so do you ever get paranoid when you sell something on ebay...

[welfareloser]

and it sells for WAAAAY more than you expected?

i always wind up thinking oh, crap... what is it that they think they're getting? how mad are they going to be when they get what i'm sittin here lookin at? mad enough to come kick my ass?





hasn't been a problem yet, i take great care with long-winded, painfully honest item descriptions and pics, but man, i just sold a violin i was expecting to go for under $100, and it's at $160... oh, crap, make that $188... $198.50 with 33 seconds left... SOLD! for $203.50 :eek:

well. that plus the other violin i sold pays for a bouncy house, now, doesn't it? man, i hope i don't get my ass kicked...

[Hypnotist]

What's the big deal? Pics?-Yes... Honest description?-Yes... Honest Person?-Hmmm j/k :) Try not to out think yourself... You'll be fine! :thumb:

[Cantacuzene]

Yes, because it always seems like sketchy malaysians bid on my auctions even though I clearly state I won't ship internationally.

[RIVERWIDOW]

What's the big deal? Pics?-Yes... Honest description?-Yes... Honest Person?-Hmmm j/k :) Try not to out think yourself... You'll be fine! :thumb:

One man's trash is another mans treasure. :deal:

[doolittle]

i usually get paranoid when i buy somthing from ebay, i wouldent worry about it if you dident falsly advertise your item, lying would be the only thing that would deserve an ass kicking.

[cadetevon]

I wouldn't worry WL, if you're clear in your discription, which it sounds as if you were, then there is no reason to fret.

Thanks, by the way, now I'm over at eBay looking for a cheap 1/2 size violin for my son. He's always wanted to learn and if I can find one I can afford (seems unlikely) then I'll buy him one for his bday.

[welfareloser]

cool! 1/2 and 1/4 size are easy to find for under $100... (1/8 is a bit more, and 1/16 and 1/32 are a LOT more expensive.) most of the factory-made violins sold on ebay have some problems with them, and can be gotten for $50 or less. usually the problem is a missing chinrest (just buy a new one and clamp it on), missing bridge (only an expert should put on a new one, as the feet MUST be custom-fit and it must be put in the right place or the instrument will get damaged by the uneven tension) missing strings (easiest thing in the world to replace, but for some reason, the sellers don't replace them, they just sell em cheap), or, most commonly, poorly fitted tuning pegs. or the bow is warped or missing (not a big deal, the bows they come with are usually crap, and you can buy a cheap new one that works nicely for $30 or less at any music store, including some online ones).

i got an antique 1/2 size for $50, just needed a new bridge and the tuning pegs re-fit. and i got a factory-made 1/4 size for $22 shipped. just needed pegs and chinrest.

it's kind of hit-and-miss, and the seller rarely describes any damage. you can count on spending $25-$75 to get it into playable condition.

there are a couple of sellers on ebay that sell undersize and fullsize violins for about $100 shipped, and they guarantee that it is properly set up and playable.

and finally, how old is your son? just make sure you're getting him the right size!!! here's a chart, just measure the length of his arm (a couple of ways to do it, instructions at the link) and look it up...

http://www.feinviolins.com/instrument_sizing.html

if he's ready for 1/2 size, great... most people go straight from 1/2 to full-size. there is a 3/4 size, but since most people don't bother to buy a 3rd violin that only gets used for a few years, they have crap for resale value.

and finally... when buying a full-size, get an antique one. they sound 100x better than all but the most expensive ($5000+) brand new ones, and the factory-made ones that are $200-$2000 are kinda :puke:

[cadetevon]

cool! 1/2 and 1/4 size are easy to find for under $100... (1/8 is a bit more, and 1/16 and 1/32 are a LOT more expensive.) most of the factory-made violins sold on ebay have some problems with them, and can be gotten for $50 or less. usually the problem is a missing chinrest (just buy a new one and clamp it on), missing bridge (only an expert should put on a new one, as the feet MUST be custom-fit and it must be put in the right place or the instrument will get damaged by the uneven tension) missing strings (easiest thing in the world to replace, but for some reason, the sellers don't replace them, they just sell em cheap), or, most commonly, poorly fitted tuning pegs. or the bow is warped or missing (not a big deal, the bows they come with are usually crap, and you can buy a cheap new one that works nicely for $30 or less at any music store, including some online ones).

Cripes, but isn't that a load of information! Thanks so much. Now I'll not be flying so blind.

One of the auctioneers mentioned that their violins ship with the bridge already there. Is that rare? You mention that it should be attached/installed by a pro...what sort of cost is involved?

I'm a single mom and so I'll have to really get a deal on something or I'll not be able to get anything at all.


i got an antique 1/2 size for $50, just needed a new bridge and the tuning pegs re-fit. and i got a factory-made 1/4 size for $22 shipped. just needed pegs and chinrest.

Do you, by chance, recall the sellers username?


there are a couple of sellers on ebay that sell undersize and fullsize violins for about $100 shipped, and they guarantee that it is properly set up and playable.

This sounds fair to me. ~$100 for something to show up at my door in complete working condition.


and finally, how old is your son? just make sure you're getting him the right size!!! here's a chart, just measure the length of his arm (a couple of ways to do it, instructions at the link) and look it up...

