Buying a fine violin is not an impulse purchase. It’s closer to choosing a long-term musical partner — one that should respond to you, challenge you, and ideally not betray you during an exposed passage in front of an audience. Before committing, asking the right questions can save you from disappointment, confusion, and the quiet regret that comes from realising you should have asked just one thing more. Where and how was this violin made? This is the most fundamental questi