Your recommendation

[oken]

I would like to know which violin do you recommend in the price range of 200 to 500 usd.

http://search.ebay.com/_Violin_W0QQcatrefZ...107QQsassZztl00

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZwwwQ5fyitamusicQ5fcom

http://stores.ebay.com/musesinstruments_W0...aQ3amesstQQtZkm

http://stores.ebay.com/BEAUTIFUL-STRINGED-...1QQftidZ2QQtZkm

http://stores.ebay.com/Violin-Depot_W0QQss...sQ3amesstQQtZkm

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZwsh519

And so on........

Best regards,

oken

[jaf67]

I purchased a few from ZT100when they first started selling on ebay a year or two ago, and after some extensive setup work (fingerboard thinning, new nut, new bridge, tailgut and strings) they were nice student pieces that I sold for under $500.00. Don't know about the others butthey look like the factory boatload China stuff to me.

[Woodland]

I see a lot of pretty flamed woods and a few fancy fittings for a low price, but how they perform is another matter. Like jaf67 found out most will probably require a thorough set-up costing as much (or more) than the instruments original price. How they might sound after all that work and adjustment is anybody's guess, that's why it's best to purchase directly from someone who is capable of performing a good set-up.

[Fellow]

Unless you know what you are doing, profeesional for example, you don't buy an instrument from e-bay. /yuen/

[oken]

I would also like to know your experience with those violins.

Best regards,

oken

[brokenbow]

With some extra money a while back, and curious, I ordered three of the Chinese instruments. The Zhang arrived with the scroll broken off (sharp perpendicular break). They refunded my money promptly although the paper work took time. The instrument was attractive, varnish seemed thick, instrument was not light in weight. The label said Zhang workshop on it. Needless to say, with the broken scroll I did not play it. I then purchased a Muses violin, one of the Hellier-like copies. It arrived with several significant finish blemishes, and the use of black filler to repair poor fitting of the nut/fingerboard area. I did not even tune it up since the blemishes were unacceptable and the strings were cheapies--it was returned. The refund was handled promptly and with courtesy. Could be they are selling 2nds on ebay??? We need more data from others on my conjecture based on one instrument.

I then bought a Yita T18. Again, a beautiful instrument, one piece back, ebony heel cap, fluted f-holes. It arrived promptly (3 working days or so). I chuckled to see a inkjet printed certificate with the picture of the front and back of the violin in the case. Looked extremely cheap. There was no label in the violin. It had a low-moderate quality "Cinderella" bridge on it. Strings were just okay--I changed them to Dominants. Not light in build, sound is loud with much bite.

None of the cases were particularly good. I dislike any case where the scroll rests on the back of the case. This creates a fulcrum situation that leads to breakage--ala the Zhang.

Just one person's experience--if you are not spending your last pennies on a violin, and can tolerate the risks--ending up with nothing, you may find a reasonable bargain in a student grade instrument that looks good. Otherwise go to a music store, compare and contrast instruments, and leave with something you know is at least okay.

[pahdah_hound]

There are some reputable ebay sellers (check feedback carefully and even contact some buyers who left feedback) who offer money back guarantees and let you try their instruments without obligation. This time of year there are fewer serious bidders on eBay and some good vintage workshop violins sell for within your price range. I would only trust a seller who offers a satisfaction guarantee. I think a 50-100 year old German or French workshop violin, properly set up, is a better value for a student than low end Chinese violins. The higher end Chinese are very good values in my opinion, but above your price range.

There are a number of eBay sellers who will sell a decent instrument for a few hundred dollars-not necessarily by choice, but because that's what the high bid is when the auction ends. I will let others recommend some sellers who fit these criteria.

Good luck!

jesse

[Fellow]

Hi Okin,

I do not go by experience. My reason of not buying an instrument from e-aby is very simple and logical. You do not buy a violin by looking at the picture.(Why?) (Except professional as I said)

For many of us ,it is difficult enough to buy a violin from a shop, that is, take it home and try (feel it, hold it, play it, at the end you buy it) after a few months you don't like it. It happens very often. What chance that you will get one you like from a picture? /yuen/

[Woodland]

That's why the better sellers always offer a money-back guarantee. I offer a trial period with a money-back gurantee and warranty with all new instruments I sell, whether on eBay or out of my shop.

[Fellow]

It brings back the question of expertise of a professional. They are in the business to know what the substance made of a good violin and its appearance will tell.

To an average Joe, like many others or me, all violins look alike. I play violin almost every day, I have no clue

why sometime it sounds great other time sounds terrible. They say taht the wood of the instrument expands and contracts too. You never know if it is a bad instrument or your bad skill. ( I know what you thinking ) /yuen/

[miles]

I purchased a bow from them a couple of days ago, but have not received it yet. They shipped right after I paid. So shipmentwise, they are more than satisfactory.

miles

[muken47]

I'm sorry for your misfortune with eBay violins. I recently bought a viola from eBay and am in stunned dis-belief at it's beauty and quality It is a modern "Gliga" made by a Christain Gliga in 2005. I have read some of the threads here on Maestronet concerning them from various people who seem knowledgable on stringed instruments. The consensus seems to be that they ar step-up" instruments or a little better. My having missed the opportunity to purchase a Peresson viola (for $1,500.00) when I attended Juilliard in the early 1970's I am pleased to own this Gliga now. Peressons sell now for $20,000. I visited Mr. Peresson at his home in the early 1970's and tried his instruments with friends and also tried out a Mr. Joseph DePasqalle's viola (first chair i the Philadelphia orchestra). I am getting a similar feeling with this Gliga that I have. One of my teachers (Marcus Thompson) turned me off to modern instruments at that time so I did not follow my instinct, as did most dealers, who claimed that Peresson would "die" after a few good years. They have not as far as I know. Gliga's can be bought for under $2,000.00 now. If you purchase one, get the "Maestro" line of Gliga's as that is all that I can speak to.....good luck!

P.S. no one would put a top of the line Gliga in Peresson's class, but I do.

muken47

[wmeng]

Gligas will not gain value - at least nut during the next century or so. There are far too many of them for that to happen. Don't kid yourself, the "Maestro" instruments are also factory made.