If you are looking for a great violin buying guide... look no further! If you are looking for a beginning student violin, you are looking at the price range of $650-850. If you want to purchase a used instrument, remember... always look at the violin from top to bottom to make sure that there are no cracks. If the violin has a crack, it's not worth buying. Examine the ribs (sides) of the violin to make sure that there are no extra bulging out beyond the tops or edges. Make sure that the neck of the violin is straight, because occasionally the instrument is made wrong."Set up" on violins is very important. This includes proper bridge and string nut fitting so that the strings are a proper height from the fingerboard, fingerboard planing to make sure the strings don't buzz, peg fitting so the pegs turn smoothly and stay in place, and setting the soundpost for proper tone adjustment, etc. As a general rule, pegs should be made of ebony or rosewood because most other woods are not dense enough to retain the smooth roundness that is necessary for easy tuning. Some music stores do not set up their own instruments, but well-known brands generally are shipped in good adjustment. Many violin shops do their own "set ups," and work to meet the desires and specifications of local teachers and professional players.Most violin outfits will have a case and bow included in the price. A fiberglass bow with horse hair is a good bow for beginners. A good wood bow can add $100 or more to the cost of a beginning violin outfit. For step up violins, you will find the instrument, bow and case priced individually.