What makes a good violin?
I will add to what KAB said. The wood is what makes a good violin especially with matching backs. Workmanship is most important but it is all in the wood. The sound post is important but its main job is to hold the bridge underneath so it doesn’t cave in for one thing, and it helps to tramsit the sound from the top to the bottom. Also, the bow and the quality of the string is what produces the sound of the food and that needs to be taken into consideration. You need a verrrrryyy good ear. As a Luthier, I can distinguish between a pure sound and one that cracks but if you are new to the business, bring someone who plays the violin. He or she will make it sound right and you can listen to it. The violin has to sound sweet with good tonal range from the bass to the highs or whatever.
