You’ve probably been a student for years now and have outgrown your instrument. For some reason, you find it a little slow for your playing skills or it doesn’t produce the sound it used to. The solution? Replace it with one of the best professional violins.

They are made from high-quality materials, have better clarity in sound quality, playability, and are more responsive. Having a professional violin will also help you progress faster, allowing you to practice longer without getting tired quickly.

Finding the best professional violin can be a little daunting, given the different brands, woods, and craftsmanship used to make them. Our recommendations and this guide for choosing the best violin for professionals should help you find the perfect violin. 

Best Professional Violins

1. Maestro D Z Strad Full-size Violin: Best Overall

This violin is the epitome of excellent sound quality and construction. Being a D Z Strad model, you expect high-quality craftsmanship and sound quality. The D Z Strad model borrows extensively from Gasparo da Salo who was known for making the most intricate inlays.

This is evident from the seasoned tonewoods used to make the violin featuring Italian Spruce, Maple, and Ebony woods. Spruce wood is used on the body, creating a rich color tone, while maple wood is used on the neck, enhancing the instrument’s overall appearance. It also has an ebony fingerboard which creates a smooth texture and attractive color that doesn’t wear out quickly.

As for the sound, the Maestro Strad Full-size Violin doesn’t disappoint. It produces a loud, high-pitched tone giving a comparable violin model a run for its money. Even after playing for many hours, the violin still produces a loud, rich sound. The violin also comes with a range of well-crafted accessories. It comes with a Brazilwood bow, the most durable type, a shoulder rest with a stand, and rosin.  

2. D Z Strad Violin Model 100: Best Budget Buy

Although the D Z Strad Model 100 a great violin for beginners, it produces a sound timbre that meets professional players’ standards. It delivers incredibly soft tones, and its forgiving shape and smooth surface make it easy to press and shift when playing. The straightforward design also makes it highly playable.

The sound is clear enough, hardly developing deviations caused by poorly constructed instruments. D Z Strad violin model is made from aged tone woods to make this violin evident from the classic color and beauty.

The wood is air dried to allow the moisture content to adjust naturally, reducing the risk of cracking and increasing resistance to extreme weather conditions and humidity. Weighing 4.5 pounds only, this Z Strad violin model is pretty manageable.

The violin is also fitted with a Wittner Style tailpiece known for offering accurate string length. The tailpiece is well-positioned and fitted with tuning pegs for easy tuning.

3. Cremona SV-500: Best for Value

If you want to level up from beginner or intermediate violins, buy the Cremona SV-500. It has great sound quality and its construction beats pricier violins. It has a solid maple body, solid carved spruce, and finished with a reddish-brown antique varnish that gives it the most elegant look.

This violin has ebony fittings except the tailpiece which features a composite material for easier tuning. In addition, it has excellent flattened points, with the scroll carved deep enough, so the end isn’t visible.

You’ll love the sound of this beautiful violin. Cremona SV-500 produces a soft but robust sound achieving high notes without trembling.

You may need to replace the D’Addario Prelude strings with Dominant strings to improve the sound, but overall, it’s a pretty strong and polished tone. After a few tunings and rubbing a bit of candle wax on the fine tuners, the musical instrument is ready to use.

Cremona SV-500 also comes with a durable case to keep it safe. It’s rectangular and has a brown color with a blue, velvety interior to provide a soft landing for the violin.

The interior has four spaces: stash bows, shoulder rest, rosin, and a blanket to cover the instrument. On the side is a zipper, well-secured to prevent the organ from falling off, and a lock and key in case you’re storing it along with other items.

4. Scott Cao 1679 Hellier 1500 Violin: Best for Professional Solo Performances

Although a recreation of the original Hellier 1679, Scott Cao captured most of the details on the 1500 model. Hellier 1679 is one of the best violins Stradivaris ever made and has been stored at the Smithsonian Museum.

The rarity of the Hellier 1679 prompted Scott Cao to create reproductions in the form of the STV 950 and 1500 violin models. They have the same tonal quality as the original violin, with the both models winning the tone award at the Violin Society of America’s international competition five times.

It’s made from the best woods which have been carefully picked to make high quality violins. It has a solid maple body and an ebony fingerboard made of India’s Ebony wood. The finishing process is done by professional luthiers in the U.S. under the supervision of Scott Cao to ensure a quality violin is made.

In fact, the entire reproduction process ensures a meticulously crafted violin is produced, almost similar to Hellier 1679 model. As a result, the Scott Cao 1500 is available at a lower price to make it more affordable for advanced and professional players.

5. Cecilio CVN 600: Most Affordable

Cecilio is known for making affordable beginner violins, but the brand recently started making some of the best violins for professionals. The Cecilio CVN 600 is one example. It features a hand-carved construction with the back and sides made from seasoned maple.

The top features solid carved spruce wood which gives better sustain and a richer resonance. It has an ebony fingerboard which holds up pretty well to the most aggressive play. The wood has the right amount of flexibility and stiffness, its excellent acoustic properties notwithstanding.

