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Hi guys,
First off, I'm a total violin/ fiddle newbie (about 6 months of playing time)
so I'm looking for some advice.
I'm wondering about a violin that I'm a little interested in maybe getting as an upgrade from what I'm playing on now... does that sound a little non-committal? It's because I've never heard of the brand and I can't seem to find out anything about it either. Here's what the owner says about it:
\"I have a lovely violin that I bought for 900$ about 4 years ago.I was taking lessons and it was recommended that I upgrade from a \"student\" violin that I bought at Uptown Music. It has been very well taken care of and played less than 20 times. It is from Muses Instruments in China. I am not really sure about make/model--there are just numbers. It was new in 2005 I bought it in portland and had it appraised at Uptown Music iin keizer. the back is tiger stripped...\"
I'm going to go play it and see (or rather hear?) how it sounds of course. In the meantime, I was wondering if anyone knows anything about these violins. Here's some pics of it too. It certainly looks nice, in my opinion. Anybody have any info/ opinions?
Thanks!
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I'm prob not the best one to ask for advice, but in my opinion, if it has a good sound and is well made, who cares about the brand. Make sure it is a good aged wood, dried (not a green wood instrument), pluck them there strings, pull the bow across and hear what it sound like. Check out the strings and all that good stuff and make a good judgment.
Now I am waiting for FM or someone else to tell me I am full of it, lol.
I am tring to help, really I am. Please don't sit me at the kiddie table again, I promise, I won't use you fiddle for a gravy boat EVER again!
"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its entire life believing that it is stupid." -Albert Einstein
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I totally agree with gkeese. If it is easy to play on and has a great sound don't worry about the make. Is that the picture of it above?
Now about the price. If the guy paid $900 at a store new it would probably have cost around $400 online today new. He probably won't realize that he over-paid for it though. Then knock off $100 for wear and tear 
Of course if you really want it you wouldn't be paying much for a good violin even at $900.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Thanks for the help guys.
FM - yep that's the one I'm thinking about getting in the pictures. The owner is asking $400 for it and it includes a set of Dominant strings, a case, and 3 bows (I don't know what the bows are).
Of course, for the same price maybe I'd be better off getting something like this?
http://www.violinslover.com/Ou.....s_id=31703{6}47{7}248{10}683{9}2239{8}2102
For comparison, I've been playing on a 1984-5 "Roth by Scherl and Roth" violin made in Germany and set up in the USA. It is pretty beat up, but it sounds ok and stays in tune. When I say it sounds "ok" I mean it makes a clear tone without any thing more to it than that. I'm pretty sure that it is a student model, it came with a cheapish bow. I want to upgrade to something that might improve my sound some and give me a little more "growing into" room.
I think the advice that you guys gave me about how it sounds makes sense. I just want to make sure I'm not overlooking something glaringly obvious before I make a purchase. If anyone has any other suggestions in the under $900 price range I'd be interested also. Thanks for everybody's help!
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