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(6 votes) 
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Well, considering the question specifies:
What is the most you'd be able (not willing) to pay
I think we must have some very rich folks here. LOL Myself, I'm an A1 sort of musician.
Normally, anyway. Right now, the holidays are coming and I have a family. I've bought myself enough toys for one year.
Even with guitars, where I've been playing since the mid-70s, I have never paid more than a few hundred dollars for one. My favorites cost 50$ and a bit over 200$. The most I ever paid for a guitar was about 400$ for a brand new Fender 12 string. It's sitting in it's case waiting for me to get around to tackling the repairs on it because somebody at the factory didn't use *quite* enough glue under the bridge. Lesson learned.
Not like I haven't worked jobs in some years where I could have afforded more expensive ones. Not like I haven't tried some more expensive ones. A few times when I tried them, I had a coupIe grand sitting and burning a hole in my bank account that I definitely felt could well go to buy a new instrument.
But I have yet to meet one that was enough better that I felt it was as worth it's price tag as much as my favorites were. Some were a little nicer in some ways, but not enough to justify their higher price tags as much as my favorites have.
Up to a certain point, money can buy quality. But past what it takes to get a good solid instrument with no major troubles and decent sound, I don't see the point. Past that point, any "magic" it's going to have has got to come from me. History, name, or purely cosmetic advantages are things I've never felt were worth much to me as a player. I'm not a collector or investor. I want a good dependable instrument that does the job, and those are often quite affordable.
Violins? Well, I'm a noob. It is fun to imagine sometimes that there is some violin out there where I could pay 10 or even 100 times as much as I already have and just sound 10 times better. But realistically, I doubt it. I could be wrong. But I wouldn't bet a dozen donuts on it.
I can see where *maybe* up to 500, if I met one I really really liked.. and it wasn't the holidays. LOL
So yeah, A1, if the holidays weren't coming up at the moment.
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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Keep the suggestions coming guys. I want a fresh poll up soon. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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How about something like:
What's the most important factor to you in purchasing a violin?
1. Price
2. Quality of workmanship
3. Brand name
4. Appearance
5. Sound
6. History of that particular instrument
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
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You did it Diane 
Thanks. Everyone make sure you vote.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Regulars
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great poll
...but I would've bet dollars to donuts that practically everyone would say sound. After all,,, sound is the most important part of a musical instrument isnt it?
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
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True, Maybe I should add the possibility to give two top criteria.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Or, you could change it to say:
Other than sound, what's the most the most important factor...?
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
Members
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I suppose that maybe to a collector or investor, the sound might not be the most important thing. If we actually have any of those here.
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
DanielB said
I suppose that maybe to a collector or investor, the sound might not be the most important thing. If we actually have any of those here.
Dannyboy.... I'm quite sure you don't skip any member post's, except maybe the one Fred (ftufc) submitted, showing w/picture's and a great writing about his recent Ebay purchase's of several violin's and a viola? He say's he has a buyer(s) for one or more of his piece's. I think I would put him in the category of collector/investor, wouldn't you ?
DanielB said
Well, considering the question specifies:What is the most you'd be able (not willing) to pay
I think we must have some very rich folks here. LOL Myself, I'm an A1 sort of musician.
Normally, anyway. Right now, the holidays are coming and I have a family. I've bought myself enough toys for one year.
So yeah, A1, if the holidays weren't coming up at the moment.
I think this is a hypothetical question basically for entertainment purpose's, i'm sure it wasn't conjured up to pry into one's personal financial status. We all have the Christmas thing to deal with, regardless.
I kinda have to agree with Fiddlerman on having two option's to choose from though.
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@Fiddlestix: Oh, I didn't miss it. Just didn't feel I had much to contribute to that discussion, since my experience with the instrument is rather limited. I've owned 3 violins and tried 2 in a store. That usually limits my comments about someone's latest violin to "Gee, that's a purty one" or if the post a sound clip, maybe "Sounds nice."
I had been thinking of collector/investors as people that don't buy instruments primarily to play them. Probably a naive assumption, but you know I don't get out much. LOL
I would agree that choosing the 2 or even maybe 3 "most important things" on that particular poll would be more likely to give interesting or meaningful results, though.
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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I changed it a bit and added the possibility to give two answers as well. Unfortunately if you have already voted you will have to clear your cookies to vote again. LOL
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Time for a new one. Here are the archives from past polls.
https://fiddlerman.com/pollsarchive/
Some were only up for a little while and should maybe be reactivated for a while for more votes.
Anyone have a unique super idea for a new poll?
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Members
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Do you do any modification, work or instrument maintenance on your own violin(s)?
- Heavens no! If anyone other than a luthier works on a violin, the sky might fall!
- I'll change my own strings, but that is the limit.
- I'll tinker with the bridge. Blanks don't cost that much.
- I'd change fittings like the tailpiece or pegs, but nothing internal.
- Let me at that soundpost!
- Only if something is broken and there's no way to have a real luthier repair it.
- I'd maybe refinish it at the most. But nothing that involves opening it up.
- I'll take off the top plate and work on the bass bar, linings or whatever.
- Ha! I'll build it from scratch! Stand back and watch me!
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
Pro advisor
Regulars
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Perhaps rerun the poll each year for new members and see if the results change?
how about;
"what is the first thing you adjusted or changed in order to get a better sound?"
1. bow
2. strings
3. bridge
4. shoulder rest
5. total set up
"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.
Members
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How many songs or pieces are in your ready repertoire (meaning the ones that you have played enough times that you wouldn't need to give them some extra rehearsal time to be able to play them)?
- Less than 5
- 5 to 10
- 10 to 20
- 20 to 50
- 50 to 100
- Over 100
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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Thanks DanielB,
Got that first one. It was pretty funny too.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Check out Diane's idea for a new pole. Please choose and answer. This one is easy. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Regulars
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myguitarnow said
A1.... cause it makes steak taste so well.
HAHAHA - thats a great reply.
"I find your lack of Fiddle, disturbing" - Darth Vader
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DanielB said
How many songs or pieces are in your ready repertoire (meaning the ones that you have played enough times that you wouldn't need to give them some extra rehearsal time to be able to play them)?
- Less than 5
- 5 to 10
- 10 to 20
- 20 to 50
- 50 to 100
- Over 100
Check out the new poll. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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