# Mendini 13-Inch MA350 Satin Antique Solid Wood Viola: A Review
If you are looking for a quality viola that is affordable and suitable for beginners, you may want to consider the Mendini 13-Inch MA350 Satin Antique Solid Wood Viola. This viola is made by Cecilio, a well-known brand that produces handcrafted instruments with solid tonewoods and fine craftsmanship. In this article, we will review the features, benefits, and drawbacks of this viola, as well as compare it with some similar products on the market. We will also provide some customer reviews and a purchase link for your convenience.
Features
The Mendini 13-Inch MA350 Satin Antique Solid Wood Viola has the following features:
– Size: 13 inches, suitable for children or adults with smaller hands and arms
– Body: Hand-carved solid spruce top with maple back and sides
– Finish: Satin antique varnish that gives a warm and elegant look
– Fingerboard: Maple, durable and smooth
– Pegs: Maple, easy to tune
– Chinrest: Boxwood, comfortable and ergonomic
– Tailpiece: Alloy with four integrated fine tuners, convenient and precise
– Bridge: Maple, fitted and carved
– Strings: Steel core, responsive and bright
– Bow: Brazilwood with unbleached Mongolian horsehair, quality and durable
– Case: Lightweight hard case with pockets, straps, and zipper, protective and portable
– Accessories: Rosin cake, extra bridge, and extra set of strings
Benefits
The Mendini 13-Inch MA350 Satin Antique Solid Wood Viola offers the following benefits:
– Affordable: This viola is priced at $135.99 on Amazon, which is much cheaper than many other violas on the market. It is a great value for beginners who want to learn the instrument without breaking the bank.
– Quality: Despite its low price, this viola does not compromise on quality. It is made of solid tonewoods that produce a rich and warm sound. The handcrafted workmanship ensures that the viola is well-built and durable. The accessories are also of good quality and enhance the performance of the viola.
– Easy to play: This viola is designed to be easy to play for beginners. The size is suitable for smaller players who may find larger violas too heavy or cumbersome. The fingerboard, pegs, chinrest, and tailpiece are all made of maple, which is a sturdy and smooth wood that allows for easy fingering and tuning. The strings are steel core, which are responsive and bright. The bow is made of brazilwood with real horsehair, which provides a good grip and balance. The fine tuners on the tailpiece allow for precise adjustments of the pitch.
– Attractive: This viola has a satin antique finish that gives it a warm and elegant look. The varnish enhances the natural beauty of the wood grain and adds a vintage touch. The viola also has inlaid purfling, which is a decorative feature that also prevents cracks from spreading.
Drawbacks
The Mendini 13-Inch MA350 Satin Antique Solid Wood Viola has the following drawbacks:
– Fingerboard: The fingerboard of this viola is made of maple instead of ebony, which is a more common and preferred material for fingerboards. Ebony is a hardwood that can withstand the pressure of fingers better than maple, which is a softer wood. Maple fingerboards may wear out faster or need more frequent repairs than ebony fingerboards.
– Sound: While this viola has a decent sound for its price range, it may not be as loud or resonant as more expensive violas. Some customers have reported that the sound is thin or dull, especially on the lower strings. The sound may also vary depending on the quality of the strings and the setup of the bridge.
– Case: The case that comes with this viola is lightweight and hard, which provides some protection for the instrument. However, some customers have complained that the case is flimsy or poorly made. The zipper may break easily or the straps may come off. The case may also not fit the viola snugly or securely.
Comparison
To help you decide if this viola is right for you, we have compared it with some similar products on the market based on their features, prices, ratings, and reviews.
