Not a bad practice instrument for the price
937453
I bought this violin so I could practice quietly in my new apartment, since I have neighbors on both sides. It does the trick! I would never use it for performance, simply because the sound quality isn't awesome, but it is perfect or practicing. The headphones are absolute junk, so I don't use those, but I use my bose headphones. The strings understandably stretched quite a bit at first, so it was hard to keep it in tune, but after about 3 days, we were good to go with just minor adjustments. I like the fact that I can use my regular shoulder rest with it. My fingers did turn a little black from the fingerboard or strings at first, but that is minor and didn't last. Overall, I feel that I got quite a bargain, but again, it is perfect for practice but not at all a performance instrument.
148425
I got mine and I do like it. I'm trying to teach myself how to play and I know that this isn't the best. But, I'd much rather spend 30 than 100 dollars on a instrument that I'm new at learning. The bad thing about it that you need to tune it a lot. (I think that's the case with most though) the good news is that it came in great condition and I do enjoy playing it.
1319525
For the price, this is a great student violin.  Just keep in mind that you're purchasing a $60 violin.  The package comes well equipped with a case, bow, shoulder rest, rosin, extra strings and an extra bridge.  I was impressed when my girlfriend opened hers.  The violin is matte finished which I think is beautiful.  I almost like the look more than my glossy, more expensive, violin.

The primary problem with this violin is that it doesn't stay in tune at all.  I purchased peg drops, which should resolve this issue.  I will follow up with the results of that.

I haven't had the opportunity to "really" dig in a play it.  Only performed tuning and scales.  Sound quality so far is great for a true beginner.  I may eventually change the strings to a higher quality and replace the bow, but for now I feel like this will work as-is for now.
445977
I ordered this product from Amazon, and it arrived very quickly.  Packaging was sufficient to the need, though there were no instructions or parts-lists.  This thing is easy enough to put together that it doesn't really matter.

  As far as the item itself, it is obvious that it's only a couple hundred bucks.  The 'ebony' fingerboard is just black-painted wood, so be prepared to polish the heck out of it to get the worst off.  My fingers, even after vigorous wiping and several days of use, still turn a little black by the end of a session.  The strings are pathetically cheap, and the fine tuners just do not want to let go of the strings.  I can thread the string through the gap, but popping it out through the space between the prongs is difficult, and you'll probably just damage the string.  Just go ahead and order new strings and fine-tuners while you're buying this thing.  The body also seems to be a little bit longer than my 4/4 acoustic, which makes finding a comfortable and correct position a bit of a challenge (for those of us of moderate stature), but it's not insurmountable.  On the positive side, it seems very sturdily made.  The crook between the neck and the 'body' is exactly in the shape and location needed so you can find fourth and higher positions.  It's very easy to set up--just set the bridge in the slot and tighten the strings over it.  The sound is quite metalic--as you might expect--but not too bad.  Volume-wise, it is akin to a very heavily muted cello, and perfectly suitable to play and not aggravate the neighbors, even at forte.  It is quite heavy, which is annoying in some ways, but it means I'm much more conscious of when I tighten my left hand and either squeeze the neck, or support it on my thumb.  I'm sure it's not intentional, but it helps me keep an eye on those bad habits we all try to avoid.

  I would have liked to have the arms on the thing on the opposite sides (so that the upper arm on the player's left, so you don't get into bad habits in the thumb postions), but I knew that going in.  I would also have liked to have at least the option of using power from an outlet, but since I'm using this mostly for a) more convenient size for travel and b) quiet compared to an acoustic, I don't actually use the battery much.  Or the 'phones.  No idea what the battery-life is like on it, but you might want to make sure you have extras if you're going to use it a lot through an amp, or something.

  Too bad the Yamahas are so expensive, but if you're looking for a basic, portable, electric cello on a budget, this one will do the job.
3974150
I gave this a try not expecting much. I played brass trumpet throughout my school years so I can compare the two. It is very lightweight and actually sounds pretty much like a trumpet should sound. However, I find that the tone is pretty "airy" in the lower registers. Also, there were some flaws on the one that i received right out of the box. There were minor scratches here and there and one of the valve tops is slanted slightly off axis. Also, you will definitely want to pick up some valve oil and slide grease. I was worried the slides were not even functional because they seemed stuck in place at first. After pulling on them with some force they popped off. I applied a coating of slide grease and they are now functioning as smoothly as my old brass trumpet. The valves were also pretty sticky after the first play session. Standard valve oil did the trick as the valves are actually made of metal. The case and stand it comes with is surprisingly nice, though. The plastic mouthpiece is a 7c and is decent, but more experienced players will want to definitely pick up a standard metal mouthpiece. That may help the tone problems I've been having. I haven't tried one with it yet. Once I got back into the hang of playing i was surprised with how nice it can sound. At this price point, this is a great pick-up for someone who may have played in the past and wants to see if they still "got it"...or a young beginner who may not invest the time in picking it up full time. The fact that it comes in different colors is a nice plus as well. I was VERY skeptical as there aren't many reviews out there on these plastic instruments...but considering what I paid and the low expectations I had (I feared it would be a total piece of trash), I'd consider myself satisfied.

