Disregard violin labels unless the label is explicitly guaranteed to be authentic and original to the violin.

Incorrect labels have been inserted in violins for centuries.  There are many reasons for this odd phenomena, but even many very fine violins have incorrect labels.  Sometimes, the incorrect label can even be that of a less valuable maker than the actual maker. Often, Asian, German, Eastern European, Western European, and American violins have labels of Italian makers.  Sometimes new, highly aniqued Chinese made violins have labels of rather obscure modern Italian makers.  Some of these Chinese violins are very good, but have low market value.  Most of the genuinely old violins on eBay are German, followed probably by French.  Some old German violins are excellent even if they have a fake label.  Likewise the better Mirecourt violins and most older French violins.  Some German violins also have fake French labels.

Buy from a reputable dealer so you don't get stuck with something that isn't worth buying. 

 A reputable dealer on eBay and off eBay will allow you to try an instrument for a while and will refund your money if it isn't for you.  It is hard for a novice to tell the good from the bad so it helps to have a teacher or expert player help decide if the violin is suitable.  Expect a violin bought from eBay, even from the best dealers, to need a bit of fine tuning to be ideal.  Bridges, soundposts, strings, and sometimes pegs can usually use adjustment or replacement to optimize the tone and playability.  If those things aren't needed on the violin you buy, then you are ahead of the game. If it sounds and plays well out of the box, fine tuning will likely improve it.

Expect a deal on eBay but not a steal.

Good violins are sold everyday on eBay by the best dealers for good wholesale prices.  That is, 1/3 to 1/2 of what a large metro dealer might ask.  Rarely, if ever, is a fine violin sold on eBay for 10% or less of its retail value.  If a violin labeled Fagnola sells for $1700, it is surely no Fagnola. If it is by some outrageous chance real, it certainly has irreparable condtion issues.  eBay buyers are sophisticated and a good thing brings a good wholesale price.  Rarely does anything truely fine slip through the cracks for 10 cents on the dollar.

American made violins

American made violins have been appreciating more rapidly than violins from other countries.  It is my opinion that American violins from 1880 -1940 are as good as any, made anywhere during the same period.  That does not mean any American violin, but rather those well known makers from Boston, Philidelphia, Chicago, New York, Cincinatti and other large metro areas where classical music and classical musicians were found.  The top makers had strong followings and commanded very high prices and great respect from their clientele.  Often major soloists played their violins in concert and prices realized by top makers were as high as $750 in 1900. While modern Italian violins are sometimes sold for $50,000 - $100,000 or more, rarely does the value of a good American violin exceed 10% of that amount.  Thus, there is great collector value and huge appreciation potential in quality American made violins.  It is my experience that the best American violins sound as good as any made in the world.

Some myths:

Tiger flame is imortant to the sound of a violin

Only the cheapest violins have painted purfling 

If the scroll is grafted, the violin is old

All good violins have 4 fine tuners

If a violin has no corner blocks, it is a cheaply made factory violin

Factory violins are made by machine

Only Italian violins are worth a lot of money

Ernst Heinrich Roth violins were made by Ernst Heinrich Roth himself

Stradivari worked alone

Chinese violins are no good

Old violins are better than new ones

New violins are better than old ones

American violins aren't worth much

There are fine 17th and 18th century Italian masterpieces on eBay-cheap

Nobody puts a label of an unknown maker in a cheap violin

If the date on a label is hand written in ink, that means it is real

Only expensive violins sound really good

All good violins are expensive

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