What kind of violin should i get?

Question:there seems to be many options.
i'm a beginner and i'm hoping to start lessons in the next month, or as soon as i get a violin. should i get a used violin since i'm a beginner? i was thinking to start out cheap, and if i really like it and get really good purchase something better and more expensive in the future?
what brands/size should i look at?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: there seems to be many options.
i'm a beginner and i'm hoping to start lessons in the next month, or as soon as i get a violin. should i get a used violin since i'm a beginner? i was thinking to start out cheap, and if i really like it and get really good purchase something better and more expensive in the future?
what brands/size should i look at?

I'm not a violinist; I play Irish harp. But I made the mistake of buying a cheap harp to begin with. After about a year, it began limiting my technique, and I realized I needed an instrument of professional quality if I wanted to get any better.
So please--do not start out with a cheap instrument. Find one of the best quality you can afford; save up for a while if you have to, and it will have a better sound. You'll sound better more quickly, and you'll get used to playing on a really good violin!

Find your violin teacher first...some may be fusspots about what kind/quality of violin you get. Interview them and ask questions.

My 8-year-old is taking violin at school..and we bought a nice (read:adequate for a beginner) violin on ebay for $50.00) His cousin also did this and is now ready to move on to a better quality, more expensive piece.

You can also look into renting one. This way you can have the quality...without a huge financial investment. If you decide you hate it..then return the instrument.

Good Luck!

(I'll see if I can find the info on the rental/ ebay and then post)

Student Violin - Outfits
http://beststudentviolins.com/violins.ht...

(5) How can I determine if this violin is the right size for my daughter/son?
http://beststudentviolins.com/StringCare...

Buy cheap for your first violin, Boobs....Buy cheap

Well, if you are planning to rent or if your budget is generous, find a good professional violin shop. Most larger cities will have at least one, it will be the place where the members of the symphony orchestra in town take their instruments for service--call the symphony or the local chapter of the musicians' union if you need someone to ask.

Once you're there, the sales people will be able to outfit you with the proper size of violin, plus all the necessary accessories. The size of violin depends on the size of your arms...if you start out on a half- or three-quarter size, eventually you'll work up to a full sized model.

And these shops usually have options to buy or to rent. When my kids took up violin, we paid $12 per month rental for a good half-size from our local shop, St. Anne's Hill Violins.

If you are not of the means to deal with that level of retail, then go see your teacher first and let your teacher tell you what size violin you need. Then, the lowest-cost options are online; either ebay, or http://www.shopgoodwill.com Ebay will have beginner violins for cheap and many with warranties; Goodwill will have used instruments, many of which are in need of some repair or adjustment, but the purchase price might be so low that it's worth taking the thing to your professional violin shop and paying to have the work done.

If you want a little more security, see if the teacher will help you shop at once of those online sites--say, if you find something that looks promising, you can email the link and have the teacher check it out for you.

I would definitely discourage you against buying a violin on Ebay unless on the rare case that it is a decent violin.
I am a violin teacher and I agree with one previous post that said find your teacher first. I am in no way a violin or music snob but I sometimes cringe at the sounds of ebay violins because generally they are made so cheaply that you can't even get a decent sound out of the instrument. If you decide to buy your violin through a music store, violin shop make sure they have a trade in policy and will give you a good bit of credit towards trading up for a nicer violin. Two of the biggest string wholesale companies that many violinists deal with are www.sharmusic.com and www.swstrings.com. They both have rental plans, trade up policies, offer warranties and offer beginner instruments to nicer instruments for more advanced players. They both also are reputable companies that have been in business for a number of years.
Finding your size: If you are an adult unless you are extremely petite and have short arms you will most likely need a full size violin.
Hope this helps!