i posted this in students before i realised there was a strings section....
I am about grade 5 or 6
Any ideas for a new viola about £300-400?

Gliga!! Without a doubt!!

Gliga Gama. I've got one and it's fantastic. Not known anyone to be disappointed with a Gliga instruments.

I agree absolutely - Gliga Gama. My daughter has just passed grade 6 with hers and her teacher, accompanist (who is one of the most musically knowledgeable people I've ever met - and a lovely man to boot) and examiner all commented on her lovely rich tone.

She was a grade 4 violinist until last February, swapped to viola with a Gliga Gama and passed grade 6 a couple of weeks ago. I think a lot of that is down to playing such a lovely instrument!

Jane

If the violin's are anything to go by, have another recommendation for a Gliga!

If playing a Gliga makes you jump up a grade like that I think I have the wrong violin and will need to buy a Gliga asap!!

Well, what you REALLY want is the one I am about to describe.

A couple of years ago, we sold two violas to someone who told us they were for her nephews. She was very keen for us to get them to her as quickly as possible so that the teacher could see them, as it was very close to the summer holidays. So we sent them off in the middle of July and received a message that the buyer was very happy with them.

Two months later the buyer contacted us and said the sizes were wrong. The 15 inch was too big and the 16.5 inch was too small. Yes it really was that way round. I said, no problem, we'll be happy to swap them for the correct sizes. Buyer said, no, I've got it wrong once, I want to return them and get my money back so I don't make the mistake again. The teacher said they were lovely, they're just the wrong size.

I said, surely if the teacher says they are lovely then all you need to do is change the size. Buyer said, please I really want to start again, you can deduct £80 from the refund. I said, honestly, you're not going to find anything to equal these at the price, is the teacher pushing you to do this?
She said, come on I just want my money back, these instruments haven't even been out of the cases.

At this point I got suspicious. The instruments were originally sold on ebay and I checked out the buyer's two identities. Turned out that one of those idenitites was one she used to sell violas. Clearly she made a mistake letting me know that ID. So I looked up her present listings and there was a picture of one of the violas we sold her - the picture was lifted straight from our listing - but the description was false, it was listed as an English viola, and the price was about double what we charge for them new.

At that point I saw red. Further investigations showed similar dishonesty with the other one we had sold her. I pointed out that "fit for the purpose" under the sale of goods act does not mean "fit to be sold on under a false description for 100% profit". But this was the bit that really amused me:

Bear in mind this woman had told me the violas had not been out of their cases and that both were sold, allegedly, for absolute beginners. Well, according to the descriptions, one of the violas had been played in the Royal Albert Hall and the other had just been used to perform the Vaughan Williams suite (which is a diploma level work). Now, that is quite some going for a player who was described as an absolute beginner and, a couple of days previously, had apparently never taken the viola out of its case. Zero to diploma in 48 hours. Now THAT is the viola you want!

Is it worth buying a gems..? I think gamas are a bit too expensive.

yes please

Yes, a certain person on these boards who must remain nameless (but most of you can guess who I mean - pm me if you don't!) did us proud with that one.

I have a Gems 2 viola and I am really delighted with it

W