It’s then finished with hand oil and inlaid purfling to prevent cracks caused by extreme weather changes. The violin comes fitted with D’Addario Prelude strings which might feel a little weak for professional violin players so it doesn’t hurt to replace them with dominant strings to get a deep sound.

It would also help to replace the Brazilwood bow with a high-quality one along with the violin's bridge and rosin to achieve a beautiful sound.

6. Ming Jiang Zhu 909 Violin: Best for Orchestra

If you’re looking to add another violin for orchestra sessions, the Ming Jiang Zhu is a great buy. Made and hand-crafted by a world-class luthier, the violin adds depth and vibrancy to sound. It takes a few days for the tone to open up, and once it does, you’ll enjoy every bit of playing this instrument.

The sound is soft but robust, often brighter than the some of the best violins for professionals which are worth as much as $10,000. Unlike most violin manufacturers who use D’Addario Prelude strings, Mia Jiang Zhu uses Evah Pirazzi strings.

They’re a favorite among professional violinists as they’re easy to play and more responsive. What’s more, they produce a remarkable sound that adds a distinct tone during orchestral sessions.

The violin is also well-constructed, mimicking Italian traditional violins and craftsmanship. So far, the Ming Jiang Zhu are master violin makers who have won up to 23 awards from recognized international competitions, including the Violin Society of America, where it has received two gold and three silver medals.

When is the Time to Upgrade from an Intermediate Violin to a Professional Violin?

Sometimes violinists get so attached to their musical instrument that they don’t want to upgrade to a new one. However, as your skill grows, you’ll quickly realize you need to upgrade to a higher quality violin. 

Some people wait until they are older to replace their violins, while others replace them as soon as they feel they need a professional violin. Whatever the case may be, here are factors that indicate the need to upgrade to the best violins for advanced players: 

Outgrown its Size

You might be playing a musical instrument that doesn’t fit you comfortably. The size of a violin impacts one’s playability significantly. The learning process may slow down, sometimes making it impossible to play the violin without pain and tension.

Playability

Your violin could be holding you back, albeit growing your playing skills to a professional level. You might be playing the violin smoother and faster, but it isn’t responding. This is a telltale sign that you need an advanced violin that takes on your playing style just as fast.

Wear and Tear

If a violin isn’t well-maintained, it becomes susceptible to wear and tear. The wood grows fragile and starts cracking, and the strings will likely come loose.

No Longer Improving Skill

If the current musical instrument can’t handle your skill level, it might be time to upgrade to a violin with more character and sound. Using the same violin may stunt growth and fail to challenge you to newer heights.

That’s why many professional violinists upgrade their instruments as soon as they have mastered the current one. If you’re not sure, ask your colleagues to advise you. They will let you know when the instrument limits your skill.

Sound Not Loud Enough

Sometimes the sound isn’t loud enough for your playing needs. Typically, there are three string classifications- soloing, chamber, and orchestral music. Solo performances need instruments that can play loud music.

Thus, they should be loud enough to be heard even in a big concert. On the other hand, orchestra and chamber musicians need the best violins for professionals with a flexible sound and rich overtones to complement other instruments.

Since they’re likely to be affected by surrounding instruments, advanced violins should project sound audibly for ensemble playing.

How to Choose the Right Professional Violin

If you’ve been a beginner or intermediate violin player for a long time, you probably know what you’re looking for. Great sound might take pre-eminence, but you also want to look at other factors like the construction, brand, size, and more. Here are other features to point you in the right direction when buying an advanced violin:

Materials

The materials used to make a violin significantly affect its tone and playability. Typically, Italian spruce is the choice material for instruments with soundboards, including violins and guitars. It’s light, flexible, and strong, the ideal qualities for most instruments.

That’s why spruce is used to make the linings, bass bar, blocks, and sound post. Spruce also has a high stiffness-to-weight ratio that remains strong even when cut thinly.

Maple wood is used to make the instrument's neck, back, and ribs due to its aesthetic beauty. It also has unique growth patterns with alternating light and dark flames, creating a beautiful optical quality.

Some luthiers use poplar on the back and the ribs instead of maple wood because it produces a darker tone quality. Ebony, is another wood material used on a violin’s fingerboard because it’s strong, dense, and flexible enough to support the most aggressive play.

Ebony fittings also come in handy on other violin parts like the chinrest, tuning pegs, and tailpiece. For advanced violins, the older the wood the better. It's drier and produces a richer, more mature tone. That’s why professionals play antique instruments almost exclusively.

Size

Violins come in 9 different sizes. The 1/16 size is the smallest and a great beginner violin while the 7/8, and 1/2 sizes are perfect student violins. The 4/4 violin is ideal for adults and professionals.

By now, you already know the ideal size for your skill level, but if you are looking to challenge yourself with a larger size, you can determine the perfect size. First, extend your arm away from the body and measure the distance from the base of the neck to the center of the palm or wrist.

A neck-to-palm measurement determines the largest instrument you can play, while a neck-to-wrist indicates the most comfortable size.

Acoustic vs Electric Violin

Advanced players can play both acoustic and electric violins; it all depends on the kind of music they want to play. Acoustic violins have been commonplace for an extended period because they offer a better representation.

