My son seems to be sticking with this viola playing and I'd now like to buy him his own instrument.

He's currently playing on what looks like a 13" violin.

What make of viola might be nice for him - I can afford about £200 - the student ones I've seen are around £120.

What makes should I look out for? Do you know any websites that I could take a look at? The music stores I've contacted seem a bit lethargic about giving advice and just tell me to order a basic model. They hardly seem enthusiastic and the specialist place I contacted only sell instruments for about £8,000! so I'm a bit stuck.

thank you

He's 10, but the size of a 12 year old by the way.

Hi Echelon, a similar situation regarding violin was discussed just recently...I had to buy a full-size violin for gorilla-armed son around age 10, and with hindsight, a decent basic model would have been a better choice than what we got - one reason being that tastes change and mature, but the main reason is because moving up to a full-size usually means that you are in a hurry, and really, you want to take your time to find "the" instrument.

It's not so hard to find a good semi-factory-made instrument if your local market has demand for that area, but as it was, we did struggle to find anything at all between "expensive handmade" and "entry level factory made"...and a kid who's been playing a while has no difficulty deciding which of those two choices sounds better to them! That might be a problem with viola too, so what about renting a full-size for a while, to take the pressure off the search?

No, I wouldn't like to rent. He has adhd and often loses things and he can be a bit clumsy at times and I'd be so upset if he dented a rented one. I don't mind if his own got a few knocks along the way, but I'd be paranoid if it wasn't his. I'm bad enough with his rented school one, but that's full of knocks anyway and would only cost £60 to replace if it was lost.

I might have a word with his teacher about the size. He's still just a beginner so I don't want a larger one in case it puts him off and the finger positions would be different as well. Buying violas is quite difficult. It took me ages to track down my 15" one

I understand that feeling!!! I once had to take two borrowed violins on an overseas trip - got off the airport bus at the end of the trip with a violin case gripped firmly and safely in each hand...and left my handbag with all the family passports on the bus!

Since no-one else has said it, I am very happy with my Gliga Viola from Elida trading. Sounds great when someone competent plays it...

My son had a viola (13")from Liz (elida) last summer and has been very pleased with it.

Yes, gliga Gems violas are excellent. We got a 14" for my daughter a few years ago. Her teacher said it was excellent value for money and rare to find a small viola that sounded like a viola. Think it might have been a little more than £200 though.

Just to add, we bought the viola when my daughter was 10.5, (she's tall for her age and may well have been about the size of a 12yo boy). The viola had growing room but was quite playable.

Elida Trading website is http://www.elidatrading.co.uk/gliga.htm. I don't know anywhere else in the UK that sells them, but looking a 14" gems 2 is £280. If you are interested in a second hand 14" one, let me know. Daughter no longer plays but might want to hang on to it anyway for sentimental reasons.

Oh, right. Thanx everybody. I'll take a look at those. I'd like to get him one that sounds nice. It puts you off playing if the sound is poor.

I've just had a look and the Gem 2 looks about right. I shall go off and count my pennies

If there's any way you can push the extra to a gems 1, do so - it's really worth the difference.

Otherwise, if he's growing quickly, go with a genial 1 and buy him a gems 1 once he's on a bigger size if he sticks with it.

Have a look on ebay - second hand smaller violas do come up as they are outgrown, and you may well be able to get something for your son which will not cost the earth - or cause a huge amount of worry the umpteenth time it gets left behind on the bus..... (believe me, I've been there!) . After a couple of years, as your son grows (and, hopefully his personal organisation skills improve) you may well feel that he deserves and has earnt a better, more expensive instrument such as one of the ones from Yitamusic or Gliga.