Kennedy Violins Bunnel Pupil Violin 4/4 Full Size

I am brand new at violin as a 48 year old. I play very expensive guitars and bass guitars but felt like I wanted to learn a new instrument. After reading all of the reviews, I purchased the 4/4 pupil violin. I was hoping it would be a nice instrument…I feel like I received much better quality than what I had hoped for. I was able to pick up this instrument, which I have never even handled before, and play a scale that actually sounded pretty decent. Day two, I spent time learning how to tune the violin, hold it properly and hold the bow properly, all from videos on the Kennedy Violin website. They have great content which is making me feel like I may actually be able to pull this off and learn the violin!

I played cello and trombone in school, and guitar for many years after that, but I was too impatient to learn to read music, learn proper finger positioning to play without looking, or learn proper technique, so I reached a point where it was impossible to advance any further or play with speed and clarity, so I put down the guitar for about fifteen years. Now with the world the way it is, I figured I would learn the violin; from the beginning, note for note like a school child again.

This Bunnell Pupil violin kit from Kennedy Violins is absolutely everything I could have wanted, at an amazing price. I have a music store just right down the street, and even their used violins, which don’t seem to be particularly excellent quality, are more expensive than this entire outfit. I immediately registered on the Kennedy website and also got a full bridge rubber mute for practicing in my apartment, some string cloths, and a book. I called Kennedy to get help registering the violin after it arrived and Rachel was very helpful!

I got a black case with grey lining, and a matching cloth to cover the violin. I took only one picture but all the other pictures by other reviewers triodastra and Just me are good representatives of what everything looks like. I would have been happy with any of the three random colors. The hygrometer in the case does seem to work. There is a zipper pocket on the top of the case where I keep a lesson book and some cloths. Inside is as described; it’s a sturdy, padded case with cutouts for the violin, shoulder rest, and a lidded compartment for rosin, strings, and whatever, which are actually all in there, in addition to two straps that can be used to carry the case backpack style or the long way. Pay attention; there is a padding piece at the end of the cutout that corresponds to the tail of the violin; I brushed my fingers under it and found a small key under there for the main compartment’s zipper lock, which is just over the button that unsnaps the flap! That way you can lock it and it can’t be unsnapped and opened, at least not quickly.

The top lid of the case, which houses the hygrometer, has slots to hold two bows, with a pivoting plastic piece that holds them in. The kit comes with one bow, already rosined and ready to go. There’s an extra set of strings in addition to the D’Addario strings already installed and tuned. All guitarists know D’Addario makes good quality player-priced strings. Haven’t tried the other Portland brand yet.

The violin itself looks very nice, and is of obvious good quality. There don’t appear to be any defects. The back is a solid piece, the varnish is nice, and everything seems to be well built. As I said I don’t have a lot of experience other than with a cello back in the day, but I cannot find any fault with the construction. The pegs fit well and do not slip, the bridge is sturdy, the fine tuners work well and are easier to turn than I expected, thebow is light and sturdy and the hairs stay put so far (about two weeks). The sound seems quite nice, especially after I got the Trala app and played with the tuner and learned to hold the bow properly again and use the right pressure. Tuning the thing actually seems to be the best way for me to learn the right pressure and bowing technique, as the note will not sound pure unless you bow correctly. When I bow correctly, the sound, even with the mute on (I haven’t actually played with it off yet!) sounds just as good as the instructors on the Trala app, and I assume they are using much more expensive violins!

Bottom line: if you want a violin, get this outfit. Period. I remember my mom having to scrimp to rent the instruments I played in school, and they are much more expensive than this nowadays. This price for such a nice instrument and all the various extras, is to me, now that I understand things better, an absolutely amazing value. Even if at my age I manage to become good enough to want to invest in a more pricey instrument, I would still use this to practice on I’m sure. I’m blown away. Don’t look anywhere else; I looked all over Amazon and this Bunnel Pupil violin from Kennedy Violins is what you want, I guarantee. And Kennedy has already proven themselves to me to be a great company. This is your new violin!

Great quality for a great price!!!! It sounds amazing and comes with basically everything you need and very beginner friendly. My only minor complaint would be that the pegs come a little loose from time to time meaning the violin strings become loose as-well making the violin strings sound a bit scratchy …but all you have to do is push them back in and it’s back to normal. My mom got this for me as a surprise and i love it!!!