Can anyone suggest where I can purchase a good quality violin online?
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My suggestion would be to get yourself as much of an education as your time and location allow by trying instruments in your price range... and then compare what you've found to one or more Fiddlershop instruments via their "in-home trial" option. I also suggest you speak personally with Pierre, Michael O'Gieblyn or Clare and ask one of them to try several of the model(s) you're interested in and suggest the one that best fits your criteria. In my experience, they will actually take the time and do that for you!
However, Fiddlershop do put out videos showing their different instruments for their prospective customers for them to choose the one they like the most. Have a look at their YouTube channel.
I would still try out in person though. Only you can be the judge of what you’d like the most.
I tried a couple of Ming Jiang and some of the Holstein (Fiddlershop) bench violins. All of the instruments sounded good and came perfectly setup and well protected for shipping. To me most of the better Chinese violins sounded a bit too mellow, the instrument I bought (by William Fleischer) had a unique quality that appealed to me.
If you live where there are nearby luthiers, I suggest you deal with them. You might need their help in the future, so they deserve your support :)
See https://fiddlershop.com/pages/in-home-trial-terms
I agree with the house brand instruments being waaaay overpriced. The school I work at has a Franz Hoffman (used by the teacher I replaced), and I don't think it's worth what they ask for. It's alright, but eh.
Definitely visit your local violin shops and see what they've got.
Congrats on your upgrade, and good luck on the search!
P.S. has anyone tried the Fiddlerman CF bow? I'm tempted to try it bc I want a CF for teaching but it hurts my wallet to think about a Coda.
I have a 16" viola by Fleischer, likewise purchased used. It punches well above its weight; one neighbor thought it was a cello until he saw it.
I've thought about rolling the dice on one of the lower-end Fiddlershop models as a road/beach/camp/loaner fiddle. Maybe at some point I will.
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