I started learning the violin recently, at the age of 34, purely for personal enjoyment. I have a very basic, student-starter violin at the moment which I bought to see if I enjoyed it. I am now looking to upgrade, but my knowledge is far below my enthusiasm and I am liable to make an unwise purchase without some independant advice. I am looking to spend up to £1000. What features/makers should I be looking out for? Is it better to buy a new or used instrument? I would also appreciate advice on bows and strings, which I know vary considerably in cost. Many thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Get a Gliga Gama and a good bow and save the rest. You are most unlikely to find anything for £1000 that will outplay the Gama anyway.

liz

Hi Richard,

I second Liz

There's a fair amount of discussion on Gligas on this website, if you do a keyword search for Gliga, and change the setting from "last 30 days" to "last 365 days". Or visit Liz's website, or just Google around a bit.

I too support Liz, very nice Gliga
are we the only regular string people here Zoda?

I have to say i have never heard of Gliga violin until i came on here! But then again, i have no idea about makes of violins! i am going to university next year to do music and at the minute i am playing a violin that cost £400! I dont know what i am going to do, i cant afford a new one!

QUOTE (Katet @ Jan 11 2005, 09:38 AM)

i am going to university next year to do music and at the minute i am playing a violin that cost £400! I dont know what i am going to do, i cant afford a new one!

Unless you are planning to major in performance, that should not be a problem, unless it was grossly overpriced at £400.

Liz

I agree. Gliga instruments are fantastic, not just in their sound quality, but the workmanship as well.

You get a lot of instrument for not too much cash - which has to be a good thing in todays expensive world.

Looks like it's going to be a gliga then! Thanks for your advice.