An suggestions for a first fiddle/violin?

[NatRocks]

I want to learn the fiddle (violin) and prefer the folk style that is favoured by 'fiddles'. Does anyone have any suggestions for a first time instrument? I want something decent quality but suitable for a beginner, preferably no more expensive than £80. Many thanks.
I appreciate that I may need to spend more, but I'd appreciate any recommendations - been looking at a Stentor II violin which I've found for £110 online (apparently good for beginners) any ideas if that would be ok? Rather than aggressive replies about how I won't get decent quality for that price, I'd appreciate recommendations and advice. Thank you. I'm in the UK.

[lainiebsky]

You don't get decent quality for that price. You get a shoddy instrument made from cheap materials that's hard to play and hard to keep in tune that will probably need significant repairs in the first year. If you want a decent, sturdy beginner instrument you need to go up in price and buy from a reputable string dealer rather than an internet discount place.

[Left-T]

Go on this website. You can get a decent one for that money and you can upgrade later on if you like playing the instrument.

http://www.cheapviolinstore.com/

[dlashof]

I will have to agree to disagree with Left T, I have been in the violin business for 40 years and I have seen all of this before.
You can't get a suitable beginner violin for that kind of money and just about everything on that sight is real junk, I have seen many of those brands on the site mentioned and the parents that brought them in to get repaired because they didn't work properly, got real sticker shock to get them repaired. In general it will cost closer to $250-300 to get a beginner violin that will stay in tune and not need $100 or more right away to make is usable and not sound simply awful. The really cheap instruments come with very bad quality strings, bridges that aren't properly fit and tend to shoot across the room when the strings are tuned because they don't fit. Often times the tail gut snaps quickly and the tailpiece is so cheap that it the tuners don't work properly. The pegs are poorly fit and often won't stay where you put them, they need to be adjusted at best or replaced at worst. The bows are of such poor quality that the hair will often pop out because it was installed wrong or the stick isn't straight. In the long run, it will cost you the $300 in the first year and you would still have a piece of junk.

>>>>> Additional:

When you say "apparently good for beginners" who is stating they are good for beginners, if you are referring to the ad copy on the sales page listings or even most reviews, those cannot be trusted as sellers will say anything to sell their product, they certainly won't say - we sell junk instruments that will fall apart and sound awful. Reviews are very easy to fake, anyone can submit - for example a review on Amazon.

Any recommendation (link) must be looked at fully before considered trustworthy. In the case of
Franz, one of the persons that answered this question, is Franz Kaafka, the owner of the Source - Violin Wizard website. According to the Exploitation section of the Community Guidelines “it is NOT ok to post links that…… are clearly meant only to solicit others for personal and financial gain” so he is violating the YA community guidelines and shouldn't be trusted as a reliable source of information especially because he tries to hide this connection. Here is proof of what I say (his own twitter and facebook accounts - publicly available)
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=hom...2245683790 and click on “about”

The professionals giving advice here are trying to save you the problems that we have seen time and time again, so we are sorry if you think we are being aggressive, but lainiebsky and I have no reason to give wrong advice - we have seen the problems first hand. As for me, my record, bio, real name and email address are all fully available for investigation.

[Lupe]

The violinists who have already answered aren't being aggressive, they are just giving their professional opinions. They are entirely right, you won't be able to buy a great violin for that price, but I think more more the point is you will never get the right violin if you buy it online.

What's really important about violins is not its brand, but the quality of its sound. I would recommend going to your local string store where someone knowledgable can help you choose your first violin. It needs to be well 'set-up' which internet violins are not (as in have the sound post, bridge, strings etc. all in the right place to produce the best quality sound). You may even be able to find an ok violin in person for the price you are thinking of spending. Just don't buy online, you won't get a good beginners violin that way.

[Franz]

Fiddle and violin are the same. Technically, violin and viola are different. Viola is slightly bigger and have slightly different tone.

I would suggest you better start with a volin around 150$. Once you complete about 1 to 2 year study, you may upgrade to a 400-500$ range. Coz, people quit violin study for various reasons.

There are some nice beginner violins in the source page. 3 of which me and my teacher have tried and found to be good. Read the reviews as well.