Cecilio CEVN-1BK Solid Wood Electric Violin

First I should say that while I play several other traditional instruments,
my closest personal encounter was during a year in high school when I “held a viola”.
So far I’m not serious — just have some spare time — and the price is right.

So on to the review: I am in an apartment – thus the reason for “silent”.
The hard case (foam I think) is very nice and light – 2 zipper
toggles for closing, 2 shoulder straps on the back, with a pocket on the
outside top – 6″x8″ music would fit easly.
Inside the case there might be space for an extra bow,
but apart from the electronics -(which I haven’t tested or looked at) there
is only the small compartment under the neck for items – rosin, battery
As far as I can see there is no room for a shoulder rest inside,
which I don’t have yet (though that probably would fit in the
outside pocket).
I tuned it up and it has held its pitch for a couple of weeks so far.
I had to roughen the rosin surface with coarse sandpaper before the
bow would take it up. With a little rosin on the bow, it is loud enough
for me without amplification.

I have playing tried without and with various homemade shoulder pads —
but nothing worked (at all) – so now waiting for a commercial model. I’m
now thinking this is the most important part of a violin! If you can’t
hold it you can’t play it.

Conclusion: a good buy – it’s worth what I paid , and I can’t find fault
with it. Not 5 stars because I haven’t tried everything yet.

Was to be a gift but the shipping box was completely smashed on one end, violin electronics and tailpiece shattered inside case making it unplayable or repairable.

I purchased this Cecilio violin from Amazon because of my history of dealings with Amazon quality.
I was taught violin, in my youth, and played daily for fifteen years. I am also a union carpenter and have over forty years of building experience. My profession and duties at home did not allow a practice schedule. I would play when I had opportunity. I have an acoustic violin that will project through the house with closed doors, rubber practice mute and foam in the “F” holes. I have some electric experience with a Barcus Berry pickup on my acoustic but no experience with electric solid bodies.
I needed something for silent practice and decided on this violin as an inexpensive trial until I can build my own. I am reviewing this as a budget electric violin and not comparing it to much more expensive electric violins. I am not qualified to review this violin in a professional amplified setting.
I cannot add or detract from fiddleman’s video review. This violin is machine produced for a mass audience. I found the quality control reasonable for this function. The one I received is perfect for silent practice. I found the controls to be functional and the jacks to be secure if the cable is partially supported by a shoulder rest or through an opening in the violin body. My Wolfe shoulder rest fits but slips on the lacquered finish. I am going to try some non-skid paste wax.
The violin I received is functional and playable but I found some fitting I needed to improve on mine. I noticed some of the tuning problems that others had but with strange noises as I brought up string tension. I initially attributed it to a normal settling in and string stretching.
After a few days, I decided to install some D’Addario Pro Arte perlon strings like I use on my acoustic.
I checked the fingerboard, with a straightedge and it does have a shallow scoop; however, there were light chatter marks from the machining. I filed and sanded them to smoothness, bridging the marks. I filed to touch and steel straightedge. They still show visually from the burnishing of the machining. I did not want to overcut for cosmetics.
I filed the nut for uniform string clearance at the fingerboard. The E string side was a mm higher and not rounded on the end.
The bridge is a factory bridge. I trimmed and thinned the bridge to reduce the string height to my preferences.
The pegs only fit about half way into the opposite peg box wall. I did not want to buy a peg cutter so I lightly turned the pegs in 320 grit sandpaper to remove the finish. I rotated in each direction and frequently checked until they were just flush with the opposite peg box wall. I gently rounded the ends but only the edges. The pegs are cut for length, so I didn’t round the ends to the normal profile. I used a common #2 graphite pencil to lubricate the contact points with the peg box walls. If the pegs slip, you can use blackboard chalk. If you get too aggressive in your fitting you will be drilling new string holes in the pegs.
When I installed the new strings there were ominous noises again. I released all string tension and checked the tailpiece. The “gut” had small finely treaded brass retainers that screwed on each end. One was slipping and nearly off. I remembered the past, using cellos strings with a knot but didn’t have one available. I chose to use what I had on hand, Super Glue. I threaded the devices back to where they should have been. The fittings pulled the glue with capillary action and it seems to be a good temporary fix. I did leave it over night to cure.
I removed the fine tuners leaving only the E string. Four tuners are common with steel strings. It is very important to bring your string tension up gradually. Constantly straighten the bridge so the side near the tailpiece is at 90 deg to the violin body. I use light tension on the G and E to start. I experienced at least a day of settling in before the violin would stay in tune.
I don’t recommend my unprofessional efforts but rather a set up by a skilled professional. If you are a home hobbyist, there are many helpful articles to sort through on the Internet. A sharp knife, sandpaper and a good file will do the work. I would not do this work myself on an acoustic violin. Precise bridge work is critical to sound on an acoustic and even experienced luthiers are still developing their skills.
The violin now plays very similar to my acoustic and I have played it several weeks. It was certainly worth the low price. I find it to be very useful for the quiet practice I needed.