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Hey everyone. I was wondering if you all could give me the names of some good violins to start with. I'm looking into the 6-7 hundred dollar range for a violin and bow. Is it actually possible to purchase a good starter package for that much? I'd like to stay away from the average school type student violin and get something a little better but maybe I'm reaching a little to far at this point. While I'd like to purchase my first instrument in person, I'm willing to buy online if you can recommend a good dealer. Thanks for any advice and help you can give me.
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Cecilio has a CVN 700 and kkmusicstore.com does check them and set them up before shipping but you can never trust what happens with those UPS guys. Otherwise for your price range I would suggest going to a violin shop and try some out.
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I have to agree with MGN on that one. That is a great deal of money to spend on an instrument without holding it in your hands and listening to it. Brands don't really tell you the whole story. It is much better to go to a good violin shop (if you can find one) and low ball them. Tell them you have $500 to spend. They should have 4 or 5 violins to look at, hold, play, even play for you. (I had to have them played) Don't be afraid of a banged up 50 year old violin either, it may sound great! I am still kicking myself a bit, I let appearance play a small part in my decision. I am like a crow, I like shiny things!
Dave
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Definitely try to find a violin shop and if you know anyone who plays already, bring them with you. The more instruments they have the better. Real old instruments can often sound the best but it is no certainty and they could need so much work done on them that they put you past you budget. One alternative is also to rent a violin long enough to explore all the possibilities and buy when you know more. Otherwise lot's of users on this site have invested around $100 to begin with and seem to be happy with their decisions. I was personally very impressed by the violins given to me by Cecilio as MGN suggested.
Good luck and welcome to the forum. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Thanks I appreciate the info. There are several violin shops in the Nashville area. I'm about 80 minutes from there. I don't know anyone where I live who plays yet. I'm still on the hunt. I do have a 1920's era German violin that was my dads, but it's going to be around 1200 bucks to get it back into shape. Eventually I will get it repaired/restored and keep it in the family. In the mean time I'll check out the local shops and see what they can offer. Thanks for the help everyone.
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As far as 1200 is concerned, I have a friend who just dropped his violin the other day and has gotten three quotes from luthiers that we all know and trust. The violin is completely split all around, Unbelievable. One wanted $3000 and the cheapest one $1200. I really like the work that the cheapest one does. Get several opinions.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Terry, I did forget to mention I did purchase a $100 Cecilio violin from the internet. I wanted to see if I really wanted to play the violin. I do! So after a month or so I purchased a better violin locally. I still play the $100 special, I take it to work sometimes. It needed some minor adjustments like a new soundpost and one of the feet on the bridge was not making good contact with the body. And the tailpiece was moved to the rear a few mm's. Like Fiddlerman said, renting is a great idea as well.
Dave
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Thanks Dave,
Maybe renting would be a better option for lets say six months. Then I can get a feel for the violin and know what I'm looking at. Even purchasing a cheap one to take to work with me is not a bad idea. There are times I have a couple of hours where I'm doing nothing and could practice a little. Looks like I have a little thinking to do. Thanks again.
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Hey Fiddlerman,
The Luthier I went to said he had to replace the neck block, finger board, a couple pegs, and he had to do some work around the button where the tail piece connects to. I can see where the wood is starting to come apart around there. So there is some major work to be done. I don't care to be honest. Even if It's not the best sounding fiddle, it would be an honor to be playing an instrument my grandpa and dad both played. That just sounds awesome to me. But then again, it might sing like an Angle perched upon a cloud on a clear sunny day. Who knows. But I'm going to find out. Even if I have to work another job to get the money up. In the meantime, to expand my options, if you know of anyone that has a good deal on a beginner fiddle, send them my way. I was not able to go to the shop due to work this week. I'll be heading there on Monday if all goes well. 
Hi, Terry,
When I decided to have my daughter learn to play violin, I decided that i could learn along with her. She started in july, we rent one for her which is $15/month. We rent one for her because we knew she will grow out of it soon and she already out grow her rental 1/8 violin. i decided to get myself one, after watching all the cecilio violins that the fiddlerman reviewed, I decided that I like the cvn 500 and purchased it.
then I thought my daughter will probably be using a 1/4 for a coupld years, and if I bought her a cheap one (since it would be temperary) it would save us some money, so i also bought her a cvn 500 1/4 size. We both love our violin. i put dominant strings on mine, but not my daughter's. I did have to have a new sound post. I haven't taken my daughter's to a luthier yet.
I don't like to rent anything because i felt like I am not putting my $$ in good use. I could end up spending several thousand dollars for renting my daughter's violin and end up with no violin. However, since you are an adult, if you knew for sure you want to learn a violin, they do have rent to own option, either with a new violin or a used violin, maybe you could try that especially if you found one that you really like.
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Good Idea PKY. One store called 'Theviolinshop' in Nashville, does rental instruments at 25 dollars per month and will put the first 150 dollars towards the purchase of you first violin which in not bad. He also has layaway I believe, so there are a few options for me. And as of now I've only checked out three shops. There are about 5-7 in the Nashville area. Probably more If I really did some searching. I'm just trying to find the one for me. And since I'm about 80 minutes away It's important that the shop and I have a good business/friendly relationship since it costs me about 33 dollars in gas and about 1/2 day of my time which gets more valuable the older I get. 
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Do you live in Nashville Terry? If so, Barry may be your neighbor Terry.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I live close to Nashville. In the Pulaski area.
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Cool, and thanks for sending him over here. I was thinking that maybe that 3 sisters music festival may be a great place to start for 2012 and the Fiddlerman group. You may remember me mentioning that I would like to start a summer camp/meet for Fiddlerman members. Nashville is fairly central in the US and known for good country music.
My idea is that we would prepare a bunch of country and bluegrass pieces, work and jam together, perform at least once for an audience. We would post and contribute to the program together as a group way in advance. Also opportunity for private, group, and possibly master-class lessons if anyone is up for it.
To keep expenses down maybe tents, either your own or we rent....camping for 3 days or so.
I'm also toying with the idea of organizing my own camp in Florida some winter with intensive lessons, jamming, chamber-music and more. Those interested could have a vacation away from the cold with plenty of music.
Opinions?
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Barry said:
Cool !! I know I could afford to drive to Nashville
Sounds like a great idea, although Im not big on playing bluegrass and country (I like to listen to those styles and even play country on guitar) on the fiddle. Not sure how bluegrass would work with just fiddles, since its about showcasing instruments. Country we would need at least a guitar and singer and fiddle is more like a lead guitar (mostly) in country music. Cant go wrong with old time though.
PS. That Bluegrass fest is in Chattanooga, not Nashville
I have no specific preference regarding the exact type of music we would play. I do know that they have many of these fiddle meets in Sweden where fiddlers just start playing the "folk music" together and this is probably more like what you are referring too. I know there have been a lot of posts explaining the difference between old time, bluegrass and country but I have a lot to learn about that.
I did a search for festivals in Nashville and since that one popped up I automatically assumed that it was in Nashville. We can choose any festival and my latest thoughts are on Florida during the winter.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
I love the idea! Camping sounds fun and would cut down cost! BUT: It would be a long drive (over 30 hours)! Flying would be expensive! I don't know any genre and only have a few songs on my repertoire. I would have to take time off and it's not during school break where my daughter could go along....
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