Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I read the reviews here (including the bad ones) and ordered it anyway, the solid spruce top for only $66.99 + free shipping hooked me. Got it in 4 days undamaged. Didn't pop any strings because I tightened them slowly and evenly in small increments, especially the E string. No bridge issues, the sloping side goes toward the E string. My tuning pegs don't slip because I put a little rosin on them. My strings sound and tune ok because I gave them a few days to stretch. The sound is not screechy or silent because I actually rosined the bow. All of this is in the owner's manual, just read it people. This is a beginner's violin and as such, many of the people who buy it are beginning violinists like me, only I read the manual and did some online research before I got frustrated and rated it low (the guy who 1 starred it because he had to go to the hardware store to get sandpaper to scuff the rosin block needs to grow up, all rosin has to be scuffed). This is a killer deal considering how inexpensive it is. Solidly built. The sound post is in the correct position. Looks really good, shiney, slightly different color and lighter than the one the lady in the Online Piano and Violin Tutor video is playing ("natural"). Doesn't sound fantastic but still pretty good. Violins in general are hard to play, but this one's not too bad, I could crudely play "Carmen" and a little Beethoven after 2 practices and I still have no clue yet how the scales are laid out (just "feeling it out" right now). Fine tuners not great but usable. Decent bow, no hairs sticking out. Rosin small but ok. Shoulder rest works for me. Extra strings and bridge. Great case. Not a violin for Paganini or Stephane Grappelli (Gatemouth Brown could probably rock it though) nor for beginning musicians who get frustrated easily (the latter should just avoid the violin altogether and get a harmonica). But a very nice beginner violin at a really low price. And get the 4/4 full size, not one of the teeny-weeny Mendinies.