Ah, this takes me back. Many years ago my younger daughter was a serious cello student (only to put it aside
years later to study psychology). Like you, we started with a beat-up rental before getting her a good instrument
from Gunther Reuter, a Chicago maker. Gunther's brother Fritz Reuter has writtn extensively on the pitfalls and
perils inherent in the violin business. Have a look at his website.

—BK