A complicated question about buying a violin in another country

[Trent_Hill]

I have a question that's based partly on some interesting turns my life has taken lately. It looks like sometime during the summer of 2000 that I'll be relocating to another part of the world to teach ESL. I'm currently renting a pretty nice instrument from my local violin shop. 60% of the rental fee goes towards purchase, and by the time I make the move I'll have about $600 credit that I can apply toward the purchase of my rental or any other violin. I might be able to spend up to $1100 more for an upgrade. Here's my question: Could I get a better violin, all other things being equal, for $1700 in the States or $1100 in, say, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Japan, or Thailand?

Thanks for any help.

Trent

[todles]

Trent,

I spend a lot of time in Europe and did my post-grad in Hungary. I found that the instrument prices in Eastern Europe were considerably lower then most other places. I can recommend a violin repairer / dealer in Budapest should you be interested.

If it were me I would strongly look at the Eastern European market.

Godd Luck

Todd

: I have a question that's based partly on some interesting turns my life has taken lately. It looks like sometime during the summer of 2000 that I'll be relocating to another part of the world to teach ESL. I'm currently renting a pretty nice instrument from my local violin shop. 60% of the rental fee goes towards purchase, and by the time I make the move I'll have about $600 credit that I can apply toward the purchase of my rental or any other violin. I might be able to spend up to $1100 more for an upgrade. Here's my question: Could I get a better violin, all other things being equal, for $1700 in the States or $1100 in, say, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Japan, or Thailand?

: Thanks for any help.

: Trent