Reputable Online String Instrument Companies
In this blog, I will discuss some online string instrument companies that I believe are reputable. At the moment of this writing, I am not receiving any payment for writing about these companies. This is just my honest opinion based on experience.
I have been using the Shar Music Company since their phone catalog days when I was a child (which they still do), and I recommend their upper-level beginner to intermediate violin options. Their customer service is very good, and they ship out their orders quickly. When you call them for advice or questions about a product, a string player will help answer your questions. I even have a friend who worked for them as a student when she lived in Michigan, and she had a good experience. Their website is www.sharmusic.com. I would highly recommend staying alert for their Dutch Auction instrument sales. I was able to get a great deal for my own children’s instruments during this sale! Often these sales are for instruments with slight blemishes, mostly aesthetic, and diminishing the sound quality. For these sales, I believe they do not have the same return policy as for their other instruments.
With any company or even a local string shop, don’t be afraid to ask for a discount with student instruments if there are minor scratches on the surface. Sometimes their used options (as opposed to brand new instruments) sound just as good and are discounted, both for purchase and for rental.
Another good option that I have tried is Johnson String Instrument johnsonstring.com. They had some viola chinrest options for fractional violas that I could not find elsewhere at the time I was searching. They also have very good customer service. Carriage House Violins carriagehouseviolins.com is a division of Johnson String Instrument. This website carries instruments of better quality through the professional level, but I wanted to include it as a good option to “step up” your level of violin when you are out of the beginner stage.
Southwest Strings swstrings.com, Eastman Strings eastmanstrings.com/violin, and Potter Violins potterviolins.com are some other good options of online string companies to try.
One great thing that I have noticed in the past twenty years (yes, that is dating me) is the availability of good-quality carbon fiber bows at a variety of price points. If you are a beginner or intermediate level string player, I would explore one of these less expensive options as a better option than a low-end fiberglass bow. You may also search for Brazilwood bows on the above sites that are highly rated. For a bit of extra money, a bow can go a long way in improving your sound quality by bouncing less, being easier to handle, and being able to use more advanced bowing techniques.
The beauty of online string instrument companies is that you will be able to find more specialized products than a local shop would be able to carry in its inventory. Yes, the local shop can probably order it, but there may be an added fee or a higher price. Many online companies will let you try an instrument or instrument accessory and return it if you are not satisfied, or you can try several products at once, such as chinrests or shoulder rests, select the one you like the most, and return the others. These companies will NOT generally allow returns on strings and some other products, so please check their return policy first.
Be sure to take advantage of their customer service options. Often, you can either call or chat online with a knowledgeable string player and learn the pros and cons of various products. This service is well worth your time and will probably save you money in the long run.
