but my advice, for around RM3000, you can get very good china made violins. but still you have to choose individually.

if you insist to buy from shops, euro music and chamber music @ sungei wang plaza are the 2 that i recommend. a little expensive to buy in chamber but there're much worse shops selling RM2000 violin for RM8000.

Dear wnar,
Some violinist tend to blame their cheap violin when they themself don't play it well. They expect to be able to play and sound well if they get an expensive violin. Myself is no exception at the begining stage. It is only after when I lent my violin to be played by an experienced violinist, the music they make really blew me away. It is true that an expensive violin tend to sound somewhat better than a cheap one but most of it depends on how good the violinist is. My violin cost me less than Rm200.00 and is China made.

Regards

Dear smcg,
Oh, I don't mind. Nothing to feel shy about what grade I have.  I just passed this year's Grade 2 exam and now gunning for better grades. How about sharing yours then?

Dear wnar,
I also do own Antonin Dvorak violin that I play at home while the cheap violin is for music class. When new,  the Dvorak violin did not sound as well but after playing it for some time, the reasonace comes out. I think the same goes for all violins. Sort of like breaking it or a simple analogy of buying new shoes where at first, it is uncomfortable but after wearing for a period it feels great. They said that the violin needs to be a part of you for it to express itself and come alive, literary speaking. Just listen to the Butterfly Lovers Concerto for violin and you will know what I mean.

Regards