I am primarily a violinist but I needed a viola to begin teaching beginning viola students. I wasn’t interested in purchasing an expensive instrument considering I probably won’t perform on it. I was very hesitant about purchasing this instrument because it had received many negative reviews but I was surprised when I received this instrument. Shipping was fast and the instrument is beautiful. Very sturdily constructed. When it came to tuning it all of the strings except the a string stayed in tune. I rosined all pegs just in case any other of the strings didn’t want stay in tune and the sound quality is beautiful for the price. I am over all very pleased with this instrument and glad I took a chance and bought it. Many of the reviews I have read have complained about this instrument not holding tune. I am wondering did those people not know how to properly tune the instrument as well as set it up? Buying on line isn’t like going to the instrument store and having someone set it up for you. Over all I would recommend this as a great student instrument.

I refurbish instruments in the violin family as a hobby. Mendinis are cheap mass produced Chinese instruments. Straight out of the package, they sound like it. The body construction however is solid and that’s the important part. I have refurbished several Mendinis now and with a little tweaking they can be made to sound like a much higher quality instrument by replacing the bridge and the strings and making sure the sound post is correctly placed. My daughter’s Mendini viola sounds like a thousand dollar instrument after putting Thomastik Dominant strings and a Aubert a Mirecourt bridge on it at an approximate cost of 0 for the upgrades. For what they are, they are the cheapest way to get a good student instrument.

has taken me a little to get the strings right but it makes an amazing sound and is a very nice looking inst.