VIOLINS and BOWS:

Word of warning: please be VERY cautious when shopping for violins or bows on auction sites. My own personal experience with eBay is that instruments are just as likely to arrive at your house broken as playable, and many companies have ridiculous procedures and policies for repairs and replacements. Just because a seller has lots of stars doesn't necessarily mean that he or she knows anything about violins (or any other instrument for that matter).

The companies listed here are reputable dealers with excellent reputations. The prices are fair (although they may seem high if this is your first violin purchase). You get what you pay for, but these companies will also provide service. They stand behind what they sell and/or rent. I also highly recommend checking your local yellow pages for violin dealers. General music stores that service orchestral instruments are also a good choice. If you are already experienced at choosing violins, a local pawn shop might be worth visiting. I suggest purchasing from a local dealer whenever possible, because your violin will already be acclimated to the local environment; a violin made in Chicago will respond differently in Denver or Seattle.