CecilioCVA-400 16.5-Inch Solid Wood Flamed Viola

I had originally bought 16 inch CVA-400 as adult beginner because I wanted to try viola and was not sure what size and figured hey this is inexpensive enough if the size is wrong I can get another one. I had replaced the default strings with softer Dominant strings which sounded a bit better but was struggling a lot with reach still after a few months, so I decided to downsize to the 15 inch CVA-400. Wow the quality is variable on these instruments. The 15 inch viola I got is such a nicer instrument than the 16 inch one, with more beautiful wood and better sound. I had to shake out a little sawdust when it first arrived, and the bridge was crooked from shipping, but I was able to sort that out and tune up. I was surprised that actually the lacquer varnish on the violas is slightly less thick than on the CVN-200 violins we have in the house, not thin enough to feel the wood grain but I can see it. The "ebonized" finish on the maple fingerboard rubs off on sweaty hands/fingers in the summer and the unfinished part of the neck is getting stained with use, but that does not affect the sound. Would this be a problem with real ebony? No, but you would not expect real ebony at this price point. Am I likely to play this instrument enough years that I will wear dents into a maple fingerboard? Super unlikely but if I do then I will take that as a sign I am serious enough that I should invest in a nice upgrade instrument.The provided Cecilio strings do not sound particularly nice, especially the C string was jarring and caused me to order replacement strings right away, but actually the included bow sounds much better on the instrument than the fiddlerman carbon fiber viola bow I had bought - on the Cecilio CVN-200 violins the bows were unusable so I was expecting the same with the viola and pleasantly surprised that the included bow actually sounded more musical than my "upgrade" bow lol, this was true for both the 16 inch and 15 inch viola, in blind tests with me, my teacher, and my daughter all in agreement. After finding the upgraded Dominant strings slightly disappointing on the 16 inch CVA-400, I did research what are the most sought after viola string combinations and upgraded the strings on 15 inch CVA-400 to be pretty much the cost of the instrument, Spirocore Tungsten C string and Silver G and Larsen A and D strings, and wow it is such a beautiful, rich, resonant sound, my teacher who plays in a professional orchestra was impressed and said I got a great deal on the instrument, even if I bought strings that were so expensive relative to the instrument. The 15-inch CVA-400 viola had a comfortable easy to play action. The 16-inch on the other hand was harder to play with the nut visibly high in comparison and consequently all the strings just a little too high off the fingerboard. So for me the CVA-400 is a good choice if you are not sure what size viola to get, it's affordable enough to get another size, but be prepared for variation in quality, you might get amazingly lucky or you might get an ok instrument. With the second instrument I definitely lucked out and got a beautiful sound and way better-quality instrument than I would have expected at this price point. Eventually I might get a nicer viola when I get better and figure out what will be my "permanent" instrument size. But for now, while I am still figuring out what is my comfortable size and how to play, this instrument sounds plenty good enough and I am having fun learning to play it.

My 11 year old daughter has been playing for 2 years in her elementary school orchestra and has decided to continue with the Viola. I spent a lot of money on a rental Viola during that time frame. If I could do it all over, I would have purchased 2 or 3 of these Cecilio Violas in different sizes from small to large and still have spent less money. I was pleasantly surprised by the craftsmanship, fit and finish, sound, ease of set up and nice packaging upon delivery. With Amazon Prime membership, it was delivered in 2 days and arrived in perfect condition. My daughter loves it and she says it is lighter weight and sounds stronger (better) than her expensive rental Viola did. I feel very pleased with this purchase. From ordering to shipping to taking it out of the box and playing it, it was a flawless experience. The 15" size is a great fit for my daughter, yet allows for more growth. ***The color is very nice, the overall quality makes it look and sound more expensive than the actual cost. This viola has a wonderful sound. Comes with nickel plated fine tuners (all four), matching wood chin rest and tail piece. Also comes with a lightweight hard case, rosin cake, 2 bridges, & extra set of strings, as well as a Brazilwood bow with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair and 1 Year Warranty Against Manufacturer's Defects. This was an extremely nice purchase and great value. Somehow I got this for a total price of $58.50 including tax and all. This is one of my best buys for sure! Thank you Amazon.

This viola has been a great one to begin learning with. Upon arrival one of the strings was already broken, another broke while tuning it. The viola comes with an extra set which is great considering 2 broke quickly. I would suggest ordering more strings as backups when you order. It also comes with a case, rosin, fine tuners and a cleaning cloth. Its a beautiful instrument for the money. I have been very pleased so far.

I am neither a professional nor avid player. I enjoy music and play for fun. High quality and value instruments have their place. I appreciate both. This instrument is for a beginner kid.What I like: Decent beginner quality in sound. Look is comparable to many that are higher price. The included hard case not only looks nice but also does a good job protecting the viola. The bow is decent to use and handle. The price is unbeatable vs the local store.What I don't like: the pegs could come loose easily. It took me more than few times to adjust and re-adjust to stabilize them and the strings. The chin rest is not comfortable enough to use. I purchased another from a local store for better fit and comfort. The horse hair of the bow gradually breaks after a few weeks. Maybe it's normal wear and tear.Overall, it is an excellent value for a beginner. It turned out too large for my kid so I purchased another smaller size (13). The older and taller kids is using it now. I'm happy with this purchase.

This viola is decent for an orchestra student. The strings and bridge are not very durable/strong, after a tuning one bridge cracked, and after a few months of use one string is starting to "peel" The bow itself had many loose hairs (when tightened) when it arrived, and weekly, some strings start to easily fall out. Another con is that the bridge is not cut, so you'll need to send it into a string shop to do so for around $30-$40. Overall it does produce a nice sound and is good for maybe a High School string student.

Beautyful viola Nice sound.