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(More customer reviews)Well, I ordered the Cremona SV-225 violin on Sept. 16th, and I received it on the 18th and am looking at the tuned instrument as I write this. I bought this brand and model based on numerous written and video reviews over the last month or so. I wanted a decent quality, student violin for 200-300 dollars, that would serve me without frustration until and if I get good enough to upgrade. The Cremona cost me $206.00 shipped. I am not a violinist (YET), my instrument of choice to this point being the piano. But, that said, I do know quality when I see it, and when I hear it.
The violin came UPS, adequately packed in a large and undamaged box. (No offense, UPS, but this has to be a first...) Under the paper packing was a light but substantial hard shell case. Inside was the violin and bow, a compartment containing rosin and a shoulder strap for the case, and the violin bridge, wrapped in foam and stuck under the tailpiece. The case had a built-in hygrometer for humidity that actually seemed to read accurately. So far, so good.
I soon discovered that this is really a very nice violin, on many levels. In appearance, it is stained a pleasing reddish brown, with a satin varnish that does not easily show fingerprints. The spruce top is very tight grained, and appears to be one piece. The back is two piece maple with a very attractive and visible flame pattern. The neck/peg box/scroll also have a nice pattern and compliment the instrument. The pegs, chin rest, end button and the bow frog are all apparently ebony of decent quality, and the tailpiece with its 4 fine tuners seems to be some sort of composite plastic. The f-holes are cleanly cut.
Time to install the bridge. There are no instructions, but there are a million websites showing this. The strings need to be loosened some, and the bridge carefully stood up under the strings. The flat back of the bridge labeled 'Cremona' faces the tailpiece, and the edges of the bridge are lined up with the inside notches cut into the f-holes. The back should wind up perfectly vertical with the strings placed in the four small notches along the top. The lowest height part of the bridge is under the E-string. Also, there is a tiny piece of tubing about a 1/4" long slipped over the E-string, and this needs to rest over the top of the bridge notch to protect the bridge from the thin E-string.
Tuning is done gradually, in stages back and forth between all strings. It is important to check the vertical alignment of the bridge frequently, as tuning will pull it forward and so the top must be carefully slid back to vertical until the tuning is complete. I used my piano to tune the violin, based on a Google Images diagram. GDAE, with the D being 1 white key above middle C. If unsure, read.
I opened the rosin and scratched the surface several times using the edge of the bow adjusting screw. I then tensioned the bow, and dragged it across the rosin for quite some time. NEVER touch the bow hair with your bare fingers while doing this or any other time; the oil from your skin will ruin the 'bite' of the hair and you won't get a sound.
The strings will stretch for a day, and so need adjusted several times, especially the first hour or so. Once I had the instrument decently tuned I played a number of open notes on 1 or 2 strings, and the sound was really surprising--at least to me. I've never touched a violin before, and thought for sure I'd be screeching and bouncing and waking the dead. What came out was a clear, bright, loud, and most pleasant sound. I was amazed! This little wooden box actually sounded great! And, I hadn't broken a string, the bow, the bridge, or my wallet in the process.
Along with the violin, I ordered extra Helicore strings, some 'peg drops' (based on a number of people's recommendations), a different bridge, a fingering chart, and higher quality rosin. What can I say; I like to be prepared.
So, that's where I'm at. I may never be a virtuoso, but I think this thing and I will wind up being good friends. Next--lessons!!
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Cremona SV-225 Premier Student Violin, Full-Size
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