a while ago I tried looking for a violin to buy - the really good ones cost - (don't choke) about 10 Grand for a really good one (that's actually a modest estimate...) you can - for 500 dollars - get a reasonably good violin that includes everything. Bow, case, rosin, and, of course, violin. I'll give you a hyperlink to shar music search around and check out the prices - you might be surprised http://www.sharmusic.com/default.asp

bad violin = $300 or less good violin = $600-700 great violin = $1500-10000 best violin = $15000-500000 Stratavirius = millions

The answer to this question depends on how you plan on using the violin. If your 5 year old wants to play the violin a good violin will cost very little for her compared to you son going off to music school to be a violinist. You can get adequate violins for learning at realatively good prices and it is unwise to invest in a very expensive instrument just because it is better if you don't know if you are going to continue playing it. (Also violins need to be played often to stay in good playing condition so its a waste if you just let a good violin sit if you decide not to play, besides the waste of money.)

I had a decent one for $500. Now I play bass though, for my teacher gave me a chance to switch instruments.

Believe it or not, there're some really good violins for around $300-$500. The MSRP on them tends to be higher ($500-$700), but the actual sale price will generally be about 40% lower than the list price. I don't know why they price them this way, but oh well. As long as they're made of good woods (spruce top and maple ribs and back), with full linings and blocks on the inside, real purfling on the outside, and real ebony fingerboard (boxwood and other less durable woods are okay for the pegs, tailpiece and end pin, since these are easily replaced if they wear out), it should be fine. Sure, there're some violins made to such exacting measurements and standards that they sound leaps and bounds better than violins in the above price range, but they cost, literally, in the tens of thousands of dollars. For MOST purposes, a "student" model in the sub-$1,000 range will suffice...even for playing in an orchestra, and certainly for fiddling, such as in bluegrass, folk music, etc. You just won't get quite the volume and power you'll need for solo numbers in an orchestra without stepping up to the thousands-of-dollars models. But, then, it takes literally years if not decades to get good enough to do that anyway, and by then, you'll probably be in a position to buy the more expensive models, and you'll know at that point that you're actually serious enough about playing to warrant the expense. ;)

Johnsonstring.com, good for $200 to 300 Sharmusic.com, good for $150 to $300 I would not buy a full size violin from them though, only fractional size. Pottersviolins.com, good for full size for $1000 and up musiconline101@yahoo.com for online violin lesson with a live teacher via Skype