EDIT 4/22/15. I upgraded to a Blessing (brand name) mouthpiece and the sound is better now. I get a less airy tone. I'd recommend using a standard metallic mouthpiece over the plastic one.
295601
The guitar is a good instrument to practice with, but it has some flaws. Upon inspection of the finish, I find many spots and what appear to be chips on the body. These imperfections were glossed over and made permanent. The guitar comes with a strap, but there is no nut to attach it to the neck? The pitch pipe is fine , and the guitar tunes well and maintains its pitch. I have not used the electronics as yet and cannot comment as to that. The Guitar works, but I wish I had saved a little longer for a more quality instrument.
2187320
For a low budget instrument, this instrument is great. It is well made and the finish is nice. It plays well and sounds nice. Great piece for beginners on a budget.
3316353
This is not a professional grade instrument....that said, even our music instructor said, after examining it,that it would be okay for a student just starting out and not sure whether or not they'll stick to it. I did splurge, as per our teachers suggestion, on a set of good strings. Even if this lasts for a year, I'm still ahead of the rental cost by more that 400$.
11689
Great instrument for the price. Came string with Aquila strings. Took about three or four days to really stay in tune, but that is normal with nylon strings. Has a smooth sound and good volume. As I said, it's not master craftsmanship, but for the price, it is a good deal and fun to play.
3556924
While I cannot quite play this type of instrument, it seems to be well made.  There were no bends or dents in it when it arrived, and the one note I can sustain sounds clear.  I don't have a tuner available to comment on its tuning, but actual tuning matters little when playing alone, I think.
It comes with a small pamphlet describing the technique for playing it as well as the progression of notes. If you're already familiar with playing this type of instrument and are looking for something more primitive for whatever reason, I'd recommend this.
2769578
Small, cheap and good enough for my purpose. This actually is what I wanted, but don't expect a high quality instrument for this price.
4493128
musical instruments in the < 200 dollar price range are not going to give you a bang for your buck. You will get frustrated playing this instrument due to the high action and inability to stay in tune past the 7th fret.  I recently found out why.  While trying to change the strings and lower the action, I discovered that the saddle is not glued to the body.  I believe that this caused some of the tuning problems since the saddle wasn't fixed properly.  Then after getting new strings on, I discovered that the tunings heads were popping out of the headstock.  Clearly this isn't going to help the situation.  I was excited to get this mandolin and learn how to play it, but I wish I had spent a little more on a real beginner instrument.  It's going to be tough to play a mandolin that is falling apart in your hands.  The "good" news is that it played much better once I got the strings on and tuned up with the action lowered (easy to do with the screws at the saddle).  Now I guess I should invest in some glue for the saddle and the tuning pegs...
204513
is a nice practice guitar for  a first time player. it  was missing a power cable for the amp however the rest was about what i expected for the price
1109079
I was very excited to be able to get my hands on a C trumpet without breaking the bank. And i feel for what you pay it is good.
- it is mostly in tune, although as you go higher in the range you need to work harder to keep it from going flat
- it is more effort to blow than a quality metal student horn (such as yamaha), so the lips tire quicker in the early days
- the valves are slower than above mentioned horns, but not so much so that it caused problems when playing (particularly at beginner level)
- the trumpet falls apart easily, but then it is very easy to put back together too. The pieces sort of click together, and it is sturdy enough while playing it. when picking the trumpet up off the stand of the floor, is the time that it may pull apart.
- higher notes are harder to get on this than on quality metal student horns. But they are there, just may take student a bit longer to master them
- the sound feels 'muted', which can be a positive or a negative depending on what you want out of the instrument.
- the spit valves are in a slightly unusual position, but i find them easier to empty the spit without getting it all over yourself
- pretty indestructible... some visiting kids took it into the dirt,  i was easily able to disassemble it and clean with detergent
- i didn't find changing the mouth piece (to a quality metal one) made the higher notes easier, but it did give a clearer attack to the beginning of each tongued note.

The biggest plus for this instrument is that it is a C trumpet. enables newer students to play with their concert pitch friends, without having to understand how to transpose.
1664691
Fully understanding who this is built for, I'd still appreciate some sort of descending or ascending tune with the strings. It's just a random tuning and I'm admittedly being a bit nit-picky. That said, it does make for a good first 'instrument'. It's tough.
1445307
This guitar is good for someone who is learning how to play. The only problem that is wrong with it is that there is sort of a lot of string buzzing when you play. This can be discouraging for beginners but the buzzing is not that bad. The body is a little big but it is a dreadnought so what do you expect. The shipping speed was great. It arrived fast and on time. I am satisfied for a $50 guitar
610770
I played pretty seriously through high school, and now have a school-age learner. I read, watched, and listened to quite a few professional online reviews before deciding on this model. The tone is a bit mellower than brass, which can be a good thing for learners and their household audiences. It is light enough for a child to hold up without fatigue.  And of course, it's a relief not to be so anxious about pings and dents and corrosion. Handy soft case and potentially useful instrument-stand included.

The valve caps are fitted with a plastic twist-attachment that feels less reliable than metal threads (and like any new trumpet, its valves will have to be pulled out often for frequent break-in oiling). This is about the only place where the plastic construction feels like a structural compromise. So far, they're fine. (We need to mark the valves better so that they don't get re-inserted incorrectly, but that challenge is hardly specific to this model.)

Although my own chops are rusty, I've played on this horn (and for comparison have played on my own brass instrument) a fair amount since it arrived a few weeks ago. Consistency of tuning, tone and blowing effort is decent for a student or practice horn (a third-valve slide exists, but seems sluggish). No regrets. This choice of horn will probably encourage rather than discourage practice in the near future, and we'll upgrade to a brass instrument when and if virtuosity seems within reach.

We've already followed the ubiquitous advice to upgrade the mouthpiece to a proper metal one.