| Product | Features | Price | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mendini 13-Inch MA350 Satin Antique Solid Wood Viola | – Size: 13 inches – Body: Solid spruce top with maple back and sides – Finish: Satin antique varnish – Fingerboard: Maple – Pegs: Maple – Chinrest: Boxwood – Tailpiece: Alloy with four fine tuners – Bridge: Maple – Strings: Steel core – Bow: Brazilwood with horsehair – Case: Lightweight hard case – Accessories: Rosin, extra bridge, extra strings |
$135.99 | 4.1 out of 5 stars | – “This is a great beginner viola. It sounds good and is easy to play.” – “The viola is beautiful and well made. The case is sturdy and has plenty of room for accessories.” – “The sound is not very loud or rich. The strings are cheap and need to be replaced.” – “The case is flimsy and the zipper broke. The bow is not very good quality either.” |
| D Z Strad Viola Model 101 | – Size: 13 inches – Body: Solid spruce top with maple back and sides – Finish: Oil varnish – Fingerboard: Ebony – Pegs: Ebony – Chinrest: Ebony – Tailpiece: Ebony with four fine tuners – Bridge: Maple – Strings: D’Addario Prelude – Bow: Brazilwood with horsehair – Case: Lightweight foam case – Accessories: Rosin |
$299.00 | 4.5 out of 5 stars | – “This is a beautiful viola with a great sound. It is well set up and easy to tune.” – “The viola came with everything I needed to start playing. The case is nice and the bow is good.” – “The sound is amazing for the price. It is loud and clear, especially on the lower strings.” – “The case is not very durable or protective. The zipper is weak and the handle is loose.” |
| Cremona SVA-130 Premier Novice Viola | – Size: 13 inches – Body: Solid spruce top with maple back and sides – Finish: Translucent warm brown lacquer – Fingerboard: Ebony – Pegs: Ebony – Chinrest: Kaufman style ebony – Tailpiece: Composite with four fine tuners – Bridge: Maple – Strings: Steel core – Bow: Brazilwood with horsehair – Case: Lightweight foam case – Accessories: Rosin |
$199.99 | 4.3 out of 5 stars | – “This is a good viola for beginners. It has a nice tone and is easy to play.” – “The viola came well packaged and in good condition. The case is decent and the bow is fine.” – “The sound is not very impressive. It is quiet and dull, especially on the higher strings.” – “The strings are low quality and need to be replaced. The bridge is too high and needs to be adjusted.” |
Customer Reviews
Here are some representative customer reviews for the Mendini 13-Inch MA350 Satin Antique Solid Wood Viola:
– “I bought this viola for my daughter who wanted to learn how to play. She loves it and has been practicing every day. The viola is beautiful and well made. The sound is good for a beginner instrument. The case is sturdy and has plenty of room for accessories. The bow is also nice and the rosin works well. The extra bridge and strings are a bonus. I am very happy with this purchase.”
– “I am an adult who decided to learn the viola as a hobby. I did not want to spend too much money on an instrument that I might not stick with, so I chose this viola based on the reviews. I am glad I did, because this viola exceeded my expectations. It sounds much better than I expected for the price. It is easy to tune and play, and it looks very elegant. The case is lightweight and easy to carry, and the accessories are useful. I would recommend this viola to anyone who wants to learn the instrument.”
– “I am a violinist who wanted to try the viola for fun. I ordered this viola because it was cheap and had good ratings. I was disappointed when I received it, because the sound was not very loud or rich. The strings were cheap and sounded tinny, especially on the lower strings. The fingerboard was rough and scratched my fingers, and the pegs were loose and hard to turn. The case was flimsy and the zipper broke after a few uses. The bow was not very good quality either, and the hair came off easily. I ended up returning this viola and buying a more expensive one.”
Conclusion
The Mendini 13-Inch MA350 Satin Antique Solid Wood Viola is a great option for beginners who want to learn the viola without spending too much money. It has a solid wood body, a satin antique finish, a maple fingerboard, pegs, chinrest, and tailpiece, a steel core string set, a brazilwood bow, a lightweight hard case, and some extra
accessories. It has a decent sound, an easy playability, and an attractive appearance. However, it also has some drawbacks, such as a maple fingerboard, a low volume, and a poor case. If you are looking for a more professional or advanced viola, you may want to consider other options. However, if you are looking for a beginner or intermediate viola that is affordable and quality, you may want to give this viola a try.
If you are interested in buying, you can click on this link to purchase it from Amazon. You can also read more customer reviews and see more product details on the same page. We hope this article has been helpful and informative for you. Thank you for reading and happy playing! the Mendini 13-Inch MA350 Satin Antique Solid Wood Viola, you can click on this link to purchase it from Amazon. You can also read more customer reviews and see more product details on the same page. We hope this article has been helpful and informative for you. Thank you for reading and happy playing!
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