How do I choose the right violin, viola or cello for me?

Choosing the right string instrument is understandably a daunting task for most musicians, especially those who are relatively new. But this is more of an opportunity than a task! During your musical journey, the instrument you choose is very much a part of your own musical experience. As the instrument changes, your playing will change, and you may find that the relationship is more relevant than you expected. It needs to be deep, because the instrument is your playing tool.

欢迎选购艺匠琴坊的弦乐器，您可以点击此链接与我们建立联系！

"Wait a minute! You just made me more confused about the search!"

Don't get confused, as there are plenty of guides on the internet, and you can also gain a wealth of knowledge through teachers, colleagues, and even shops like ours, where we'd be happy to have an in-depth conversation with you about your instrument needs. Even if you're not buying from StringWorks, or you plan to buy in a few months or more, give us a call and we'll share our knowledge with you and put your mind at ease. For now, though, let’s talk about some basics…

1) Give it a try! Most reputable violin shops, like ours, will allow you to have an in-home audition as this is absolutely crucial for you to make the right decision. Before you settle on a price range or start looking at models, make sure your store allows you to try out the instrument at home for yourself, your violin, viola, or cello teacher, and colleagues.

2) Materials. Solid wood, carved wood – Never choose laminate as laminate is made of layers of wood held together with glue and glue does not resonate the way wood does. Never.

3) Credibility and relationships. Choosing a trustworthy store or personal dealer is critical to your success in choosing the right instrument for you, as you will most likely want to develop a lifelong musical relationship with this person or company. Find the right store and you can buy the right instrument.

4) Warranty. Does the company offer a warranty on its instruments like StringWorks does? Companies that believe in the quality of their products will offer warranties on their products, protecting this important investment of yours.

5) Trade in old items for new ones! Many violin shops, like StringWorks, have great trade-in policies, which is essentially an investment in your musical future. That way, you can spend what you can first, and then upgrade as your musical abilities (and wallet) allow! Because StringWorks only sells our own brand of instruments, we have the best trade-in policy in the industry, earning 100% points for your first trade-in and 80% points for each subsequent trade-in. Your investment is safe.

6) Budget. Budgeting is a part of reality for most of us, and unfortunately you choose a tool that is relatively expensive to purchase, but also very rewarding! Understand your spending power and make sure you get value for money. If you can't come up with the money to buy a new instrument (we recommend at least $500 for a violin and $1200 for a cello), you can search for used instruments on Craigslist and other sites (if you need advice on choosing an instrument from a local classified ad, feel free to Contact us – we’ll be happy to help!), or choose a payment plan like ours. Don't be pressured into spending too much, as musical journeys are often long and there are always opportunities to upgrade (see No. 5 above).

欢迎选购艺匠琴坊的弦乐器，您可以点击此链接与我们建立联系！

7-9) Set, set, set. Although I saved this point for last, it is probably the most important and, unfortunately, the most overlooked. If you remember only one point after reading this article, remember this (even though it's broken into three points because it's so important). Don't be seduced by "factory settings" because of their value, because there is no such thing. Just like StringWorks Setup™, an instrument is only as good as the player's effort, craftsmanship, and careful setup. You'd be surprised at the time that stores that offer high-quality instruments spend on setup. Fingerboard scoop, neck, nut, saddle, sound box, sound stops, bridge feet, bridge taper, bridge shape, string guides, etc., these all determine the performance of a piano, and ultimately What matters is how easy it is to play. Purchasing an instrument that is not set up at a professional level often brings frustration to the player, sometimes enough to cause the player to abandon the instrument, only to achieve nothing.