For a little over $100 I think this violin is a pretty good value and sound can be improved by purchasing some extras.I bought this to learn to play on. At 6 months in I went to a violin shop, heard how much better expensive instruments sounded and bought a $700 violin. 6 months further on now and a lot of my sound problems that frustrated me into buying the better instrument aren't really there anymore when I got back and play this one. The $700 violin does still sound nicer, but I would hope so. The pickup does make this violin heavy, 22oz for this violin vs 17oz for the other one. I needed the shoulder rest when I started playing and when I switched to the other violin was able to quit using it.There's lots of advice about what to buy to improve this violin and all of the stuff is expensive, especially compared to the price of this kit. Here's what I tried and how it worked out.Strings: First I bought Artisan's Violin Strings for 4 4 & 3 4 Size, G-D-A-E Strings Those were barely/if at all an improvement from what came on the violin, Not really worth the purchase.Then I tried Thomastik-Infeld VI100 Vision Violin Strings, Complete Set, 4/4 Size They did make a difference and even at $50 a set was the cheapest way to get the most improvement in sound especially on the low end. I'm not sure had I put these strings on right away if I would have bought the more expensive violin so soon.Bow: I bought an Arnold carbon fiber violin bow at the violin shop for $150 with the second violin, it was the 2nd cheapest thing they sold. I can tell some difference in the sound between that and the bow that came with this set. A new bow would probably be the thing to get after new strings.Rosin: Didn't even try the rosin that came with this. I did try Jade L'Opera JADE Rosin for Violin, Viola, and Cello and it was horrible. It left a mess all over everything and caked up on my strings. Buy the most expensive rosin you can get if you think it'll make a difference. I've been practicing an hour a day most everyday and haven't hardly put a dent in my block of rosin. It's works out to be pretty much free per hour of play.Over all no one who isn't an absolute beginner would be buying this violin. Had my cheapest option been a $500 bare bones setup from a violin shop I would have never even tried to learn to play. Now a year in I love it and play everyday thanks to this purchase. I've kept this violin around because it can't have much resale since it's so cheap new and it does have the pickups in case I'd want to amplify or record something. I've never amplified this except for once right out of the box. It sounded just like I was playing only louder, which for a beginner means it sounded horrible. I haven't amplified it since because a violin is loud enough on its own unless you're performing somewhere maybe.For a beginner I'd definitely recommend this kit. If you know 100% for sure you'd be playing after another 300 hours of practice then maybe you should just start on something nicer. If you'd like to try it and make sure it's for you, you can't hardly lose. A bottom of the line bow at a violin shop costs more than this whole kit.