Picking out a good violin can be tricky. Here are a few pointers that I hope will help. First you should decide what you can spend, but remember, the old adage " you only get what you pay for" holds very true in the world of string instruments. If you get a violin for $40 off of ebay, it's not going to sound breathtakingly beautiful, but, it may be O.K. to try out for a short while so you can decide if you like playing this most difficult of instruments at all.
If you go to a music store to purchase or rent, be sure to try all the violins they have in your price range. The violin will be right under your ear when you play it and if the sound isn't pleasant to you, you wont want to play it at all. Be sure to bring a pencil and paper to take notes.
Children have to be measured for the proper size, so they should be along for the final choice. When the violin is in playing position, they should be able to wrap their hand completely around the scroll.
Look the violin over carefully. There should be no open gaps around the edges, or major unglued or unstable cracks that move when you press on them. The fingerboard should not be loose or warped. The bridge should not be so high that you can slide your fingers under the strings or so low that the strings touch the fingerboard. The neck should not be loose or wiggly. The neck, bridge, and tailpiece should be perfectly aligned.
You should try to get a violin with plain tuning pegs. If there is a screw in the end of the peg, beware! The pegs that have screws in them that you can tighten or loosen do not work well. Over time they get stripped and you won't be able to tune your violin at all. Also check the wood around the tuning pegs. If it is cracked, even slightly, look for a different instrument.
Don't judge a violin by it's looks. That shiny new looking beauty isn't necessarily the best. It doesn't matter what color varnish was used or if it has scratches or looks used. What matters most is how it sounds. My circa 1760 violin looks like it's been through several wars, but it sounds like angels singing.
If you have any doubts, ask to try the violin for a few days before making your decision. Most dealers will allow that, if you leave a deposit. Then you can bring it to your lesson and ask your teacher's opinion.
Here are some suggestions of fairly good brands at good prices arranged pretty much from least to most expensive:
Stentor, Conservatoire
Saga Musical Instruments, Cremona SV-220
Wm. Lewis & Son, Orchestra WL80E
String Works, Artist Violin
Horn & Son, Theo Kreutz
Angel, CA01AT
Casa Del Sol, Albert Lee 2000 (Johnson String Instruments)
Eastman Strings, Andreas Eastman VL305ST
Meisel Stringed Instruments, Mittenwald Model A
Scherl & Roth, R301E4L
Shar, OF 500
Karl Willhelm 2000
Potters Violins, Caprice
Knilling
Glaesel
Harald Lorenz
Suzuki
The above list is only a small fraction of the instruments that are available to buy or rent. The same violin "shell" may be sold under a variety of different names. Don't make the mistake of buying a violin on the soul merit of it's brand name. You may want to try the same make and model number at several different places since all violins vary in sound and playability. Price tag is not always the best indicator of the quality of an instrument. Some companies have a reputation that allows them to charge more and the instrument may not be worth the price.
Evaluate each violin you test very carefully, and use and trust your ears for a good sound in the one you choose.
