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Buying and Selling
Places to buy and sell violins
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Strabo
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December 16, 2021 - 12:37 pm
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(Not sure where to post this -- the “violins for sale” section here doesn’t appear to get much action so I’m positing this here, where I know folks pay attention. If there’s a better place for this message, feel free to move it.)

I’m making good progress with my bottom-of-the-line student fiddle and am moving toward an upgrade. I found a serious violin shop nearby and checked out three instruments with $1.5 - $2.5K prices. Chinese made with European names -- said to be made by apprentices under the watchful eye of the “Master". These fiddles were much, much better than my current instrument: better tone, louder, more quickly responsive, less work to play. For my taste, really nice violins that would work well for me.

So I decided to do some research. I did find websites describing the various models of these violins. But oddly enough, I could not find a single similar used violin for sale anywhere. The shop said that they have been doing business with these builders for ~20 years, so I’d expect to see some used examples for sale. I wonder What’s up with that?

This also made me wonder where people sell violins. I’ve played mandolin for several years and have bought and sold mangos through the classified ads at mandolin cafe.com. It’s a very active list and I have had no problem selling mandolins there. But I cannot find anything similar with respect to violins. So where does someone sell a $2000 violin?

I appreciate any help, thanks!

Strabo

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stringy
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December 16, 2021 - 1:09 pm
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Put it through a luthier shop, they would take a commision.

Or advertise it here,

Fiddlehangout 

Auction, of which there are. lots.

Not sure if they buy and sell on violinistcom

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ELCBK
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December 16, 2021 - 1:10 pm
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@Strabo -

I don't understand why, if you live in Florida, you aren't directly contacting Fiddlershop? 

...you don't have to live near them to enjoy dealing with a great shop. 

They sell some used violins - you'd have to check for sure, but I think they may even accept certain trade-ins. 

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Mouse
December 16, 2021 - 1:45 pm
Member Since: December 26, 2018
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This topic was moved from Learning to the Breakroom by Mouse

@Strabo said

(Not sure where to post this -- the “violins for sale” section here doesn’t appear to get much action so I’m positing this here, where I know folks pay attention. If there’s a better place for this message, feel free to move it.)

That is because, at the moment nobody has an instrument for sale.

This is not really learning to play and is about general selling or buying, I will move this to the Breakroom section. It will show up as a “new” post to those interested. It isn’t really learning and I don’t think we need to set a precedent by having buying and selling information there.

The replies here may be helpful to others, too.

If you decide to sell it through the forum, create a new topic thread in the For Sale after reading the information about selling through the forum.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Strabo
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December 16, 2021 - 4:55 pm
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ELCKB, I have played very few violins so I’m really very much a novice at this. I am trying to learn more by playing as many instruments as I can in order to make a good choice for my upgrade instrument. I suppose that if I lived in a big city like New York I could gain lots of perspective in a short time -- I imagine that they have quite a few violin shops there. 

But I live in a small town in the middle of Florida and believe me Florida is a big place. Fiddlershop is definitely on my list but it’s a five hour drive to get there. I have had good experience with Fiddlershop (bought one of their bows) and do hope to get there sometime soon. Their service is great and I like their attitude.

However, I do not intend to buy a violin without playing it. It took me a number of tries to find the wonderful mandolins that I currently have. Buying, testing, and returning is slow and expensive, and really not a very efficient way to buy an instrument. I may not know much about violins but I do know that don’t want to go through that again. Consequently I’m checking out violins when and where I can. I’m sure that I’ll find something that will work for me.

In the meantime, I’m happily working away with my good old clunker. I was recently loaned a $1500 violin, but it turned out to be worse than what I have so I gave it back with thanks (for the free lesson). 

As a side note, it’s interesting that the violin market is so radically different from the guitar or mandolin markets. This is a great learning experience.

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stringy
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December 16, 2021 - 5:43 pm
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I am a guitarist, when I started not longback learning violin I couldnt believe the difference in price, I thougt 3 grand for a les paul was an expensive instrument, with fiddle you can pay easily up to 2 or 3 for a student model, but money paid in the fiddle world doesnt always equate to quality. If you are lucky you can get a great sounding in strument for not a lot of money, but you do have to be lucky, and even though I know a lot on here dont agree I still think buying a 3 or 4 grand fiddle is pointless at first, I stuck with my stentor for the first year and a half.

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