<p>Imperial-</p>
<p>Don’t apologize, you have real experience with the instruments. I would agree it is always better to try the instruments out, not just because of variations in the instruments (When I was buying a new clarinet years ago,I tried several different Buffets of the same model, and found them the same…but then again,I wasn’t exactly a great player, either;) but because a different model might fit better. I suspect the odds of getting a good wind instrument blindly is probably better then with a violin, though, there is so much on the string instrument that goes into having a good sound…but your point is valid.</p>