Does this violin look alright?

Victoria: I can tell you this: I would never buy a violin without seeing, hearing, and playing it. My wife, who has a degree in violin performance, certainly would not. There are some incredibly cheap violins out there, and they look OK in pictures, but are not worth the trouble. Look for string instructors who might have old instruments they'd like to sell, or whose students do, as they look to upgrade. There are decent student models that won't cost a thousand, and there's nothing wrong with buying used. Another way to go would be to ask violin repair people. They can tell you what to look for, and would probably give you an opinion if you brought them prospective instruments.