Viola
Stentor Student I Viola (1038)
Price: 233 EUR – 298 EUR
Price history
Cheapest seen
Most expensive seen
Availability: 2/10 (Very rare)
The Stentor Student I Viola (1038) is an entry-level orchestral viola built from solid carved spruce and maple rather than laminate, available in sizes from 12 to 16 inches, pairing a genuinely warm acoustic tone with the reliability schools and beginner players look for at this price point.
About the Stentor Student I Viola (1038)
The 1038 is built around a solid, hand-carved spruce table paired with a solid, carved maple back, ribs and neck - a genuine step up from the laminated construction common at this price point - finished with traditional inlaid purfling rather than a painted line. Fittings include a blackened rosewood fingerboard, high-quality dark rosewood pegs, a good-quality bridge, and an alloy tailpiece with four integral fine tuners plus an adjustable nylon tailgut. The included bow is wood with an ebony frog and natural horsehair. It ships in six body sizes - 12, 13, 14, 15, 15.5 and 16 inches - covering players from smaller beginners through to full-size adult students, all housed in a lightweight oblong case with a grey integral cover, a fitted interior with an accessory pocket, carrying straps and room for a shoulder rest.
Where to buy
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Reverb Stentor 1038 Student Series I 15.5" Viola Outfit Set with Case & Bow 233 EUR Best price View details
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Reverb Stentor 1038 Student Series I 15" Viola Outfit Set with Case & Bow 287 EUR View details
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Reverb Stentor 1038 Student Series I 14" Viola Outfit Set with Case & Bow 298 EUR View details
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Source: https://reverb.com/item/6608082-stentor-1038-student-series-i-14-viola-outfit-set-with-case-bow
Sound character of the Stentor Student I Viola (1038)
Solid carved spruce and maple construction gives the 1038 a notably warmer, fuller and more resonant tone than typical laminated student violas, delivering an authentically acoustic sound from the very first lessons rather than the flatter projection common at this price point.
What owners of the Stentor Student I Viola (1038) say
Dealer and guide coverage is consistently positive, with the solid tonewood construction singled out repeatedly as the standout feature - reviewers frame it as delivering a genuinely warmer, more resonant sound than comparably priced laminated instruments, which in turn helps keep beginners engaged. The overall value-for-money framing shows up across multiple independent sources without significant caveats, though as a student-tier instrument it's consistently described as appropriate through middle grade level rather than as a long-term professional instrument.
Playability & handling of the Stentor Student I Viola (1038)
The 1038 is consistently positioned as a go-to choice for schools and teachers who need a reliable entry-level instrument, with the 13-inch size in particular singled out as an excellent choice for students taking up viola for the first time, suitable up through middle grade level. The real difference reviewers point to is the solid tonewood construction: unlike many instruments at a similar price that use laminated wood, the Stentor's solid carved spruce and maple produce a noticeably warmer, more resonant tone. That matters most for beginners, who stay more motivated hearing an authentically acoustic sound from day one rather than the flatter tone typical of laminate construction. Combined with its solid build quality, the 1038 is framed as delivering consistently good value for both individual beginners and schools or music services buying in bulk.
Recommended accessories & strings for the Stentor Student I Viola (1038)
The included case comes with carrying straps, a fitted interior accessory pocket and dedicated room for a shoulder rest, though the shoulder rest itself isn't included - typical for an outfit at this price point and worth budgeting for separately. Regular rosin application for the included horsehair bow and periodic restringing round out the basic upkeep.
Technical data for the Stentor Student I Viola (1038)
| Body sizes | 12", 13", 14", 15", 15.5", 16" |
|---|---|
| Top | Solid carved spruce |
| Back/ribs/neck | Solid carved maple |
| Purfling | Traditional inlaid |
| Fingerboard | Blackened rosewood |
| Pegs | Dark rosewood |
| Tailpiece | Alloy with 4 integral fine tuners |
| Bow | Wood, ebony frog, natural horsehair |
| Case | Lightweight oblong, accessory pocket, straps, shoulder rest space |
Price history for the Stentor Student I Viola (1038)
Cheapest seen: 233 EUR · Most expensive seen: 298 EUR
Cheapest seen
Most expensive seen
The history of the Stentor Student I Viola (1038)
Stentor's Student I Viola (1038) applies the brand's established beginner-instrument reliability to a compact 14-inch viola outfit.
About Stentor as a manufacturer
Stentor traces back to Edward Chapman Doughty, a young music graduate and violinist who first founded the Harmonic Publishing Company to print popular sheet music of the day, including some of his own compositions. In 1895 he registered the Stentor name for strings, rosin and violins sold under that brand. Stentor Music Co. Ltd. itself was formally established in the early 1960s by Michael Chapman Doughty and other family members, incorporated on 30 March 1962, and grew from modest beginnings into Britain's premier wholesale distributor of acoustic musical instruments. Today the fourth generation of the Doughty family still owns and runs the company, which has become a leading manufacturer of student orchestral string instruments - violins, violas, cellos and double basses - distributed to music shops and schools in more than 30 countries, and marked its 125th anniversary in the music business in 2020.
