Good setup and playability are huge. I got my kid a "beach and camping fiddle" -- this is not the instrument you use at recitals, this is the instrument you take for playing tunes around the campfire and isn't going to be materially damaged by a beer spill. Good strings, lower the nut for playability, carve the bridge and set the sound post properly, and you end up with a decent fiddle. Doesn't sound like the "good" instrument, but is still fun to play and sounds good enough for some fun.

Carbon bows are getting darn good, too.