They are also cheaper and more comfortable to hold. In fact, acoustic violins have the upper hand regarding presentation and resonant sound in an orchestral setting.

On the other hand, an electric violin is great for advanced players looking for added creativity in sound. The presence of a jack output to amplify sound is an excellent bonus for advanced students who want to expand their range of sounds.

That’s why the best electric violins are perfect for performances within contemporary music genres like rock and jazz. What’s more, it’s easy to record sound or music using these violins. However when buying a violin for professional players acoustic violins are the best, while electric ones are more suitable for advanced students.

Brand

With so many violin brands, finding one specially designed for professionals can be challenging. However, you can always rely on history to find a violin brand for professionals.

Scott Cao and Stradivarius have long been regarded as the best brands for professional violins. The violins are named after specific violin artists called luthiers.

Giuseppe Guarneri and Antonio Stradivari from Cremona, Italy, are the two most famous luthiers, and most violins are named after Strad. Oftentimes the Strad violin is a rare buy and incredibly expensive.

Cost

The best violins for professionals are made from high-quality materials and crafted by master luthiers who spend many hours perfecting them. Oftentimes, professional violins are hand-crafted from start to finish, including applying the antique varnish.

This kind of investment makes it incredibly pricey, costing $3000-$20,000. Then again, investing in a great violin isn’t like buying an expensive electronic device; rather, it’s an extension of who you’re. As such, you should be ready to invest a good amount of money.

Fine Tuner

Most professional violins come with one fine tuner instead of four. However, if your skills still need a little tuning, you can look for an elegant violin with four fine tuners. Tuning strings with one fine tuner can be challenging. Read our guide on the best violin fine tuners to learn more about tuning in your instrument.

Accessories

The best professional violins come with essential accessories like:

The Rosin

It’s a critical part of a violin as it helps the bow grip the strings better when playing the instrument. It comes in small blocks of brown color, taking on the appearance of a mixture of powdered sugar and amber.

Bow

Some violins also come with bows. The Brazilwood bow, carbon fiber bows, and rosewood bows are the best for advanced students because they are easy to use and make playing various bow strokes manageable.

See our complete guide on choosing the best violin bows.

String

Professional grade violins also comes with high-quality strings. High-quality violin strings produce great sound whether you’re playing the instrument in a band, orchestra, or alone.

Shoulder Rest

Professional violin players are somewhat divided on using a shoulder rest. Some players argue that it dampens the organ’s resonance, while others say it limits motion. Even so, a violin shoulder rest is a critical accessory when playing violins. Some brands include one along with the instrument, but it’s best to look for one that matches your skill level.

Chin Rest

Violin Chin rests vary by height, width, placement, and curvature. Some are mounted to the left of the tailpiece, while others are centered over the tailpiece. A good rule of thumb is to look for a chin rest that’s comfortable enough to allow you to play the organ without much difficulty.

Music Stand

The stand should allow you to adjust its height and angle to your preference. It should also provide enough space to place sheet materials and other materials.

Case

A violin case keeps the violin safe while in transit. It should be durable enough to withstand the rigors of carrying it from one place to another.

FAQs

Which is the best violin for professionals?

Maestro D Z Strad Full-size Violin is the best violin for advanced players. Its overall construction and sound quality beat any other high-end violin. And the fact that the dominant strings can hold up extended play sessions without compromising on tone or volume is a bonus.

How much should a professional violin cost?

The best violins for professionals can cost $3000-$20,000 but you might be lucky to find others costing less than $1000. For example, Cecilio CVN 600 and D Z Strad Violin Model 100 cost less than 1000 and still perform just as well as expensive professional violin models.

What's the best brand of violin?

The best violin brands are known for great sound and craftsmanship. The D Z Strad model is the best brand for professionals followed by Scott Cao violins. Their craftsmanship and exceptional sound make them stand out from other violin brands.

Scott Cao is known for making contemporary violins by replicating violins of famous luthiers, like Guiseppe Guarneri del Gesu and Antonio Stradivari. A Strad violin model, on the other hand, is known for its superior sound.

What violins do professionals use?

A great violin model and brand depend on your needs and role as a violinist. If you’re playing in an orchestra the Ming Jiang Zhu is a popular violin among professionals, but if you are looking for an all-around violin for professional players the Maestro D Z Strad Full-size Violin is a better option.

It could be you’re looking for an advanced student violin at a lower price or a great instrument for solo play; the Cecilio CVN 600 and Scott Cao 1679 Hellier 1500 Violin fit these categories, respectively.

Conclusion

A quality violin for professionals should produce great sound naturally with the highest level of excellence. Our top 6 picks are reliable instruments whether you’re going for a solo performance, orchestra session, or instructing students.

The Maestro D Z Strad Full-size Violin tops the list because it’s an excellent all-around violin. It produces a mellow sound, is well-crafted, and accommodates a range of accessories, including a lightweight case.

It might be a sublime option for an aspiring soloist or an advanced player hence the need to check out other suggested options for the best professional violins.