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Well, it's been two years and a half that I have had my concert violin. I play it almost everyday and although there is room for improvement (lol!), my sound is slowly getting more in tune, my tempo is also getting better.
I learned a good deal with my student violin but now I was thinking it was time to upgrade to a better violin, one with a richer tone and more colors to it, one that will be easier to play if possible. So yes, I prefer a to buy a violin that will be good enough to be my last one instead of upgrading every 2 or three years. I was thinking of keeping my first violin mainly to play fiddle and the other one to play more classical material.
Here's a list of violins I am interested in:
The Soloist, the Holstein workshop Stradivarius, the traditional Stradivarius, the workshop Canone (a bit over my budget, lol) and finally the Ming Jiang Zhu 905.
If any of you have tried one of them, let me know how was your experience with it.
Thank you!
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Personally,I like the sound of the soloist, but it comes down to individual taste, all fiddlerman violins get great reviews everywhere, never actually played one myself because I live in England.
Cant beat a sunny day
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@Cajun Fiddle
When I was looking for a new violin, I checked multiple online resources to see what is available for different price ranges. One I learned a bit, I looked on Fiddlershop and picked several violins I wanted to trial. I tried a couple of Ming Jiang Zhu, the Holstein Soil Strad, Sima Traian, and a couple of others. This was over a couple of months and two trials. I finally purchased a used violin previously used by a professional musician. To me it had the best sound and fit for my playing.
The folks at Fiddlershop even made youtube videos comparing the instruments I wanted to trial, so I could tell what the violins should sound like if played by a "real" violinist!
So I highly recommend using the Fiddlershop at home trials. They take care of the packing to and from and send a return packing slip for items you return.
Bob in Lone Oak, Texas
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@Cajun Fiddle
I haven't tried those particular models. I would 2nd Bob's comments above, though. I've purchased a couple of violins from Fiddlershop, & would recommend making use of their resources (videos comparisons, home trials). Even within a specific model, each violin is unique--and since you're looking for a long-lasting one, trying out to find "the one" for you is the best way.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Thank you all for your input, Stringy, Bob, SharonC. All the violins I mentioned does sound good,especially played by pros!. I am now talking with Pierre to get one that not only sound good but also not too hard too play. Yes, I will ask for a video once I get close to my final choice. I'll probably get one that sound darker than the one I have right now, I always like the sound of dark violins for playing classical music.
@Bob, if I may, I was wondering if the video of the violin you purchased was still on YouTube? ...I am just a bit curious to hear the sound and yep, I think it's good that you could get one that has already been played. 
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Here' is the video Felix from Fiddlershop made to help me compare between multiple violins. After trialing I chose the William Fleischer instrument.
Bob in Lone Oak, Texas
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Wow, I have to agree that W. Fleischer sounds fabulous.
Happy playing!
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All great choices. If you like a dark sounding violin, the Ming Jiang Zhu violins are very dark and open.
Yes, by all means, call us and make a video request of all three. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I already had a bright violin and wanted a darker one to play classical music so now that the deal is done and dusted, I am waiting for the Ming Jiang Zhu to arrive! Thanx for the demo and help Fiddlerman and thank you to all people that chimed in. 
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@Cajun Fiddle -
I know you must be counting the days!
...or did your new Fiddle already arrive? 
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Yes, it did! I was pleasantly surprised by the nice sound of it, right out the box and by the fact that it is easier to play than my other Concert violin. I am sure that if I put synthetic core strings on my concert violin, it will improve the sound of it but some fiddle tunes can go well with that kind of direct sound. I am thinking of old fiddle style for instance.
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