Grade 6 violin and beyond - how much did you pay for your child's instrument?

[AgonyBeetle]

Am interested to know, because my child's teacher has just informed me that our current instrument (which is a Gliga Gama) is not good enough.

Any thoughts? The Gamas are very well reviewed, and I've had quite a few favourable comments from people who know what they are talkign about. They are a bit chunkier than most violins, but I think the sound is good.

Am I being unrealistic about how much it's necessary to spend to get a child beyond Grade VI? Child is 12, at good county youth orchestra standard, plays well and enjoys it, but not to the level that it's going to be a career.

My DD was at a very similar stage recently - age 13 had passed grade 6 on a borrowed violin. She will want to go to grade 8 plus, maybe not to diploma level though.
After a couple of failed attempts at buying something cheap (turned out to be bad violins, surprise surprise) I spotted a possible violin on Ebay. It didn't sell, so I then contacted the seller and arranged to go and try it out. Cost slightly over £200. Daughter loves it, prefers it to the borrowed violin, which is a lot more valuable. Should take her to grade 8, and if she then needs something better she can keep it as her spare. Didn't include a bow. It's an antique German instrument, I think.
I'd also spoken to a specialist violin shop, and they thought that you could buy something that would go to grade 8 for £600 plus.
So my advice would be to look on Ebay, but make sure that you try before you buy.

I wouldn't get too smug, kippersyllabub: the recorder I did my diploma exam on cost £1500 (and that was 15 years ago...)

I sat my grade 8 on an old violin - worth about £200. I don't think it is essential. An old, yet basic, violin can produce a beautiful tone.

My viola cost a grand from a proper dealer

My violin was £15 at a car boot. Worth £700 now and I did the restoration myself didn't know any better at 13 so it is possible, if you know what you're looking for, to get lucky