Picking a New Instrument

Here are a few no-nonsense steps in selecting a new instrument.

First things first... You are about to spend a lot of money on an instrument that you will use as an extension of yourself, to emote, speak, and communicate. Go in with a serious attitude. (Know that you will get what you pay for - more money means better craftmanship, better tone, better playability, better overall care, etc.)

Also, prepare to play every instrument you can. Try not to spend money on an instrument that you have not played - especially if you have a large budget. Like people, every instrument is different; sounds different; reacts differently to the performer's style of bowing; and has a different tone. Play everything!

So, here we go.

1. Have a price range in mind.

2. Call multiple stores to see if you can experimentally play on some instruments. Any dealer of fine instruments will certainly let you do this.

3. Tell the luthier what your price range is. They should be able to accommodate you with at least three, four, or many instruments within your price range. (Really nice places may also place an instrument or two that is above and a few that are below your price range, just to offer some comparison!)

4. Go in with music that you have memorized and/or know well. (You can take music, it doesn't *have* to be memorized!)

Something Fast

Something Lyrical/Slow

Something on the low strings

Something on the highest strings (in higher positions)

this will give you an idea of how the instrument responds to all types of playing on all the strings

5. Play the same thing on each instrument. Yes, it might get boring, but it offers an apples-to-apples comparison.

6. After you have decided your top 2 or 3, THEN ask about price.

7. You usually do not have to buy right away - especially if you have lined up a few 'test drives' in other locations.

8. If you have narrowed it down to an instrument or two (maybe even from different shops!), ask if you can borrow the instrument for a short while so you can play it in your home. (This is, after all, like a new member of your family!) If you have made a good impression with the owner/seller, they may let you do this. [If they do, of course, be SUPER CAREFUL with this new baby...it is not yours yet!]

9. When you have decided on your instrument, double check with yourself.

10. After you have double checked, buy it, then start to get to know your new best friend!!

Stand-alone shops usually have a luthier (instrument maker) that they work with or employ, ergo, the "brand" will be the maker's name. Chain stores will often use brands that make instruments in bulk; cheaper instruments are machine made, more expensive instruments will be machine-made and hand-finished, then the most expensive instruments from established brands will be hand-made.

For "brand" instruments:

Violins/Violas/Celli/Bassi are often made by only just a few companies, but will put different names inside of the instrument depending on the vendor that sells the instrument. Here is a list of instrument ‘names’ that you will see when you look. They are placed in order of quality/price.

Typically the bottom few are not the best instruments, as they are machine-made and not checked for quality. This means that sometimes the strings will not have straight bearings to the tuning pegs (and will be crooked and break easily), the tuning pegs may be the wrong size (so won’t stay/stay in tune), the bridge could be sized incorrectly (making the strings high off the fingerboard), and the generally quality will be lower. Usually instruments of this quality are not worth the price, as they are difficult to play, have a below-average tone, and are not worth the hassle of repairs.

Common instrument types are:

Anything handmade (will have to go to a stand-alone store, perhaps what looks like a home, or a hole-in-the-wall place, or maybe a brightly lit store in a strip mall. It all varies! The instruments will probably be more expensive, but you get what you pay for.)

Clemen's

These instruments are from SharMusic.com and SouthwestStrings.com – string specific websites

Hans Kroger

Klaus Mueller

Franz Hoffmann

Otto Ernst Fischer

Carlo Lamberti

These instruments are typically found in general music stores (Music and Arts, Band Instrument Service Company, Mozingo, etc.)