He's nine (kinda smallish for 9). I'll have to measure him when I get home.

I want to thank you again for all the great information. I feel much better about my hunting now.

[PiPhiAngel]

Thanks, by the way, now I'm over at eBay looking for a cheap 1/2 size violin for my son. He's always wanted to learn and if I can find one I can afford (seems unlikely) then I'll buy him one for his bday.

i wouldn't reccomend purchasing a violin thats usually sold for anything under $200 - $250. while teaching beginners' violin classes, i noticed that several students would have very inexpensive violins (less than $100, usually) that LOOK perfect, but sound and function terribly. i can understand the want to spend less on these instruments (especially when your child is first starting lessons) in the event that they soon decide that violin is not for them, but having a violin of thats so poor in quality, will be frustrating for them to learn with.
a huge part of learning to play, is learning to tune their own instruments by ear. as violins will need to be tuned before every practice/performance, its essential that the sound produced by their instruments are at least mediocre so that they can essentially train their ears to be able to recognize the pitch. it is very difficult to learn on an instrument that doesn't function the way most violins should especially in the quality of sound. these extremely inexpensive violins have TERRIBLE pitch with sounds that do not resonate, and tuning pegs and fine tuners that can't hold the strings for very long. the strings are usually of the lowest possible quality (and this DOES make a difference) and the bow is made of synthetic hair-- while these can both be easily changed, you will need to spend an extra $70-$90 for improvements that will essentially not make much of a difference given the entire construction and quality of the violin itself.

when i started violin (at age 9), i used a 1983 w. germany handmade 2nd hand violin from a local music store that my dad purchased for $350. it had been 7 years old and its original price when it was new was $550, but when we purchased it it was in terrible cosmetic condition. the sound of it, however, was very good. sometimes, good violins tend to sound better with age-- don't overlook buying older violins at $350 for these new violins for under $150. the only good thing about the new, under $150 violins that i've noticed are their paint jobs-- they seem to make them in very bright, appealing colors. i'd only reccomend purchasing violins for less than $150 if you're planning to use them for decorative purposes-- hanging on a wall, etc..

the easier way to determine the size of the violin that you will need is to go to a music store and ask them for assistance. they will have your child place their chin on the chin rest, and stretch their arm out in an attempt to find a length that they can comfortably wrap their hand around the scroll with their arm still straight. if your child has a longer neck, they will also need an adjustable shoulder rest. (i'd reccomend the wolf brand shoulder rests-- they seem to be the most ergonomic for me. these go for about $35.)

sorry for such a long response, but after teaching violin for several years, i've noticed that the less expensive violins (under $150) really do affect the quality of instruction and experience that my students recieve. nonetheless, i still wouldn't base my choice of violins completely on the price alone-- research different brands and their quality if you haven't already, and you just might find an excellent violin with a great deal. last i've checked, there were some good ones on ebay.

i hope this helps...

[welfareloser]

i'd agree... you will need to replace the strings, because they are the pits. but the tuners can be adjusted - if they fit really badly, refit with a dremel (this is the one violin repair i'd say go ahead and try yourself... if you f*** it up, a new peg costs about $1.) if it's just a little sticky/hard to turn, apply crayon. if it slips a bit, apply the violin rosin. fine tuners that stick get wd40. fine tuners that slip, replace for $1.

and the ones that sell on ebay AREN'T the VSO's (violin-shaped objects) you're talking about... i've got a couple of those for my kids to smash each other with. i agree, they are utterly valueless. i've acquired quite a few factory-made violins on ebay just for the cases and bows and accessories - they come with wood/horsehair bows, and retail in the $300-$500 range. so, so long as the seller has some reasonable feedback, and states the retail value of the violin, and says "bow is wood and real hair" - you're getting a perfectly good instrument for a child. again, they're cheap because they are "factory seconds" - got a scratch or a ding or lost the bridge or something, and you can either buy them as-is (when i need a case, i put in a max bid, shipping included, of $43, and just keep doing that til i win one... auctions ending really late sunday night are the best time to do that.) or from a seller who has fixed whatever the little problem is and guarantees the set-up (the $100 guy... i'll go see if i can find the seller name now.)

[bachviet]

<--- Learned violin for 5 years in VN but quit when I get here because our family couldn't afford private lesson. :(

I would love to have my kid(s) learn one of the musical instruments. :D

[welfareloser]

okay... i know this guy is a good seller, BIN of $60 with $30 shipping for a $400+ handmade violin, with a guarantee...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38110&item=7319884039&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

(if that auction has ended when you look, click through to the seller's store.)

hmm. overstock.com has musical instruments now...

http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=CATLIST&pro_sub_cat=940&pro_ssub_cat=999

here's the violin, 4 sizes:

http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?page=proframe&prod_id=510259

hmm. with that three dollar shipping, i'm eyeing that cello :hihi:

[welfareloser]

this guy's feedback is really good, he has a guarantee, BIN of $28 with $35 shipping for a $450 violin:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38110&item=7318987571&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW