Hello.
I'm a 19 year old fiddle player(converted a couple of years back from classical) from Belfast, and I am interested in purchasing a new instrument, as I have over the last year or so become more aware of the limitations of my current instrument(while a decent little violin, nothing amazing). Alas, due to financial constraints(I am a student lol), del Gesu's and Strads are out of my price range, which at a stretch could reach £900(quite a sum for a student but I feel it will be an investment). I would like to purchase an instrument that will see me through at least a decade, my lifetime if possible, and while this is a big ask for the price, I am a session player, not a conservatory soloist, so a decent tone is my requirement, not a big name. I am interested in finding an instrument that will suit Irish traditional music. I have done some research, and have been drawn to the Gliga instruments, particularly the Gliga Gama Guarneri from Elida Trading(and the Gliga Gama Guarneri SUA available from the American Gliga distributor). Can anyone offer me some advice on buying a fiddle/violin for my style of music, and perhaps suggest a retailer? Any information on, or experience of the aforementioned Gliga Gama Guarneri would also be greatly appreciated.
Thank You

I know this is an old post, sorry...
I play Irish trad too, and I have a Gliga GAMA violin; I just wanted to say the tone is really nice, and I don't have very much experience with different violins or discerning quality, etc., but it seems to be a very good choice if you are on a budget but want a good instrument...

Hey All... Currently I am selling a professional Level Violin, out of my personal collection!!! It is considered one of the top manufactured professional violin on the market!!!

STV-950
Check out the price!!!
I thought you guys would like the first opportunity ....
http://jadamsmith.net/ViolinforSALE.aspx
Talk to you later,
J-Adam

Please, listen to my violin in a contest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np1aVvHtzVQ

I failed the competition for I am unexperienced before the judges.
I was scared, and I tried to run faster and faster.

However, forget how bad I am in playing violin, and please,
remember only the tone of the violin. Here, I played it again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNE6nBIs0Lg

This is not the best violin in the whole wild world, but its back
is a beauty, and its face is not bad. I purchased it at $340 US dollars
the whole package (bow, rosin, strings ready on, rectangular case)
and the shipping cost to my home is $60 dollars. It is my best violin.
Other violins I bought later from the same manufacturor are no more
than $200 US dollars plus $60 shipping cost (T19 violins).

You can see these kinds of violins on eBay with the keywords "T20 Violin"
or "M20 violin" in category "Musical Instrument." Please, do not offer
more than 400 dollars for any of them. The manufacturor is "Yita Music"
in ShangHai. It also has T19 and M19 violins at below $200 dollars each.
You may want to "Watch" them to have an idea how ebay people buying them
before you actually buying one.

You may contact me at atran6@yahoo.com to have my comments on the violins
you like on eBay before you bid on any of them. I have been a luthier.