Thinking of getting this and selling the Paesold 803HV Iam Just learning and if or when I do get good this is not the violin I want to take to shows. I would be to afraid to drop it or something. so is this a good deal? I can get it for a $100.

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/msg/3156018422.html

What makes you think this is better than what you have? Maybe you should do a search here for William Lewis Ton-Klar violins to find out about these. Here's one thread. http://www.fiddlehangout.com/topic/16125  Does the tape on the fingerboard suggest anything to you? I certainly wouldn't be afraid to take it to a clambake.

I used to have one of those Ton Klar fiddles. It sounded awful at first, but after a little tweaking, it was not bad. A good beginner fiddle. Looked nice too, which is probably the last reason to buy a fiddle. I sold mine for around $500, so I'd say the price is right.

I did a search and it seems this model is Rare and one of the upper ones . Iam not saying its better then mine, its just when I drop it or someone steps on it or it gets ripped off i wont be out alot of money.

Jimmy, I may have misunderstood your first post. Did you mean that the Paesold is the one you would be afraid to take to shows? Neither of these are particularly valuable violins, a William Lewis Ton-Klar is certainly not "rare," and the "upper ones" is only relative to a line of basically student model instruments. I'd suggest that if you like this one you get it to have as a backup or second fiddle, and keep your current instrument. The wood looks nice.

I'd also suggest you go to a local violin shop and look around a bit to get a sense of perspective on fiddles.

To me a $1300 violin is alot of money. so yes I would rather take a $100 violin out then my $1300 paesold. What I ment by Rare is that you dont see the herrmann Model around hardly at all. sorry you misunderstood.........My bad

But what did you actually pay for your Paesold? Aren't both of these in the same actual price range (and possibly quality range)? I'm not familiar with either of them.

Good luck whatever you do. Its very handy to have more than one violin, in case you want to tune one differently, or one has to go into the shop for repairs.

Edited by - DougD on 08/02/2012 17:43:30

Careful Jimmy sounds like you have VAS. Violin acquisition syndrome.

I do I really Do..........lol

Ur' doomed Gulliver :))))))))))))))))  Ur' doomed . . . . .

I've not had a Hermann through that was as good as the 803.  I have one now I'm still working on to get what I think should be in there out of it.

A hundred bucks?  Why NOT? Nice case and a free bow.

Haha, I read your post, and my first thought was "I'll take that 'pesky' Paesold off your hands." But, I don't want to take advantage of your new found excitement and "VAL."

I would wait a few weeks and get to know the fiddle you have better before swapping it out.  You may find that your confidence increases and you can enjoy taking it out with little worry.