[berettafan]

violins are a strange animal. my 8yr old stepped up to a 1/4 size violin last year and we learned a lot about them. or at least the process of buying them. instead of visiting your local chain music shop you go to a violin shop (often with an extra 'pe') by appointment. you get ushered into a room full of violins and try an assortment of violins in your general price range. AND you try different bows! not just the hair but the material of the frame and of course decorative inlays.

frustratingly it is near impossible to determine brand, age, value by simply looking at a violin. you might spend $1,500 on a violin you've never heard of and when you ask the age the answer might be 'I think early 80's' or 'new' or '100+ years old'.

there are surely differences in sound though a neighbors teenaged daughter plays a violin that I think cost around 2-3k and I can not honestly imagine a more beautiful sound.

one other interesting aspect to violins is these shops will very often have a guaranteed trade in at your purchase price or very close to it for upgrades in the future. for young students this works out great.

I'm a pop/metal/rap child of the 80s but one of the greatest joys I've experienced so far in my years is listening to my daughter play in our home. It is truly a joy.