgrades are for strings and cases.

*Instrument color may vary





Rectangular case upgrade

Core Academy Violin outfits: Starting at $369

The Core Academy standard violin outfit includes:

• Professionally setup Core Academy 10 violin with D’Addario Prelude
  strings
• Shaped wood shell, cordura covered case with music, accessory
  and shoulder rest pockets
• Quality Brazilwood bow (never fiberglass)
• Rosin
• Polishing cloth

Upgrades include:

• Perlon core strings
• Larger capacity rectangular wood shell, cordura covered case with music, accessory and shoulder rest pockets (shaped cases 1/8 size and smaller do not include shoulder rest pocket – we recommend upgrading to the rectangular to have room for your shoulder rest)

Choose your Core Academy violin outfit:

Instrument options

Standard outfit - Prelude strings, cloth covered wood shell case $369.00 USD Standard outfit with Perlon strings $389.00 USD Standard outfit with Rectangular case $407.00 USD Standard outfit with perlon strings and rectangular case $427.00 USD Instrument ONLY (fully playable, Prelude strings) $299.00 USD

Size

4/4 Full size violin 3/4 violin 1/2 violin 1/4 violin 1/8 violin 1/10 violin 1/16 violin

Please note that outfits represent a package price with discounted components.
Instruments have a 7 day return policy for full refund minus shipping costs.

Core Academy Viola outfits: Starting at $429

The Core Academy standard viola outfit includes:

• Professionally setup Core Academy 20 viola with D’Addario
  Prelude strings
• Shaped wood shell, cordura covered case with music,
  accessory and shoulder rest pockets
• Quality Brazilwood bow (never fiberglass)
• Rosin
• Polishing cloth

Upgrades include:

• Perlon core strings.
• Larger capacity rectangular wood shell, cordura
  covered case with music, accessory and shoulder rest
  pockets.

Choose your Core Academy viola outfit:

Instrument options

Standard outfit - Prelude strings, cloth covered wood shell case $429.00 USD Standard outfit with Perlon strings $468.00 USD Standard outfit with Rectangular case $479.00 USD Standard outfit with perlon strings and rectangular case $519.00 USD Instrument ONLY (fully playable, Prelude strings) $339.00 USD

Size

17 inch (tall adults) 16 inch (full size) 15.5 inch 15 inch 14 inch (same body length as 4/4 violin) 13 inch (same body length as 3/4 violin) 12 inch (same body length as 1/2 violin) 11 inch (same body length as 1/4 violin)

Please note that outfits represent a package price with discounted components.
Instruments have a 7 day return policy for full refund minus shipping costs.

*Instrument color may vary





Rectangular case upgrade