Cremona SVA-175
A Premier Student viola outfit from Cremona — the same US brand already documented on this site for its SV-175 violin — built with a solid spruce top and maple back, strung with US-made D'Addario Prelude strings, and set up to MENC standards at the brand's California workshop, per the manufacturer's own materials.
A Premier Student viola outfit from Cremona — the same US brand already documented on this site for its SV-175 violin — built with a solid spruce top and maple back, strung with US-made D'Addario Prelude strings, and set up to MENC standards at the brand's California workshop, per the manufacturer's own materials. Suited to beginner-through-student violists, particularly school string programs.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Cremona |
|---|---|
| Product status | Current |
| Size | 15 inch (also available 12"-16") |
| Top | Solid spruce |
| Back | Maple |
| Strings | US-made D'Addario Prelude |
| Case | Durable form-fitted, lightweight case (included) |
| Bow | Anton Breton LB-13V Brazilwood (included) |
| Standards | Set up to MENC standards at Cremona's California workshop, per the manufacturer |
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- Solid-wood top/back construction with documented US-made strings and in-house MENC-standard setup; Cremona instruments are reported to remain in active use in some school programs for decades.
Weaknesses
- No hands-on or independent third-party expert playability assessment was located for this specific model in this research pass. Despite the brand name, Cremona instruments are a US brand (not manufactured in Cremona, Italy), per industry reporting already documented on this site's Cremona brand entry.
Playability and construction
Not assessed hands-on — this review is based on specification and market analysis (see the badge above), so no subjective playing-feel claim (response, intonation tendencies, resistance) is made here. See the Verdict below for what this assessment is and isn't.
Construction
Solid spruce top, maple back, per the manufacturer's listing.
Competing models
Verdict
A Premier Student viola outfit from Cremona — the same US brand already documented on this site for its SV-175 violin — built with a solid spruce top and maple back, strung with US-made D'Addario Prelude strings, and set up to MENC standards at the brand's California workshop, per the manufacturer's own materials. Suited to beginner-through-student violists, particularly school string programs. See our full The Best Beginner Violas guide for how it compares to alternatives.
Where to buy
Prices and availability are checked periodically, not a real-time feed.
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