oh, hello - this thread is a year old now! I got my fiddle - a lovely old German one, and I'm very, very happy with it. i also got me one of them thare incredibows - $50, superlight and indestructible. I love it.
All I need now is a new teacher (mine has gone to a much better place - Co. Kerry - and I am bereft and struggling on in bloodyminded beginnership).