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So, I decided I wanted to get a 'new' violin, and after trying a bunch locally, I found one that just felt like it suited me right away. It's a 1905 Joseph Geiger who was a luthier in Nebraska. I've seen this maker mentioned elsewhere in these forums. Sadly, I paid a great deal more than the $80 the other person paid. :O
It's in really great shape, no repairs, even the original glue job on the body. There are a few minor dings and aging signs, but other than that, it's in pretty pristine shape for that old of an instrument. Sometimes that gives me pause though. Was it well taken care of? Or just never played?
But between that one and another one that had made the final cut, this one just felt easier to play, and sounded and felt better in my hands. It's a bit of an odd fiddle, the neck is quite narrow by the nut, and also feels a bit thinner too, though that could be it being a noticeable V shape neck vs U shape. I quite like it.
It has a really high arch in the top, and the bridge is quite short and looks a little funny. It certainly was not was I was picturing of getting. I did not dislike the look, it was just not what I was thinking of after doing plenty of browsing online and in stores.
But the sound... oh, I love the sound. It just might be one of the mellowest violins I have ever heard, and that is exactly what I was looking for. FWIW the other contender was nearly as mellow, but did not feel as good in my hands.
Perhaps I should have shopped around more and even gotten a couple for take home trials, but this felt like the one. And it has proven it over the last week in a way I had not expected. I have not had one shoulder ache and my thumb has not tensed up once at all. It just seems to 'fit' better for me. I don't have small hands or anything like that, but this is the first time I have never had trouble and actually feel relaxed while playing. Which should put to rest any question I have of 'did I overpay for something I might have been able to find for $80 at a flea market?'
And I will remind myself of the mantra I have posted in a couple of other topics: If it sounds good, it is good. 
Oh, and as far as the name Snuffles, it seems like it takes playing/warming up for 5 - 10 minutes for the sound to open up on it. Until then, it sounds like it has a cold.
Okay, I know it *could* be *me* that needs the warming up and not the violin, but hey... I'm going with it!
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I like your explanation that Snuffles needs warming up.
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@Sasha -
Beautiful Violin!
Looking forward to hearing you play again, but on your new fiddle!
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@Sasha Congrats on the new fiddle! Nice looking instrument--looks to be in great shape! 
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Now that I have had a few months to get to know Snuffles, he has really woken up in a big way. I don't know. I know a lot of people say that violins get better as they get played, but I have always been of the mind that it's more the player that is adjusting to the violin.
And there has certainly been some of that with Snuffles. But I had to take almost a 2 week break after slicing my finger with a bread knife, and it took over a week for Snuffles to sound right again. And he seems to get a little bucky if I don't play him every day for at least a little bit.
On the other side, he really rewards me with a gorgeously rich tone, so it is a pretty good relationship.
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I'm envious - not able to appreciate the relationship with a wood violin, but I have wondered sometimes about why my strings feel like they need to 'warm up' just as much as my hands/fingers do.
Glad your finger is better - I've had to try to play with a band-aid a few times & it's no fun. Are you doing anything to protect your 'newly healed' skin for a little while?
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@ELCBK I did not do anything special for healing other than taking time off. Guitar is a lot rougher on the fingers than violin anyway.
In other news, even though I haven't officially recorded anything yet with Snuffles, I do have a sneak peak of his tone. I did a quick recording of a phrase and thought I would test out doing a short/reel of it and see how it goes.
I am very pleased with his sound even with the phone mic, and looking forward to what he will sound like in the studio!
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FABULOUS - I love the tone!
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Well, Snuffles and I have been together for over a year now, and going to lessons regularly. As my playing has improved, I have found that Snuffles has responded beautifully, and produces and amazingly rich and warm sound, though he definitely has a tone and volume that he wants to play. That does not bother me too much, because I really enjoy it that much.
I have made a few changes over this last year. When it was time to re-string, I tried some Pirastro Obligato strings, but I found those really did not suit him and went back to the Larsen Il Cannone Medium (with broad and warm A). I did end up changing out the E string. He originally had a dominant E, and I did not like the Larsen E as much. I heard about these odd Warchal Amber E strings that have a curly queue spring at the ball end and I decided to try one of those out.
To my surprise it not only drastically lessened the whistle the Larsen and Dominant E strings really wanted to make on the E that Snuffles seems to really gravitate to, it was a perfect tonal balance with the other strings. Moving from the A string to E string does not have that radical tonal character change and I really like that a lot. It is a very smooth transition.
Here is a photo of what that string looks like before tightening and tuning, Fiddlershop does have a review on YouTube of this string.
The other changes I have made have been trying a few different chin rests, and I have settled on the Holstein Freedom chinrest, and I replaced the bridge with a Stradpet titanium bridge (French style) with titanium fine tuner and added a Pirastro Korfklerrest shoulder rest (with short legs that are stupidly expensive for a pair of legs).
But, those changes have been well worth it, both in comfort and in tone. Snuffles really rings out and sings now. And it also solves the issue I have of having mismatched colors of pegs, tailpiece and bridge. I don't know why, but those not matching did kind of bother me.
I am looking forward to this next year's journey together with Snuffles, and seeing what we can do musically.
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Great update. Reading these should help others understand the connection between all aspected of the bowed string instruments, not just violins, and how a little tweaking can make big improvements. Thank you for the update.
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