| General Questions FAQs |
| • | What kind of case should I get? |
| • | How often should I rehair my bow? |
| • | What strings should I use? |
| • | What should I look for in a good bow? |
| • | I see some really affordable instruments on auction sites, are they any good? |
| • | What about used instruments? Are they good too? |
| • | Should I rent or buy? |
| • | What is a good starting point for spending on a violin? |
| • | What should I look for in a new instrument? |
| |
| Q | What kind of case should I get? |
| A | Always look for a case that will offer a greatest amount of protection for the least amount of weight. A good suspension case is important to protect you investment, and there are many to choose from. |
| Q | How often should I rehair my bow? |
| A | Most people that play a lot will rehair every 6 months, but you should be able to use the hair on the bow for at least a year. |
| Q | What strings should I use? |
| A | It depends on the music you are going to play and the sound that you like. Most people start with a nylon core string such as Dominants. They have a long life and are easy to tune. But there are many choices and that can be fun sometimes, to try out some strings to see what you like. |
| Q | What should I look for in a good bow? |
| A | It depends on your budget; in the low range say under $100 to $1000 we recommend you look at Carbon Fiber bows such as Coda Bows, Tabary or Arcus. These bows will give you a great sound with the added comfort of being almost indestructible. |
| Q | I see some really affordable instruments on auction sites, are they any good? |
| A | Sometimes you can get a really good deal; sometimes you will need to take the instrument to a maker for a complete going over. We have seen both good and bad and if you are unsure, look for a little help when checking out instruments on auction sites. |
| Q | What about used instruments? Are they good too? |
| A | Sometimes you may find that a used instrument is made available for you to purchase. Look it over carefully and see if there are any cracks in the wood or repairs that need to be made. Sometimes the costs of repair can be expensive, but sometimes you get a good instrument that will work just fine. If you are unsure just take it to a violinmaker to have it looked at. |
| Q | Should I rent or buy? |
| A | If you are just starting out, sometimes renting is the best way to go. This gives you a chance to see if this is something that you will continue with or just a passing interest. |
| Q | What is a good starting point for spending on a violin? |
| A | We usually recommend that for a violin you look at the $200 to $500 range and for an outfit that includes that case and bow about $350 to $475. |
| Q | What should I look for in a new instrument? |
| A | You should try to find an instrument that is made from solid carved wood. That has a spruce top with maple sides, back and neck, an ebony finger board, easy turning pegs made of wood and set up to NAMM or ASTA specs as are all of our instruments. |
