http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2567199402&category=10180

After wishing to do so for sometime, I am purchasing a violin. I have never played. Having gone over multiple violin forum threads it would seem people are evenly divided on new ebay violins. I care not about looks, I just want a complete,good souding, new violin I can begin to learn on. This advertisment seems to read very well and the components appear decent. It is a complete package, with bow and case, is tuneable. Will the sound quality be poor? Will I need to replace this violin or its components anytime soon as I become better? Limitations of this arrangement? Thank you for your feedback.

Also I am left handed, I assume the chin rest can not be reversed, problems finding chin rests for the left handed?

Well, if they really do have an ebony tailpiece with four built in adjusters, it`s the first I`ve ever heard of .....

He`s going over the top about trivia eg. the label: labels mean nothing at all, and the tailpice: some very advanced players use a metal tailpiece, the effect is debateable but the effect on a beginner violin is going to be trivial (there are too many other factors). Inlaid purfling is something you will find on the great majority of cheap Chinese violins but won`t find on some well respected onlder french student models. Ebony fingerboard is more important.

If you`re determined to learn on a left handed violin (there`s a long thread on this forum all about this issue) then you can`t do it on that violin. Even if you find a chinrest you still have to switch everything else round and even then the soundpost, bassbar and pegs are the wrong way round. Cheapest answer by far will be a left handed Gliga.

Liz

I`d think twice: his feedback is pretty bad. I wouldn`t touch any instrument seller below 99% (with neutrals counted, which ebay don`t do) unless you are very sure of the reasons for the negs.

Liz

For $60 yes, but it doesn`t look to me like a violin worth $700.

The back of the violin is very plain, i.e. no flaming, and as a general rule any violin costing that much would have flaming. Whether flaming affect sound or not, you`ll find it there if you take a look at other new violins on eBay and other internet sites. Check out the Gliga home site and you`ll see how the more expensive violins have nicer wood backs.

I also notice that the pegs don`t seem to fit very well - they don`t go right through to the edge of the box, so they aren`t gripping as well as they could. Again, on a violin worth $700 I`d expect to see them fitting properly.

I don`t see how the case shown differs from other cheap cases - It cradles the violin reasonably well, but that`s about it. Maybe there`s something in the constuction I can`t see.

I agree with what Martin says. Also there`s something else: this seller sells items by "German engineering" and "Italina engineering", clearly desigend to make you think you are buying instruments made in germany or italy rather than China and then uses descriptions such as "this is the real .... (inserting an Italian or German sounding brand name) not a cheap imitation". Cheap imitation of a Chinese instrument???

liz

based on the comments here and some rather, unhelpful emails from the seller. I think I may just by from a music store and pay a little more.

Chris, get a Gliga.

Liz

Liz, please email me at info@cpracing.ca

We just purchased a violin from that ebay seller...not that model but another of their "Italian Engineered" ones. (If you`ve noticed, all their instruments use the same pictures, except the one with the lable.) It`s not a Strad, but for the price, I wasn`t expecting one. It is a decent sounding instrument, better than most rental and "beginner" set-ups I`ve heard. You could certainly learn to play on it for minimal expenditure.

For $60, I guess it`s okay. It looks like one of those instruments you take to practice because you don`t want to bring your good instrument.

You know, that tailpiece looks a lot like the Wittner ones with the built in tuners. Those are made of vulcanized rubber. I`ve never seen an eboni tailpiece with built in tuners.

I am new to the violin so, perhaps not totally qualified but, I have worked in hi-fi and golf and am familiar with the 3Bs (Bulls**t baffles brains). As Liz said, he seems to be concentrating on inconsequentials rather than sound. Also he claims that it is shop adjusted, looking at the turnover from the comments listing, it must be a big shop.

Ebay is a leap of faith when you are a beginner. I bought my violin on Ebay from a dealer much featured on these pages but, only after a chat and advice on the telephone and noticing from this board how generally helpful she was. As with much specialist gear (if I can call the violin gear) don`t always assume that you get the best deals and value from large companies.

As it its obvious that the instrument would not sell for the list price mentionned, the quality of the violin remains impressive for the selling price (i.e. below 70$), whatever the label and country of craftmanship. It makes it very appropriate for young students (sizes 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4) and as an entry full size violin. The descriptive text is a fair marketing effort to avoid the china=cheap prejudice. If you consider the product itself, the quality of construction and material and the sound personnality that comes with it, this is a real bargain. I bought a dozen of these for my students and I am very pleased with the product.

The bow, rosin and case are fairly fonctionnal. But for full size instruments, I would recommend buying a better bow as you progress in learning.

Hope this help.

Guy

Speaking from experience...I`ve learnt not to purchase instruments from the net. Unless it`s cheap, mass purchase in bulks for the student string ensembles, where each probably cost only 60 bucks. It`s always more rewarding to get down to the shop personally and select the instrument yrself. Afterall, it`s not just the sound that matters. U`ve to feel totally comfortable with yr instrument. As I`ve discovered that violins with beautiful sound doesn`t necessary means that they are good to play and user friendly. I`ve one that has a really refined and sweet tone, but is really tedious to play, since the chin rest just doesn`t quite seem to fit with all my shoulder rest. And the bridge is set up too high. And in the end I spend a fortune trying to find a shoulder rest that will give me the best fit with the chin rest. U see, it`s all the little details as such that u wanna consider when getting a violin. Esp. one that`s gonna cost u 700 bucks. IMHO, it`s best that u get down there and try it yrself. Even if u can`t play, just hold the instrument there and see whether u feel comfortable with it. Unless yr adjusting yr budget to 100 bucks. Well then, to hell with everything. Just pay with yr card and wait.