Hi All, I`ve been playing piano among other instruments for 6 years now and I just borrowed a violin from a friend. I`ve fallen in love w/it, but I`m gonna hafta give it back soon. My question is... Where can I get a good violin that I`ll want to keep for a long time? A friend suggested E-bay, but that seems risky to me... any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

~Laura

I would say E-bay also, the ones on ebay can be good and bad. The good ones are cheap priced, antiques, and old. The bad ones are brand new ones for sale for $100. New machine made instruments are cheaply made and sound very bad. The new instruments that sound good are extremely expensive. Go look on Ebay find a violin and I will take a look at it to see if it is good or not, just copy and paste the web address.


here

Not the one that is shown, but the one you find.

You need to search in the Yellow pages for a local Luthier or professional musician. When buying a violin, you should only settle for an instrument you love... because it will typically have the right sound to your ears, and it will always please you to play it.

The first thing i`d do is talk to people in your local Professional orchestra and see if they have any old instruments, because they will be well-played and probably priced decently. Otherwise, you need to go to a professional shop that has a luthier. Never... EVER... shop on Ebay for a musical instrument... You have to use a violin before you decide whethor or not you want to buy it.

And most importantly of all, find an isntrument you are proud of... something you want to show off by playing. That way, you will never be prohibited to play due to your instrument.

iDON`T KNOW BUT THE BEST VIOLINS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE HAND MADE!!!

Daniel,

That`s just too funny. The best instruments that I have ever played were off the internet, from Yahoo and Ebay auctions. The only instrument I never think about buying are the ones made by luthiers, not that they are bad, but that they are new. The only good instruments are the older ones because they sound the best and the older ones are always sold off the internet. I rarely find any good instruments sold close to home.

OH I know how you feel.. bites when you have to give an instrument back!!! I had borrowed my friends old sax once. I have seen a lot of good instruments on ebay!! The sad part of my life is that my parents don`t like gettin stuff online like that! Ugh!! It kills me.. anyway try searching ebay your bound to find somethin nice there!

The funny thing is that when I find a old instrument on ebay and it`s for sale for like $50 instead of $5000, I expect it to be in bad shape. With stringed instruments, as lond as there is no sound post crack in the front, everything is O.K., but you can usually see a sound post crack from the high pitch string side of the bridge, there is usually a very noticable crack under the leg of the bridge.

Sean, while you make a valid point, i still beg to differ. Every professional Violinist i know (and i do know quite a few) says to never ever buy an instrument unless you have played it... REGARDLESS OF ANYTHING!!!!

While yes, there may be some excellent buys for great violins on EBay, you`re just setting yourself up for a dissapointment.

The only dissapointments are the ones for $1000 or up that are messed up and sound like crap.

If you only looking to spend $50 on a violin, who cares if it sounds bad; atleast you didn`t pay $5000 for a bad sounding violin.

But, if you find a good sounding violin that resonates your friends laberyths to a pulp... for $50?!?!?

WOW; WAY TO GO!!!

But, I also believe you should PLAY the instrument before INVESTING. ` Question is, "how MUCH of an investment IS it?" Spend $50, get a bad violin, no big deal.

Just be careful when you start spending the BIG BUCKS.

Hey, i sujjest you ask your violin teacher,through personal experience, with a decent amount of money, you could buy a pretty good Doitch violin. Good luck

The issue, as always, is what is this person`s budget? Recommending someone to buy a used violin (especially and old one) off of ebay is fine IF that person is well aware of the cost of repair. If a person`s budget is £200 and they spend £190 on an ebay violin (old) the chances of them having something ready to play are very low indeed. On the other hand if they have a budget of £200 and they spend £50 on an old ebay violin, chances are they will be able to find someone to get it into playing order within their budget.

Liz

I got my first violin on Ebay....bad luck. My teacher said it was awful.

Most ebay violins are bad, if they`re used. Some are even if they`re new. That`s why you have to be careful.

Liz